Jesus Works
Reflection by Fr. Anthony Lemon
Some years ago, around the early part of this century, the Apple Computer company marketed themself saying "it just works". All you had to do was plug in and go. Whereas with another company, it took a lot of setting up to get things working. Older readers will remember the battles with software and drivers for your PC. I’m sure you know which company was the most successful!
Thankfully, Jesus our loving God, is not like any computer or software. Jesus does work for us in all aspects of our lives. We don’t need to struggle to learn a piece of software or find a programme that will run on our particular laptop. We don’t need a password or two factor authentication or a WiFi signal. God, Jesus is always there to love and support us no matter how bad or grim things may be. We can enter God’s presence sitting on the bus, observing a beautiful sunset or sitting in a grand cathedral or holy place. But how do we tap into the strength and serenity that only God can give us? We become friends with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the very same way we become friends with each other. That means we spend time with God.
We read about God and God’s actions in the world. We listen to the stories of others who have a friendship with God. The more we read, the more questions we ask, the deeper our relationship with God becomes. You will very quickly see the actions of Jesus in your life, for instance, you may feel calmer, less tired, things that may have once perplexed or annoyed you will lessen, you will find the courage to do things you may once have feared.
Each Sunday at Mass, you will hear two readings, a psalm and the Gospel. The priest will then speak about them and how we can integrate what we have heard into our lives. After the readings and Homily, the priest standing at the altar amongst the people of God will Consecrate the Bread and the Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, a most profound moment that even after 32 years of priesthood still takes my breath away. When your priest is praying the Eucharistic Prayer, you can ask Jesus to receive all your problems, worries and fears, or you can offer him thanks for his presence in your life. Every single person at Mass will have a different prayer or set of needs, and Jesus will work in each one’s life. Finally, after we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we receive the gift of Holy Communion. Then, after some quite time or a hymn, the priest will commission us to Go and Announce the Gospel to others or some similar words. This dismissal from Mass reminds us that we are responsible to love and serve others as Jesus did for the whole week. Our actions in the world will make Jesus present, and others will experience that Jesus works for them too.
Jesus does work. He helps us in every aspect of our lives, he heals our souls and allows us to reconcile with others. It is a lifelong journey, a wonderful friendship. It has its ebbs and flows. But one thing we can be sure of, Jesus will work for us, no exceptions, no one is excluded, all we have to do is ask him to become our friend and the journey of a lifelong friendship will begin or be renewed.
Finally, don’t worry if your friendship with Jesus is not up to speed; he loves talking to strangers and embracing them with his immeasurable love. No human being is beyond Jesus’ love. Have a little read of the Gospels and you will read of the many instances where Jesus loved and healed total strangers or those cast aside by society. If you have any doubts that Jesus will work in your life, try starting or restarting your relationship with him today. You will find that Jesus does work!