In the weeks leading up to Easter, Jesus has been knocking on the door of our hearts, calling us to a deeper love to Him and to one another. We have been challenged by discussions with guests seeking to fulfil Jesus’ commandments in the nitty-gritty of daily life, knowing that in this each of us will be accountable before God.

How can Jesus’ commandment to “sell all that you have and give it to the poor” be applied today in our competitive society of private enterprise? How can we say to a widow working a daily eight hour shift in a nursing home with three children to feed “do not worry over what to eat?”

Many say that taking such commandments literally is irresponsible. We would be on the street adding yet another burden to the social services – claiming a bed in the homeless shelter and a place in the food line at the soup kitchen. In other words, such a policy would not be commendable within the social system of our society.

Yet Jesus’ words stand in strong contrast to our human thinking! So what are we to believe? Jesus speaks again and again about faith. He asks “do you believe?” Yes! We believe in him! We believe that by him all things are created. For him and in him the whole creation is held together as is expressed in Paul’s letter to the Colossians 1:16-17. Yet acquisitiveness and money play a large part in our modern social system.

In the cities we see the towering buildings of the insurance companies and the banks – the network of rail and road communications and utilities all dependant on and maintained by money. Money rules human relationships, claiming priority even over the commandments of Jesus. Material security of the individual is a top priority within our social system. Other issues, however noble they may be, must come a close second if they are considered at all.

There seem to be two creations in our world – the one ruled by money and self-interest and the other by the power of the living Jesus Christ, the creator of all things. His power and presence is revealed in the beauty of creation – in the dawn of each new day –in the smallest molecule to the world of stars. “What may be known of God is manifest in them...” (Romans 1:19). Since it is Jesus Christ who with the Father holds all things together, he expects our allegiance – to be proved by a complete rejection of the security offered by the mammon which rules society today.

Let us believe that if we respond to his call, he will lead us to be a part of the living vine of the new society in which all are of one heart and soul. A society in which competition for one’s own advantage is rejected and rather each is ready to lay down his life for the other.

Let us open our hearts for the Holy Spirit to come to us as we approach the time of Whitsun. May we be allowed to be Christ’s ambassadors of the kingdom that he proclaimed.