In our spiritual life, we know that we need fellow travelers while committed to be followers of Jesus Christ. The gospel community of Luke tells us that Jesus sent out his disciples two by two.  They were to go announcing the Kingdom of God without relying on many personal items; no money, not even shoes.  They were to go to a house peacefully accepting what was given to them.  If they were not accepted peacefully in a town, they were to go and find some other place to share their news.  They were to help others by their healing powers.
 
We live in a culture that is divided.  We even see divisions within our Church.  We are challenged by Jesus to share our ideas in a peaceful manner.  We are not to hate nor are we to think that we can force others to accept our way of thinking.  When I asked our grandson what are the characteristics of a good person, he replied that a good person always respects another person.  We need to remember that as we as we journey through some very troubled times in our country.  The concept that should join us together is a focus on the common good which will bring about the Kingdom of God.   
     

​We know that life is different now and will remain so for the coming time. Moving forward into a new reality has not caught up with us yet. How do we navigate this change in our daily lives? Deep down we know that it will be a long time before the normal that we knew will once again be a reality and actually it might never be. Life has changed.
It seems that as Christians, we can move forward by not taking our relationship with Jesus Christ for granted, just as we no longer take our lives for granted or our relationships with others for granted. We need to listen to what he teaches us by our attention to prayer, reading of the Scriptures, attendance at Mass, either online or in person, always staying focused on the one who teaches us with authority. As we move on a new path for the future, let us be committed to the one who reveals to us the great love God has for us. If we do this, we can bring love to others as we build the Kingdom of God on earth.