Attractive Life

The advice at the end of the Letter to the Hebrews from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents some moral standards for Christians. The journey to holiness is one of becoming more like Jesus in our relationships with others. The author mentions strangers and prisoners in particular. The efforts of Christians to evangelize certainly must include attractiveness toward the outsider and the burdened. Accepting people where they are is not always easy. Friar Jude Winkler echoes the importance of Christians to lead by moral example. The moral advice in Hebrews may set up a dichotomy between the practices of the stranger and the life of the Christian. Our status of being a work in progress allows us to be attractive to the outsider even as we may not embrace all of their behaviour. The psalmist is confident in Providence to raise him up and maintain his life. The example of the execution of John the Baptist from the Gospel of Mark indicates how the holy man can penetrate the awareness of the most unlikely people. The murder of John seems to be an event which is closes off the opportunity for further work on Herod. Father Robert Barron in the magnificent video series, Catholicism, presents the Cross as the ultimate “in your face” symbol to the Emperors of the ancient world. Through the hated instrument of torture and death, the complete humility of Jesus as willed by the Father becomes eternal life. Friar Jude reminds us to seek that humility which opens us to lose face, accept ridicule and be oppressed for the good of the other.