Its not easy (to follow Jesus)

Here's what Jesus never said: "Feed the hungry only if they have papers." "Clothe the naked only if they're from your country." "Welcome the stranger only if there's zero risk." "Help the poor only if it's convenient." "Love your neighbor only if they look like you."

                                                                                    Father James Martin

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It is not easy to follow Jesus

It is very easy, in a country that pretends to be Christian

To pay lip service to Jesus

To name drop Jesus

While not knowing him at all

At least one would never know it by their words

Or their attitudes

Or their actions

It’s not easy to follow Jesus

Because if you do, you can’t play it safe

You can’t play favorites

And, most of all, you can’t close your eyes

To the pain

The hurt

The poverty

Instead you have to embrace it

All of it

And you have to embrace God’s children

All of them

Which is why you have to feed the hungry

All the hungry

Just because they are hungry

Not because they “deserve” it,

Not because they have attended chapel

Or promised to “be better”

Or anything at all

Just because

God asks it

Just because, that is what following Jesus looks like

Which is also why you have to clothe the naked

House the homeless

Provide healthcare for the ill (or the “going to be” ill)

Which is why you welcome the stranger

Even if they are brown

And seek justice for all

Even if they as black

Which is why you protest

And sometimes kneel

It’s why you volunteer

And why you vote

And it’s why you pray

For those who take Jesus’ name in vain

And white knuckle the Holy Spirit so that you don’t hate

those who bully, lie, and name call, exclude and horde

and use power for evil instead of good

Following Jesus is all about love without limits

Loving God so much you dare to love others (and even yourself)

And it’s not for the faint of heart