Say Yes to Christ

The challenge that Jesus presents to us in the Gospels is to believe in him. Pope Benedict XVI, in one of his early writings while a cardinal, said, and I would like to quote his exact words: “We are not allowed neutrality when faced with the question of God. We can only say Yes or No.” (The Yes of Jesus Christ).

We either believe in Jesus or we don’t believe in him. Our answer is either Yes or No. If we say Yes, then we are for Jesus. If we say No, then we are not for Jesus. There is no Ifs or Buts. No shades of color except White or Black. Heaven or Hell.

God is not asking for a piece of us, a portion of our mind, a part of our hearts, a little of our life. He wants all of us, the entirety of our soul, mind, heart, and being. For that is his first command: Love God with all your mind, with all your soul, with all your heart and with all your strength.

God has given us a free will, for us to make our own choice between Yes and No. God created human beings, not robots. We are free to decide either way. It’s really up to us.

We know God’s desired answer: Say Yes to him. Yes, we believe in God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yes, we want to live in accordance with his will. Yes, we hope for an everlasting life.

But then, it is not enough that we say Yes. Words are cheap. “'Love is deeds, not sweet words', says the proverb, and I don't think there is anything else to add” (St. Josemaria Escriva, Friends of God, 72). We need to show our Yes in our actions, in our behavior. If we want to be worthy to be called children of God, then we need to behave as children of God. To live as a child of God means that we unite our thoughts, words and actions with God. To live in union with God, doing his will; in a word: to become holy. Be holy, as I am holy, Jesus Christ said.

“He has called us too and asks us, as he asked James and John: ‘Are you ready to drink the cup’ — that cup which means giving yourself fully to the will of the Father — ‘which I am going to drink?" Possumus!: ‘Yes! We are ready!’ Is the reply of John and James. Are you and I really ready to carry out, in everything, the will of our Father God? Have we given our Lord our whole heart, or are we attached to ourselves and our interests and comfort and self-love? Is there anything in our lives out of keeping with our Christianity, something which makes us unwilling to mend our ways? Today we are given a chance to set things straight” (Christ is Passing By, 15).