Jesus walked the shores of the Sea of Galilee and invited young fishermen to follow him.\u00a0 He went to the tax collector\u2019s booth and called Matthew to be a disciple.\u00a0 Jesus noticed Zaccheaus perched on a sycamore tree and invited himself to Zaccheaus\u2019 house for dinner.\u00a0 He met the Samaritan woman at the well during the hottest hour of the day and through an extended conversation, changed the woman\u2019s life.\u00a0 A quick survey of the Gospels rapidly illustrates that Jesus did not wait for people to come to him, but rather he walked into people\u2019s lives, interfered, and effected a change.\u00a0 Jesus did not wait patiently for the synagogue to fill up in order to teach; he preached and moved hearts right where people were.\u00a0 Some found it hard to believe that Jesus would take such a personal interest in their lives like the centurion who upon learning that Jesus was heading to his house, he exclaimed, \u201cLord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.\u201d\u00a0 He did not feel worthy to receive Jesus in his house.<\/p>\n
Jesus takes a personal interest in every human life.\u00a0 At times we may echo the words of the centurion in disbelief that God, who is so different from us, can desire an intimate relationship with us.\u00a0 \u201cBefore I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you,\u201d announced God to the prophet Jeremiah when he was called to preach repentance to Israel. \u00a0Before each one of us was created, God knew us, and chose to create us.\u00a0 Our very existence is imbued with the love of our creator.<\/p>\n
Saint Therese of Lisieux famously exclaimed, \u201cJesus, my love. At last I have found my vocation. My vocation is love. In the heart of the Church, my mother, I will be love, and then I will be all things.\u201d\u00a0 The Saint\u2019s simple yet profound revelation is that love is at the heart of the Christian life, therefore a faithful disciple of Jesus is called to love with a heart that imitates the heart of the Master.\u00a0\u00a0 Out of love for us, He enters into our lives to transform them, and He calls us to do the same for others. This is the vocation of every Christian, and it impels us to ask, \u201chow do I love?\u201d\u00a0 The answer to that question looks differently for each individual according to his or her talents, desires, and life circumstances.\u00a0 Saint Therese responded to the call to love by entering the convent at a very young age.\u00a0 Others respond through marriage, service, their profession, and pretty much all the small daily decisions where love is chosen over indifference and alienation.<\/p>\n
Jesus taught, \u201cthis is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.\u201d\u00a0 How do I love, especially those most difficult to love?\u00a0 The way we live our vocation to love is the measure by which our lives will be measured on the last day.\u00a0 The example of Jesus engaging others personally remains the most perfect illustration for us to follow.\u00a0 How will I love today?<\/p>\n