I spent last week as a mentor with the Peacebuilders Initiative (see this post for a description of the program). It was an amazing week of learning, prayer, and service. The greater-Chicago area has some incredible young leaders ready to minister us into the future.
One of the presenters really changed the way that I think about modeling our lives after Jesus.
"Jesus wasn't a 17 year-old Latina Catholic living in the United States in 2012," the presenter said. And even if Jesus was in our present context, he still would not be us. Jesus, like us, would have his own unique gifts and talents. And Jesus would be the Messiah, something we are not.
Thus, the question is not "What would Jesus do?" but "What should I do, as a person informed by Jesus?"
Turning the other cheek, writing in the sand, overturning the money changing tables, and driving herds of animals off cliffs worked for Jesus and the people he served. What will work for us? How will we liberate, forgive, and break down barriers in our own times, in our own communities?
Too often the life of Jesus becomes an impossible standard for me to live up to. Instead, Jesus's life should be an inspiration.
Jesus wasn't afraid to overturn social norms, reach out to the rejected, and turn the world upside down so that it could know his Father… WHAT (how) to do this within our own context is up to us. And-- by leaving us to do it-- it appears that Jesus is confident in our abilities!
Peace turtles!
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