How Welcoming?

These thoughts were inspired by Fr. David on Saturday at my Advanced Catechetical Ministries session. In Fr. David's teaching is so much truth; so much truth.

Following Jesus is very hard work. For one thing, Jesus invites us to a life of lived community and desires us to ask those who we would not normally accept into our primary circle of friends. Being a welcoming community is not to be exclusive. It is to have only one group of friends and they are all considered and treated as primary friends. It is not to say we are inclusive and then, in our actions exclude some for whatever the reason. Reasons are excuses. Excuses are invalid. "Being in, but not really in" is not what a welcoming community is all about.

Yes, following Jesus and His example is very hard work. People do not want to be an after thought. Would you? How would it make you feel if you were an after thought? Loved?

How often have you said, we are such a welcoming community and then, within a minute or so walked by someone and not responded to their hello? How many times have you pretended to be busy so as not to acknowledge someone's presence only because you do not like them? How many times have you walked by and looked down, looked away? How many times have you deliberately set someone apart, left them out, because you think you know what's best and think they did not fit in?

Jesus calls us to a radical and revolutionary way of being a community called the church. He showed us the way. He calls everyone not just some, or the chosen few, but everyone into unconditional love with Himself and each other.

Now that YOU KNOW, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT!
Act with GREAT CARE and with GREAT LOVE.
It is your RESPONSIBILITY to truly BE JESUS, not because it's the right buzz words.
But, because it's JESUS' WAY.

BE TRUE TO HIS COMMAND. WE ARE HIS THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED.

Yes, it is hard work to change and follow the ways of Jesus.
Jesus calls each one of us to a radical way of life.
Jesus calls us to be revolutionary in our communities by loving everyone unconditionally.

START. START WITH YOUR VERY OWN HEART. WELCOME JESUS THERE AND GO!

"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil.
God will not hold us guiltless.
Not to speak is to speak.
Not to act is to act."
                              - Dietrich Bonhoeffer