“What Would Jesus Do?”

                                       Deacon Tom writes ©

                                            "What Would Jesus Do?"

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

“Observe what is right, do what is just.” Sounds sooooo simple, doesn’t it? But somehow, as we go about our daily affairs, there are times when knowing the “right” thing to do, or knowing the “just” thing to do is not easy. Some people use the acronym “WWJD” to guide them in making a tough decision. You may have seen their formula for success written on a bumper sticker or two as you drove along the highway. Yes, when we have a difficult decision to make, it is wise, even critical perhaps, to ask ourselves this question, “What Would Jesus Do?”

Jesus is always teaching the disciples how to live and act in ways that are pleasing to God. Today we encounter Jesus teaching us about breaking down barriers that separate and divide us from one another, barriers that stand in the way of our becoming one with each other as we are called to do at each Eucharistic Banquet.  

In today’s gospel Jesus and the disciples encounter a woman whose daughter was tormented by a demon. The disciples can’t be bothered with her and they advise Jesus to “Send her away.” Pretty harsh response from the Apostles, isn’t it? But what else could they possibly do with her?  Isn’t that how we deal with the difficult people in our lives; those individuals who we wish would just “go away;” those people who are always making demands on us or “who keep calling out to us” for something?

Fortunately, Jesus has a better grasp on what’s the right thing to do. He listens to the Canaanite woman and sees what strong faith she has. He is moved by her faith and He grants her favor. Her faith was all that Jesus needed to work a miracle in her life.  The very presence of Jesus in this woman’s life, even for this brief moment, was life altering for her and for her daughter who was healed.

Jesus told us that we would be able to do greater deeds than He did if we but have a little faith. It shouldn’t surprise us then what remarkable power our presence has in the life of others. This is because God abides in each and every one of us. We have His power to reconcile ourselves with one another; the power to cast away loneliness and fear, the power to bring the presence of Christ everywhere we go, even to those who “keep calling out to us” and who refuse to “go away.” We have the power to do any of the things Jesus asks us to do. All we need to get started is to ask ourselves in any given situation, “What Would Jesus Do?”

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom