Go…

How often do we hear Jesus tell people to go? The circumstances might differ, but in all cases, those who are told to go have experienced the wonder of God’s love and compassion through their encounter with Jesus. We hear Jesus say: take your mat and go; go, show yourself to the priests; go, your sins are forgiven; go and tell no one; go on your way, your faith has made you well; go and bring your husband, and the list can go on. In most cases, the person whose life has been transformed by their encounter with Jesus goes on to become an evangelizer, one who proclaims to others the good news.

As we continue the journey toward Easter, this is a good time to reflect on the ways in which Jesus has touched our own lives. Unlike the people in the gospels, we don’t have physical encounters with Jesus in the flesh. So, how has Jesus touched my life? At various times in my life, Oblates have been the instruments of his healing touch. Their care and friendship led me to a change in my life; I entered the novitiate and eventually committed my life to serving as an Oblate. When I celebrated the funerals of my grandparents, my parents and my brother, the presence, support and prayers of my Oblate brothers were an experience of God’s care and love for me. Over the years, various people have played important roles in my life, and it is in hindsight that I recognize God’s hand at work through their relationships with me. God is always present and at work in our lives, but so often we fail to recognize that in the moment. It is in hindsight, in reflection that we can begin to recognize these various moments as experiences of God’s care for us.

Like the people in the Gospels who encountered the saving compassion of Jesus, we are called to recognize that the invitation to “sin no more” is an invitation to be instruments, ambassadors of God’s love and mercy in our world today.

By Richard Beaudette, OMI