Rev. Daniel E. Pilarczyk

The finality of seeking annihilation for those who are hostile to us is precisely what makes it attractive. But God isn’t that way. He is patient, longsuffering, forgiving. And he expects us to be the same.

At some time or other, we all seek some degree of standing in the community of faith. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as we acknowledge that that requires being unimportant.

Sometimes we wonder what Jesus has in store for us. The important thing is to remember that Jesus cares for us, and whatever he sends us is gift.

In our association with Jesus we have to be sure that we are dealing with the full Jesus–the criminal on the cross as well as the risen Lord.

Part of our Christian spirituality is getting to see and to know Jesus–to assimilate him into our lives. As we grow and develop spiritually we learn ever more about Jesus.

Like Matthew we have become followers of Jesus. And our call to follow Jesus is not due to our own special worth or virtue, but simply to the generous will of the Lord.

If we don’t listen to Jesus carefully–that is with the expectation of passing on what we have heard–we haven’t heard what Jesus intended.