Thought for the day

God gives what He commands. This testimony of non-violence is not an ‘ideal’ which will appear at the end of our ‘efforts.’ Here, as everywhere else, the life of obedience to which we are called is given to us by grace. This weakness, which I called a demand implied in the Gospel, is really a magnificent promise made to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ. If the branch remains attached to the vine, it too will bear the rare and delicate fruit (John 15). Besides, to live in Christ and keep His commandments is surely one and the same thing. In other words, the triumphant life of Christ crucified and resurrected springs forth of its own accord in the heart of anyone who joins himself to Christ by faith. We are not asked to practise non-violence and imitate Christ’s weakness, so much as to remain in His communion. But He has proclaimed to us that if we remain in it and keep His words, He gives us the grace to live by His example, because He comes Himself to live in our being and obey for us. Then our daily existence is genuinely a witness, because it tells of His love and sings of His power. —Jean Lasserre