Aim for the Kingdom

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In John 21 there is this marvelous post-resurrection story, and this wonderful dialogue between Jesus and Peter,
 "When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “ Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? ” “ Yes, Lord, ” he said, “ you know that I love you ..."  There is tension here; the light demeanor of an early breakfast is given over to a vocational challenge.  For Peter, and for us, if we truly love Jesus, and want to be his followers, we have to take care of the sheep, and nurture the ministry of the Church.

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem today.  Quoting from Isaiah he reflects that he wishes that the fire he had been sent to start was already burning.  From the Gospel text, and the scriptural tradition, we understand that in order to enkindle such a fire the needs to be a profound faith - not a watered down version of religion.  Our baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist cannot be these 'things' that we get, but need to be a springboard into the world to do ministry and challenge the culture of death.

So often after a disaster, crisis, in the midst of a war, people will ask, "What is the Church doing about?  And I Ponder, "Yes, what are you doing about this brokenness."  But we need to be aware that when we live out our faith, when we call others to live rightly, when we make decisions based on justice and peace, it will not be all rainbows and unicorns.  As Jeremiah discovered when we speak the truth, and pull chains, folks are apt to throw us in the mud.

Father Daniel Berrigan reminds us that if we follow Jesus we have to consider how we look against wood.  Following the path of life is hard but necessary for salvation.  We work for the Kingdom but actively professing the faith we have received.  At baptism we are given a candle.  This is what we use to enkindle the flame of faith.