MEASURING OURSELVES

A challenging question keeps reappearing: ‘Do you love me more than these others?’ (John 21,15). To answer this question honestly, we have to share Peter’s dilemma and experience the significance of the Cross ourselves. 

Some resolve this dilemma by perceiving discipleship as gnostic: an exclusive elitism for the few. This understanding is dishonest because it contradicts the Magister’s understanding: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2,17; Matthew 9,10-13; Luke5,32).  

Self-righteousness confirms ignorance: the inability to “know thyself”. Excluding this wisdom,which includes repentance, discipleship is illusory. A lived-out mirage, disappointing since it fails to deliver results.  

Focusing our attention on the deeper meaning of repentance allows us to marvel at love’s true significance: God's commitment to each one of us. What this tells us is that the disciple is a person  addressed by the Magister’s loving gaze, which identifies with renewed freshness, illuminating our actions by unlocking our hearts to a love that informs our conscience. 

 Abraham’s listening faith addresses this path: courageously, we embark on an endorsed adventure, which permits exposure to God’s addressing silence enveloped in prayerful duologue, which should not surprise us because a ‘listening faith’ (Shema’Yisra’el) demands it: a preparatory step that sustains us, deepening our intimacy with the Magister. 


Martin

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