Placing Jesus at the centre of our lives

Today's readings touch on the centre of our faith. In the first reading from 1Timothy 3:14-16, Paul says that God was made visible in the flesh of Jesus and that the world believed in him. Maybe all the community of Timothy that he was writing to believed in Jesus but we know that the reality is that there are many people who have no interest in Christianity or any religion. Jesus in the gospel backs this up when he says that the people of his generation were like children who don't want to join in the games that others are playing. John the Baptist came leading a very simple life not eating bread or drinking wine and they said that he was possessed. Jesus entered into the life of the people, eating and drinking with the marginalised and those considered to be sinners and they called him a glutton and a drunkard. The political and religious leaders of his time condemned and executed Jesus. Why did so many of his time not recognize the goodness of Jesus and today why is the value of his teaching not seen as the means for a happy and useful life? When the rich young man came to Jesus and asked what he should do to obtain eternal life, Jesus looked on him with love and invited him to sell his goods and follow him. Jesus did not oblige or force him. He wanted him to love him freely, but he did not take away his freedom. He left him to decide. In John's gospel 14:23, Jesus says ''If anyone loves me, they will obey me.'' But love has no meaning if it is not given freely. But if we are free to love, it means that we are free to reject the love that Jesus is lavishing upon us. Dear Lord, you have given us our life, our family, our abilities, all we have, but sometimes we don't see that because we have other interests. They are not bad but they don't leave space for you in our life. Help us to see that we will be truly happy when we respond to your love by freely choosing to make you the centre of our life. Thank you, Lord.