Reflections

“I am there among them.”The early Christian Church/ communities was not free from discord, misunderstanding, hos­ tility, etc., in spite of the presence of the Jesus’ immediate disciples. Striking within the Christian com­ munities is the recognition of the presence of their risen Lord. They truly believe that the risen Jesus is with them.To say that Jesus is in our midst, with us, means regarding our fellow humans with dignity; and treating them with love and understanding, even when they commit a mistake, when they misbehave, always allowing room for forgiveness and rec­ tification. It means respecting, caring for others as a sister and as a brother, praying only the good for them and not harm, and wishing them blessings of every kind, not misfortune. In our ecological age, it would also mean that Jesus is present in the natural world, in every “good” creature of God. That’s why our respect for human life needs to be extended in all forms of life on Earth, which bear and mani­ fest the love of God. It means recognizing the rights of other creatures for existence and their intrinsic value. This time, the pro­ noun“our” in the phrase“Jesus in our midst” includes both human and nonhuman creatures.
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