Significant Problems, Significant People
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." John 21:15-17
INSIGHT
Division and discord seem like apt descriptions for the world we live in right now. Name an issue and almost instantly fights, quarrels and arguments break out. An "US vs. THEM" mentality has taken over our culture. To get everyone to agree on just a single point feels like an impossible task. Yet, there is one reality that brings both sides of the aisle together. We can all nod our heads in agreement and concede that significant issues face our world.
People in our world are hungry, sick, and impoverished. Helpless women and children get sold into slavery. Education deliberately withheld from those in need. People are stolen, sold, manipulated, and oppressed. We have a crisis of refugees, widows, and orphans.
Here at home, we find ourselves in the middle of a pandemic with families and businesses hurting. Being an election year, the division runs rampant and will only amp up the closer we get to November. Integrity, decency, and leadership are in short supply. Issues of economic equality, racial justice, addiction, hunger, and homelessness must be addressed.
Every day, all around us, we are confronted with brokenness. We see needs in our neighborhood, our city, and our world. We may even feel a nudge to get involved, do something and take action, but fear, doubt and inadequacy win out. We shrink back, turn away, and hope someone else will rise to the occasion. Some of us allow our convenience, comfort, and complacency to justify our inactivity.
But, Jesus leaves us with the command: Take care of my sheep. An encounter with Christ's love should lead us to humble action and an others-focused inclination. He's asking you and me to be a vital part of the healing of our culture.
If we don't lean in to understand, we turn away and ignore it. We look for things that entertain or distract us that provide temporary relief from the jarring issues at hand. This reaction is a defense mechanism. It serves as a way to protect our hearts. But, rather than guarding our heart, indifference damages it. We naturally drift towards indifference because of our capacity to care. We hope our hearts will grow, and then we will display compassion. But, compassion begins when we start to care.
Compassion is a quality that must be cultivated and only takes root when we take action. Concern expands our capacity to care. When our heart breaks with the compassion of our God seen in the Gospel, our souls expand to match this growing concern.
The significant issues facing our world require significant people. Many of us don't see ourselves in this way. We think if we can barely handle our affairs, how could we possibly tackle and take on those significant issues? We feel entirely inadequate and overwhelmed. We don't know how to begin, where to start, and what we could do to make a difference. We convince ourselves that we don't have what it takes to make an impact.
But, what if our gifts, our experiences, and our passions are precisely enough? Maybe God only needs the little we have to make big things happen if we only lean in and start somewhere.
REFLECTION
What does it mean for you to "take care of His sheep"?
PRAYER
When my heart breaks over the state of the world, God, rather than turn away from the discomfort, may I lean in. Instead of hiding, may I look for ways to help. Give me the courage to trust that You are doing something in me to do something through me. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
