"Jesus told the crowds and disciples: Their (the Pharisees) words are bold but their deeds are few."

Mt. 23:4

We know the expression, “Their word is good as gold.” It means that we can trust that that person will do what they say they will do. Am I that person or am I more like the Pharisee Jesus challenges that makes bold proclamations but rarely follows through?

We know that Jesus’ word to us is as good as gold. One-hundred percent of the time he does what he says he will do for us. He keeps his promises forever. He never says one thing and does another. For all eternity, we can count on his word.

I want to propose that the most radical word we say in our lives is, “Amen.” In church, we say “Amen” to Jesus. “Amen” means “I agree” and “So be it.” It means that “I believe” which we should understand as I will “be-living it.” To believe means that we live up to the word we profess in church. And this "living up to" is incredibly exciting, challenging and terrifying all at the same time.

“Amen” is a much more than an unthinking, uninvolved response to Jesus. It is a total handing ourselves over to Jesus telling him that we will live as he wants us to live. By our “Amen” we are saying that each second we will strive to be determined by Christ and the life he wants to live through us on our earthy sojourn. Wow! That is the boldest proclamation we could ever make with our words. How much do we live up to the bold “Amen” we say to Jesus in church?

In the heart of our worship, the most radically loving and challenging word that is ever spoken to us in our lifetime is Jesus in the Eucharist. Jesus gives us his very body and blood and through his total self-giving we become intimate sharers in his life. When we say “Amen” to sharing Jesus’ body and blood in the Eucharist we are saying to Jesus, “I, in return, give you my body and blood. I give you all that I am. With all my heart, mind, soul and strength I will strive to be-living everything that the scriptures and church teach us about you.”

If you want to be the most radically loving Christian you can, may your “Amen” to Jesus in the Eucharist mean “Amen.”

God’s will!
+Fr. John