Journal #8

1) The main idea of chapter eight is to be a dreamer so that believing Jesus’ miracles, parables, and Paschal Mystery becomes possible. This chapter presents us with many events in Jesus’ life that probably seems preposterous and unclear to those who don’t listen to and follow Jesus’ way. However, we are also introduced to many insights to Jesus’ unclear parables and the idea of Jesus’ miracles and Paschal mystery working in our lives today. While reading chapter eight, I personally felt the call to further broaden my mind to the ideas of Jesus’ parables and the concept of trying to simply accept the fact that Jesus preformed miracles and rose from the dead. It is very important for me to believe in these parts of Jesus’ life with firm conviction so that I can better relate to and understand the Jesus’ divinity. Of course, I usually find it very easy to see Jesus as God because of how highly He is depicted by those around me in my life of living in a Catholic community and attending Catholic schools and churches. However, many times when I call on Jesus for help, I find speaking to Him and asking Him for help difficult to do because He seems to be such a perfect, glorious Being who is too significant to deal with someone as insignificant as me. But looking at this chapter, I see how much Jesus strives to have a personal relationship with everyone because He truly cares about me and everyone else. When Jesus spoke in parables, he was not trying to confound us with stories that were beyond the knowledge of mere humans, but rather, he was trying to put His message of God’s Kingdom into terms that would be easier for humans to understand. When He preformed miracles, Jesus was not trying to prove that He was better than everyone because He could amaze and frighten others with His powers, but He was actually trying to communicate the message that even though He is divine, he wants help us and be in loving relationships with everyone. And when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, He did not mean to send His followers on an emotional rollercoaster because of their struggling faith, but instead, He was just trying to save us from sin. After reading this chapter, I definitely feel comfortable with dreaming about how Jesus can still live through me and help me in my life today.

2) The first major idea I would like to remember from chapter eight is that miracles still happen in our world today. Sometimes, I find it very easy to forget this fact. Of course, when miracles are preformed I today’s world, Jesus doesn’t descend from Heaven to perform miraculous deeds, but rather, He works through humans. Every time a disease is suddenly cured, a loving embrace is unexpectedly given, or a new respect for the wonders of the world is attained, Jesus is working through humans to bring miracles into the world. These miracles continue to remind people today of the miraculous works Jesus once preformed and how, by continuing to allow Him to work through us today, we can make the world a better place. I, personally, thought of Jesus reaching out to work through me, no matter how hard I might try to push Him away. Realizing that I have such support from Jesus really gives me hope that there will always be someone there to help me make the right choices but still stay with me if I don’t.
Another major idea I would like to remember from this chapter is the article on the community of Taize. To hear about a community setting that is full of love, charity, and hospitality towards everyone really gives me hope in many different ways. First of all, it shows an example of an almost perfect community that seems to be straight from the eyes of God. When hearing of the love that emanates from this amazing community, I cannot help hope that someday all parts of the world can be like this and we can live in a harmonious unity. Also, reading about how Brother Rodger was able to begin such a community gives me hope that I can someday spread the Word of God in a similar way to what Rodger in Taize. Finally, this community at Taize is always a source of hope that God exists that I can look to when I feel myself doubting His presence in my life. Through the acts of love that are continuously preformed at Taize, I can aleays see God working in our world today.

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4) Were the Romans at all threatened when Jesus called himself king, or did they simply put Him to death because it was causing so much commotion among the Jews?

5) I would have to say that my favorite of Jesus’ parables is the story of the mustard seed. (Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke: 13:18-19) For some reason, this parable has always stuck out to me. Something about the story gives me a feeling that seems to be extremely recurring in my journal of this chapter: hope. Just the idea of the smallest of the seeds becoming the biggest bush in the end makes me think that someday I can make big things happen, even though I am not always the best at things. That cheesy, ugly duckling like conclusion has always given me hope that I can accomplish all that I want to do in life. Now that I see a story in the Bible that stands out because of the corny qualities I love, I realize that I can live a life I’ve always wanted while still loving God and not abandoning my faith. In a way, I like to think of myself as the seed and my faith is the conditions around me that help me grow. The more faith I have, the better I can grow into the confident, faith-filled person I would love to be.