How Is Jesus Relevant To Our Lives?

Oh. The answer is a dissertation and I have so little space. It is not usually good to start out with the negatives, but I need to quickly identify the conditions in which we find Jesus is not relevant.

That is, if we see him only as a historical figure 2,000 years ago. If we think that humanity today is somehow fundamentally different from humanity in ancient Palestine. And, if the "I" in us believes it is in complete control. It seems to me that we have the same basic needs today to understand our existence, how it relates with others and all creation, and what sets us apart as a people who have a destiny as opposed to a fate.

Fate is what happens to us, good and bad, that comes along in the journey of life. Destiny is how we order our lives so that no matter what happens to us we end up, as St. Paul says, "Having run the good race and come to the finish line." 

What Jesus did in gathering his disciples was to form a group that pondered what are the important things in life and how a people could attain them by working together. It is not any different today when a group in Catholic campus ministry gets together and asks questions: What does it means to have faith, what is faith comprised of and how do we identify the needs of our present time among all the people?

We teach in baptism classes that we do not reach the end of life’s race singularly. St. Paul did not reach it singularly. All his letters point to working in community. He came to the finish line with the brothers and sisters of the early church. Others took up the baton after him.

Jesus is relevant today when we emulate the pattern of discipleship and servant leadership, identify conditions today that impact humanity adversely and try to do something about them. In this effort we should seek truth (knowledge) and justice.

We should care for the needs of others, show compassion for the poor and suffering, realize that the "I" in us is more concerned about itself and, consequently needs a little reminding that everyone is in the journey of life together. If we participate in our faith community, we can see the potential destiny of all humans to reach a divine relationship with Jesus. That makes Jesus very relevant.