Having just heard the profoundly human story of the wedding feast at Cana recently, we do well to think of the commitments Jesus made and followed through on: commitments to the people who walked with him, commitment to do whatever His Father asked of Him, commitment to heal, and to be faithful to the mission His Father gave him to advance the reign of God in our world.
Jesus, in word and deed, expressed His intention to be committed to us. No longer do I call you slaves, I call you friends (John 15.15). I will be with you always, until the end of time (Matthew 28.20).
Commitment: it is nothing less than continuity of purpose in good times and in bad, in sickness and health, through disagreements and growth in diverse directions. To continue and grow, every true commitment takes time, energy and attention. For followers of Christ, commitments also involve a God -awareness/ a God -centeredness which anchors our various commitments, though the seas of life grow turbulent.
Married couples make their commitment to one another on their wedding day. Women and men religious make public vows to God through their own congregations. Scientists, teachers, public servants, members of the medical community all make commitments to serve the good of others. Most often, commitments are lived out in a stream of daily, ordinary activities, repeated and routine. The danger is in letting important repeated and repeatable actions become automatic.
While ongoing commitments are the true stuff of life, the dominant culture of our society seeks newness to overcome the perceived boredom that precedes or comes with the discipline of commitment. Youth and adults are each targeted with innovations in communication, clothing, lifestyles and ideas. Part of the work we do in life is to sort out the trite new from the valuable new, the old and repeatable from the useless and repeatable. We ask: will this help or hinder the commitments I have made?
Here are some other questions to mull over when thinking about the commitments of our lives:
- Where do I need to do the work of recommitment?
- What do I do daily in service to the commitments I have made which are in danger of being lost by unconscious repetition?
In our daily living with the commitments we have made, Jesus, our Brother and Lord, is with us. I will be with you always. Let’s help each other believe it.
~ Sister Joan Sobala
