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When, oh when will we begin to really listen to what our Lord says to us? Our hatreds have failed miserably, always they have failed; they have spread hunger and suffering all over the world that God has given us. Wherever unselfish service and friendly attitudes have been offered, the returns have been overwhelming. "Like proliferates like" "Hatred proliferates hatred" "Love proliferates love." Whatever a man sows that shall he also reap,

That goes without saying. If a farmer plants corn he expects to reap corn. If he plants oats he expects to gather in the resulting crop of oats.

If we generate hatred toward our fellowmen we can expect to recieve hatred in return. But if on the other hand we offer love we will recieve it likewise.

Jesus believed in men without exception. He believed that one man was worth more than a whole world of things. He did not

propose a theory as to the worth of a person, he simply put himself into the center of human relationships. He spent himself upon people.

Jesus talked about the kingdom of God on earth, the kingdom he proposed to establish. He only had one plan to accomplish this feat. It was the cooperation of men and women with him, and with one another.

Regardless of how you think of Christ, it just cannot be denied that he stood for co-operation, and that his Spirit was the spirit of brotherhood and reconciliation, of service and sacrifice. His call ringing out to our world today in the midst of its war and hatred is a call to focus its energies, the best that it has to offer, to usher in a better day.

Ghandi, the Hindu mahatma, said that Christians should live more like Christ. That we should practice our religion without adultering and toning it down. That we need to put the emphasis on love for that is central in Christianity. When those outside our community recognize our faults and tell us about them don't you think we should ponder their words?

Here is a call to a great adventure - the appeal to the heroic! It requires boldness and daring to stand for that which Christ stood for in the face of adversity. But it is the only force that will change our world and bring peace.

Written this 26th day of December, 2001.