WWJD

Yesterday at our parish Sunday liturgy, our Pastor, Fr. Bert Thelen, S.J., gave each of the 5 First Communicants a tiny cross with WWJD on it.  That is such a good question in our world and the U.S. today: “what would Jesus do?”

This is a time on University campuses when people are saying their goodbyes.  There is graduation, moving out of dorms, farewell lunches and dinners.  It’s a time of parting and transition, so apt for today’s readings.

Paul is saying goodbye to the elders of the Church at Ephesus.  He is reminding them of all he taught them:  Paul’s lessons of leadership.  His most powerful words: “to feed the Church of God which he bought with his own blood…and now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace that has the POWER TO BUILD YOU UP…”

Jesus is doing the same with his beloved disciples.  Both Paul and Jesus articulate the problems their followers will run into specifically because they follow Jesus.  Both pray for their followers.  Jesus' prayer is true today for us:

“Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name so that they may be one like us…CONSECRATE THEM IN TRUTH.”

What does it mean to be ONE with GOD and CONSECRATED IN TRUTH, especially when there are so many versions of truth about?  I would say it means working for the justice of all and the goodness of life.  It means working for a U.S. where we are free to speak our truth and not worry about being entangled in a Patriot Act.  It means living non-violently and working for peace and the end of war.  It means standing for healthy morals and decent ethical behavior and speaking against CEO's and others who are manipulating people and money.  It means finding a way to have good health care for all of our citizens, leaving no child hungry or homeless.  In essence it means Living the Beatitudes.

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO as a member of our Church, of our Omaha or wherever you are, of our National communities?