By Robert Jalbert, M.M.

Jesus repeatedly invited followers to do the seemingly impossible

In our July/August Good News we reflected upon how Jesus was invited by others to stretch his boundaries in understanding and living-out who God called him to be. Jesus in turn repeatedly invited and challenged his followers to do likewise, as in the case of Peter: “ ‘Lord, if my brothers sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times’.” (Mt. 18:21-22)  In his self-possessed generosity and self-satisfaction, Peter was asked to do the impossible.

As a teacher, Jesus humbly presented himself as the model for those who would respond to God’s call through a dynamic of invitation and mission. Noticing one day two that disciples of John the Baptist were following him, Jesus asked them what they were looking for, and they asked him where he was staying. Jesus replied, “Come and see!” (John 1:39)  Later, having shared his Last Supper with his apostles and washed their feet, Jesus commissioned them by saying, “I have given you a model to follow; as I have done for you, you should also do.” (John 13:15)

We introduce in this issue some of our Maryknollers who’ve done what Jesus asked.

Experience Father Tom Burns, who in his 40 years as a missioner in Peru has been a tireless champion for peace and justice—even as priests, Sisters and lay church workers were being assassinated by the Shining Path guerrillas in the midst of that country’s political violence of the 1980s and 1990s.

Read how Lay Missioner Karen Halberg Weaver nurtured hope in the lives of women in Juarez, Mexico, in the midst of life’s challenging invitations to do as Jesus did.

Reflect with the Maryknoll Sisters as they say goodbye to many years of ministry in the Marshall Islands and with Maryknoll Affiliate volunteers in Namibia who worked with Maryknoll Brothers Mark Gruenke and Loren Beaudry.

Jesus’ invitation and commission to “Come and see; go and do!” are also addressed to each one of us. Our life’s journey is to continually discover and experience at an ever-deepening level God’s love for us through others; and how much God asks us also to do and to be the seemingly impossible.