September 25, 2005: How I Met My Lord

+THE TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

On Monday night, I watched the first episode of a new TV series called How I Met Your Mother. It’s actually pretty silly. The show supposedly takes place 25 years in the future and the premise is that through using flashbacks, the hero named Ted tells his rather bored kids about how he met his wife—their mother. But there was one interesting aspect of watching this program: it got me thinking about Jesus in a new way.

Since the show is about relationships, I started thinking about the large number of Christian people who really have no relationship with Christ. Many of these, of course, are even baptized Catholics. They may be people who never come to church except for Christmas or confirmation or a funeral. They may be people who never pray and never give a thought to religion… or they may even be regular churchgoers who think that the Body of Christ is basically a social club but who have no desire or intention of living an authentically Christian life. And why is that? Because they don’t have a relationship with the real Jesus… or because they think he may be a nice guy but is essentially irrelevant.

Irrelevant? Maybe they wonder what possible meaning a guy who lived 2,000 years ago—in a primitive age and in a totally different culture—could have for them today. They’re not being insulting or sacrilegious. They honestly can’t make the connection between the biblical Christ and their contemporary life.

As I meditated on this, I wondered what it would be like if I didn’t know Jesus. It seems logical to conclude that someone who lived thousands of years ago—whether it’s an Egyptian pharaoh or a caveman or Jesus—really doesn’t have much impact on me.

Then I continued with that mental thread. I thought: I’m 55 years old. If Jesus had lived and died just 56 years ago, I wouldn’t know him either, since he was gone before I was born.

And then I reasoned: well, I didn’t even convert until 1989… so if Jesus had died in 1988—just 17 years ago—I still wouldn’t have known him.

And finally I thought back to that silly program, How I Met Your Mother. Why, people could be alive at the very same time and still not know each other unless some spark of grace were to draw them together.

In the TV show, Ted desperately wanted to meet a woman he could spend his life with. He saw this as a road to peace and fulfillment in life. And so, to pursue this dream, he was active in the dating scene. He thought constantly about this perfect woman. He talked to his friends about it—even his obnoxious friend, Barney, who made fun of him. He put a lot of irons in the fire, hoping that one would lead him to this woman of his dreams. And Ted’s friends encouraged him to take chances—to read the signals, not to be afraid to kiss her, to be clear about letting her know that he wanted to see her again. It seems like a lot of work—but well worth it if it leads to his dream!

Believers know that Jesus Christ is also a road to peace and fulfillment in life—and not just on earth but for all eternity. In fact, real believers know that finding God is the only source of true and lasting peace and fulfillment. That’s what St. Augustine expressed so beautifully 1600 years ago when he wrote in his book, Confessions: “My heart is restless until it rests in Thee.” What a blessing when we realize this, too.

The point is, we ought to approach finding Jesus and building a relationship with him just as we would seek the perfect spouse or soul mate: with the same enthusiasm and energy… with the same hope… with the same dogged determination… and with the same creativity. And, if you’re already blessed with having Jesus in your life, then it’s important to help each other… just like you’d help your best friend find true love!

What’s really great, though, is that unlike human-to-human relationships which don’t always pan out, finding Jesus and having an awesome relationship is a sure thing! If not just superficially, but honestly you set your sights on him and invite him into your life, he will come… and just like a human lover, he will bring out the best in you and give you tremendous joy and satisfaction.

Jesus isn’t some ancient fellow who lived 20 centuries ago and who is clueless when it comes to things like cell phones or Mars space probes. Heck no! He is your thoroughly modern soul mate… because he made your soul! He knows your heart and your world inside-out. He understands what makes you tick and he knows how to give you to the max what life has to offer. Your heart is the lock, and he is key.

And best of all, he’s waiting just around the corner to step into your life—if only you say the word and invite him in.

How I Met Your Mother may be a silly little sitcom… but How I Met My Lord is the real deal. Stir up your heart and don’t be afraid to go out to find and love Jesus Christ.


Today’s Readings:
Ezekiel 18: 25–28
Psalm 25
Philippians 2: 1–11
Matthew 21: 28–32