Question 22 –What is the meaning of Jesus for people today? 

Continuing with the exploration and reflection through a series of articles written in a conversational language about Catholicism, about God, about Jesus, about the Church and many other faith related topics. Here we present:

Question 22 –What is the meaning of Jesus for people today? 

The life of Jesus* has changed everything for mankind but at the same time nothing. God* has remained God and the human is still human. Yet Jesus makes everything different. He makes clear something that has always been there, but that has become completely visible through his life.

Christians believe that by living like Jesus, they can live fully themselves, beyond the threshold of death. The resurrection* of Jesus means that ordinary people can also rise. What is possible for one person – Jesus – is also possible for another. The first name Christians gave themselves was ‘people of the road’. That way is Jesus. He is the way to perfect happiness and eternal life*.

This explains why Christians are people of hope. Not a naive hope, but a realistic hope. Hope that believes that a loving life – that does not run away from suffering and that strives for a better world – is definitive and therefore indelible. You can discover what true love is by looking at the example of Jesus every day. His life story is the inexhaustible textbook for becoming more and more human.

This does not apply to supermen, but to ordinary people. ‘I have come to give people eternal life’ (Jn 10:10), says Jesus. That eternal life is not primarily the reward for our personal efforts, however important they may be. It’s a gift you get when you open up to God’s love. You would be grateful to God and Jesus for less.

– Does Jesus have a place in your life?
– Do you think there is a connection between faith in Jesus and hope?

Feel free to leave your thoughts, reflections or comments below.


Watch this space! Coming up:   Question 23 – Does the priest change the bread into the body of Jesus during Mass? 
 

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If you wish to learn more about this resource follow this link  “52 Questions and Answers about faith

 

About the author:

Nikolaas Sintobin, SJ, joined the Society of Jesus in 1989, following a short career as a lawyer. He was trained as a Jesuit in Brussels, Paris, and Santiago de Chile. Today he is a spiritual director who is keenly interested in online ministry and discovering new ways to help people find God.

This text is republished with the permission of Messenger Publications, Ireland. To buy a hard copy of the book click here.