Jesus provides the greatest event of life

May 21, 2006 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter

By Bishop Robert Morneau

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1. What was the most important day in your life? 2. What is the meaning of friendship for you? 3. How have you been chosen?

What was the greatest event of your life? I recall reading about a character in a novel, a man who had lost his wife and child many years before, exclaim that the greatest day in his life was when a younger woman said to him: "You ought to marry me!" And he did.

I would suspect that the greatest day in our life has to do with relationships, be it marriage, friendship, family, or church. When we hear that we have been chosen, something deep within comes alive in the awareness that we are treasured and held in esteem. When couples are engaged, when a new acquaintance comes along who sees what you see, when we were born into a family that truly cared, when we entered the Church through baptism - moments all of being chosen and treasured and loved.

For the disciples of Jesus, was not the greatest event in their lives the day they heard Jesus say: "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you . . .?" To realize that they are being offered the gift of friendship by the Son of God must have been overwhelming. And, of course, with that call came the commandment to pass that love on to others. This friendship branched out into community and a sense of solidarity. God's gift is inclusive.

When Cornelius met Peter, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, a great event never to be forgotten occurred. We hear about baptism and then the gift of the Holy Spirit. God's life flowing freely into the heart of Cornelius and other Gentiles. What this means is that God, in showing no partiality, makes graces available to all, everywhere. The greatest event of your life? Now - whenever God's love is offered and received.

John's first letter is clear and direct. God is love. God's love is made manifest in Jesus who was sent to expiate our sins. Here is the great event: our redemption. When someone is willing to lay down his or her life for others, we are at the center of the mystery of love. Nothing romantic here; rather, here is a demanding sacrifice that withholds nothing. Jesus is the love of God made present in the flesh. Jesus is the great event of history.

This being chosen, offered the gift of God's love, happens all the time.

It happened to St. Paul, then Saul, on the road to Damascus. On that journey the persecuting Saul encountered the Risen Lord. Never again would his life be the same.

It happened to Blaise Pascal, the great French intellectual and scientist, on the evening of November 23, 1654, when he experienced the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. He writes about the effects of this experience: "Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy."

It happened to John Wesley, founder of Methodism, on May 24, 1738, on Aldersgate Street in London. He writes: "I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation."

"You ought to marry me!" Are not these Christ's words to His bride, the Church. "You ought to be my friend!" "You ought to know that God is love and you are precious in His sight!"

(Bp. Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Green Bay Diocese and pastor of Resurrection Parish in Allouez.)