Lk 10:16
Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.
I was listening to a popular online personality when a statement struck me:
"Jesus said a lot of wonderful things, but he also said some dangerous things. While it's always good to speak the truth, when Jesus says 'I am the Truth,' well that's a bit problematic."
It was an incisive observation that stood in stark contrast to the "Nice Guy Jesus" that seems all too prevalent in modern attitudes about Christ. Though I disagreed about Christ's claim being problematic (rather than a problem, Jesus is the solution!), I appreciated the honesty of someone recognizing that Christ cannot simply be regarded as a wiseman or spiritual guru.
It can be tempting to look at Christianity as simply a system of beautiful ideas. I've been drawn to take such a view myself in the past. But as Christ says, "whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." He doesn't say "whoever reject my ideas," but rather "whoever rejects ME." At the center of our faith is nothing less than the person of Jesus Christ. Without embracing him, no amount of good ideas of righteous living will see me at home in the Father's house.
Get to know our seminarians! Today's reflection was written by:
Donald Amodeo, Pastoral year
Home parish: St. Mary's Catholic Church
Did you know...
Donald Amodeo is in his fifth year of seminary formation and is currently assigned to St. Paul's Catholic Church in St. Pete. He is the author of the afterlife adventure: Dead & Godless.
Pray with us for the men and women discerning the priesthood and religious life. To pray for our seminarians by name or to find out more about the Diocese of St. Petersburg vocations office, click here.
