Thursday, June 14, 2012

What do YOU think of?

Almost a year ago, I posted the following note to my Facebook page. I got some interesting and compelling responses, but I feel the time has come for a broader forum.  Would you please leave me a comment below?  Or if you prefer, email me at mamacantrix@gmail.com.  I am particularly interested in the responses of those who are of other (non-Christian) faiths, and those who do not practice or identify with any faith or religious tradition.  I welcome ALL responses, so long as they are honest and respectful.  PLEASE SHARE THIS PAGE!  The more responses, the better! Thank you so much!!

Dear Friends,

I have been reading and thinking a lot about a particular statement made by St. John of the Cross: "In giving us His Son, His only Word, He spoke everything to us at once in this sole Word -- and He has no more to say ..."  

So I'd like to know...from whoever is willing to share their thoughts on the matter...what does that Word mean to you?  What do you think of when you hear or say Jesus?  I'm tagging some friends whose opinions I know are very different from mine, and some friends whose religious and spiritual leanings I don't know much about, and some whose faith and religion I know well.  PLEASE, comment, even if I didn't tag you.  Share with friends.  The broader the forum, the betterI'd love to see as much of the whole spectrum represented as I can.  Just keep it civil.  I'm not looking for a battle or a thread full of insults, just a referendum of ideas and experiences.  Thank you!!

What does the word "Jesus" mean to you?  What do you think of or feel when you hear it or say it?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

AS A JEWISH PERSON GROWING UP MY THOUGHTS AND TEACHING OF JESUS WERE NON EXISTANCE.

27 YEARS AGO I LEARNED THAT A WONDERFUL PERSON LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR ME AND TOOK AWAY ALL MY SINS.

SINCE ACCEPTING AND HAVING HIM LIVE IN ME MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN A TRUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. I WILL AND CAN NOT SAY EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT IN MY LIFE.

BUT I CAN SAY THAT IN EVERY VALLEY I MIGHT GO IN I LOOK UP AND NOW THAT WITH HIS GRACE I WILL BE ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP.

I LIVE BY THIS SCRIPTURE WHICH I HAVE MADE INTO MY OWN WORD. "GOD NEVER GIVES US MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE".

I HAVE MANY MEDICAL ISSUES AND I KNOW THAT WHATEVER COMES ABOUT IN MY LIFE IT IS A WIN WIN SITUATION. IF I COME THRU IT I WON IF I GO TO BE WITH JESUS I WON. I CAN'T LOSE EITHER WAY.

DEBBIE HAS TAUGHT AND SHARE AND I HAVE LEARN MUCH ABOUT THE THORN IN PAUL'S SIDE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TRUE CAUSE OF PAUL'S THORN WAS AND IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE SUCH AS MYSELF JESUS IS CARRYING AND LOVING ME JUST THE SAME.

I PRAISE GOD THAT JESUS HAS REMOVED MY BLINDERS AND OPENED MY EARS TO HEAR HIM.

I LONG FOR THAT DAY THAT I CAN BE WITH HIM IN PARADISE.

Anonymous said...

When I hear the word 'Jesus', I think of my partner, my confidant, my comforter, my best friend. I think of the one who has always been there for me, through all of the good times and the bad encouraging me, challenging me and offering me a hand up. I think of the one who has always given me his very best and daily provides me with love, peace, joy, hope, help, healing, courage and strength. I think of the amazing journey my life has been and when I hear the word 'Jesus', I smile.

Anonymous said...

As a non-Christian, I believe that Jesus did at one time exist as a great leader of men. Because of his charisma, moral standing, and leadership, many people looked up to him. But for me, there is nothing beyond that. I don't necessarily believe in "God" as he has been painted by various religions, and therefore, I'm unable to see Jesus as anything more than a historical figure.

Anonymous said...

He is "King Jesus" - Lord over all and Captain of my life. He died in my place, has risen and is coming soon for His Bride. He is The One, the Son, that fully pleased and brought glory to our Father - so now every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that King Jesus is Lord!

Traci Cee said...

When I hear the "Word," I have conflicting thoughts. I was raised in a Christian household with what I consider the "true" teachings of Christ: love, patience, generosity, and peace to name a few. I was taught to value human beings as God's creations, that we are ALL equal and worthy of respect.

Now that I am older, I question the existence of God; however, I do know that Jesus was indeed an historical figure. Whether he truly was divine, I cannot decide, but I believe his teachings are applicable to ALL people. Basically, the Golden Rule is the best way to live despite religious beliefs or lack thereof.

Anonymous said...

Your question is straightforward, but it provokes serious thought. Perhaps it so blunt of a question that it is harder to answer because of it...at least for me. Jesus, or the Word as St. John of the Cross regards him, means exactly that to me: He is the infinite and supreme Word of God. All things are brought to perfection with him, so much so that even sin cannot withstand the mercy that pours out through the wounds of the cross. In Theology last year, my class had to write a thesis paper on why God became man. The obvious answer was to free us from sin, but we had to go deeper than that. I tell you, that was the hardest paper I have ever written. We were given some works by St. Augustine to research, and I came to the conclusion that God became man to save us from ourselves. So when I think of Jesus, I think of the Divine Being who made freedom from sinful humanity a reality. We were so mired in our own degenerate behavior prior to his Incarnation that he had to experience the ultimate consequence of the Fall, death, to free us from our own self-inflicted deaths. Anyone who is willing to experience death to save me from my sinfulness is heroic, and in this case He is Divine. He is the only person who will ever perfectly love me and the only person who will ever be so patient as to let me tell Him 'no' a million times just to hear me say 'yes' once. I could go on and on with this, but to sum it up: Jesus is everything, even when my sinfulness treats Him as nothing. He is always near, with open arms and firm encouragement.

Jenny said...

When I hear the word 'Jesus' I think of 'Savior'. Jesus is the one who took upon himself my sin, and the sin of the whole world to save us from eternal separation from God. He also is the one that now intercedes for me at the right hand of the Father. He is the Word made flesh...the Son of God who through his death and resurrection redeems those who believe and gives them a future and a hope.