THOUGHTS OF A NUN

WWJD

May 23, 2004 

A few years ago a movement began that used the initials WWJD for “What would Jesus do?” to help remind them of how they wished to behave in any given circumstance. When I heard about it I thought what a wonderful thing! I wonder what means are used in any of the present day life experiences to figure out what Jesus would do-study Scripture daily- meditative prayer, what?

During Stalin's time, for instance, Dmitri Shostakovich, a celebrated music composer was accused of being an enemy of the people and Pravda in 1936 reviewed his latest symphony as "Muddle instead of Music." Nevertheless, he kept composing and titled his next piece "Fifth Symphony"- a Soviet artist's practical, creative reply to a just criticism." It seems he asked himself- what would Jesus do.
He continued composing new quality works, his long suffering under persecution awarded as his fame spread so that eventually, he was left alone by the Soviet regime.

In today's Epistle Peter initially refused to eat unclean food though he was reminded that anything God has created couldn’t be unclean. Peter was not thinking these initials WWJD but he listened to the Spirit of God and did what Jesus would do in that circumstance. Peter himself was amazed, when while speaking of Christ, the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius' friends and family.

The Judaen Jews heard that Peter had eaten with the Gentiles and were askance until he told them his story and the surrounding circumstances. Then they praised God, beginning to realize that God's love extends to all and no longer, as they thought, just to the Jews.

Not only the Samaritans as we heard several Sundays ago, even the Gentiles have become sharers in the promise given by Jesus through the Gospel. That promise is that God loves us all. Until we believe we are loved we tend to spend our life trying to prove our worth. We stress out, trying to be perfect. We look for love from others and if or when we don't get it, we think we are somehow defective.

When we comprehend the absolute truth of the breadth and length, the height and depth of God's love for us, we can open our hearts to those who seem different than we are. This love of God for us is not dependent on our good works. Our good works rather are the result of our desire to return the love God has shown to us by doing what we can, what Jesus would do, whenever we can.

What will happen in your life today that you can ask WWJD?