This year’s Palm Sunday was sad. The previous day the pastor of the church I attend suddenly passed away: Father Les Drewicki (71). It came as a terrible shock to all the parishioners. He was a humble and faithful priest.
Just last week, Father Les heard my confession. When I was finished, he asked me to consider two questions, then wrote them on a piece of paper:
"1. What was the motivating factor in Jesus’ life?
2. What is the motivating factor in my life?"
Of course, the motivating factor in Jesus’ life was love—divine Love. Fully God and fully man and God is love. Christ's disciple told us:
"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.". Other related verses include 1 John 4:16, which says, "God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him". (1John 4.8)
Eight verses later, he says again. "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
The very fact that Christ was willingly chose to leave eternity, step into time, take on human form, and be cruelly crucified on a cross to offer reconciliation to God for sinful humanity is all the evidence I need to confirm His motivation. Within His divine love, he demonstrated His love to us, and how we should show our love toward Him and others. Faith and belief in Him.
“For God so loved that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.” — John 3:16-18
Saint Paul said, “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…”—Ephesians 5:2a. Jesus is our example.
Christ gave us an example of loving Him through service to others.
“When [Jesus] had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.’” John 13:12-14 (ESV)
What we have done for others will be remembered at the end of time.
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ How we respond to people in need matters!
Father Drewicki’s second question to me was penetrating indeed. “What is the motivating factor in your life?” I would like to think that the motivating factor in my life is also love, but in my heart, I know that is not true. So much of my life has been motivated by self-interest, self-centredness, self-aggrandisement, and pride. My love for Christ and my neighbour has been found deficient and insufficient.
Father Drewicki’s questions to me the week before he died will stay with me for a long time. I want to become more like Jesus Christ and less like me.
So let me ask you the humble priest's question. What is the motivating factor in your life?
MDP
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