WHO WOULD NOTICE?
I was sitting in church one Sunday morning listening to the homily given by my parish priest when he asked us a rhetorical question – a question that was supposed to be left unanswered but was meant to make us think. He asked, “Who would notice if this Church was to be shut down or demolished?” The priest himself decided to answer the question by saying that perhaps the regular church-goers might notice or the parents of the children attending the parish school might think, ‘where has that funny little church on the corner gone?’ People seek different things from their church. An American survey suggested that people went to the parish that had the best parking spaces and facilities in the area. Others come to Church for baptisms, weddings and funerals. Others might come for the coffee mornings, social clubs or charity events. It is true to say that the Church is a place of memories, a place of occasion, a place of comfort and certainly a place of celebration.
A PLACE TO FIND JESUS
But, the church is not a shop which is open from early morning until late at night, for us to run to when we realise that we are missing an ingredient and we need to get some more. We live in a culture of consumerism but the Church is not a supermarket where people come and take what they want, when it suits them and only when they need to. No, the Church should be an integral part of our lives. It is a place where we can find the living Jesus in the tabernacle daily. The most important thing that we can take with us from the Church is Jesus and He will satisfy our every need and will never disappoint us. He can give us everything, “Strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
MANY DISTRACTIONS
Thinking about the priest’s question it occurred to me, “Who would notice if Jesus Christ was taken out of our lives? Would I really notice?” I don’t know how you would answer this question but I do know that it has become much easier for us to forget Christ in our lives. Many different distractions, fashions, fads and trends are tapping their drums trying to catch our attention. We are living in a world where consumerism is digging its claws deep into the lives and hearts of many people and we, young people, are being distracted by these novelties which are constantly battling for our time and our attention. It is happening around the world and there are new temptations daily. “Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)
“Even if your mother forgets you, I will never forget you.” Isaiah 49:15
HE MAKES US COMPLETE
Many see Jesus just as someone who gives a blessing and who is there when we need Him. But He is not just about blessings; He is also about love and mercy. He is not someone to ignore during happy times when things are going well and then expect Him to be there when things start going wrong, because we need Him to put things right again. Jesus is not a supermarket for our convenience and is definitely not a person to be dumped in the rubbish bin of our lives because without Jesus something is missing. He is like the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle, He is the one who makes us complete, He makes us a whole person. When He is forgotten or missing, then our colourful life becomes just a black and white picture, because He is the vivid colour in this black and white world. If Jesus isn’t the Lord of our life, then we are blind boys and girls trying to survive without knowing which path to take or which way life is going to toss us. Jesus is saying to us in Revelation 3:20, “Listen, I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” Jesus is a living and loving person. He is the greatest possession we can ever have. Let us make Him ours today. He doesn’t forget us and so we shouldn’t forget Him either.
Written by Gitty George