If Jesus were in my place

If that Jesus who came to heal the brokenhearted, announce freedom for the slaves, give sight to the blind and liberty to the oppressed, were in my place... that Jesus who had compassion for the leper, the sick, the hungry crowds, and gave Himself to the downtrodden and abandoned with His prayers, His miracles, His word, His hands, the hem of His garment... if He were in my place, He would be dedicating Himself to leaving a cup of joy at every door! He would be picking up the telephone to give a word of solace to someone who was dejected, motivation to someone who had failed, a word of encouragement to someone who was depressed...!

If that Jesus, who at all times carried Himself with humility, silence, patience and dignity, without justifying or defending himself… If He were in my place, when confronted with the irritating behavior of that family member, that co-worker, or that brother or sister in the community...!

We do not have any other path or better model before us other than Christ Jesus, that Jesus whose sole favorites were the poor, who was friend of publicans and sinners, and was tender and attentive to His friends and to the women, He who was sincere and truthful with friends and enemies, who indeed had preferences but never exclusiveness, and who above all else did only one thing in His fleeting, dizzying career: LOVE.

Extracted from the book “Journey Towards God” by Fr. Ignacio Larrañaga