Are you as accepting of those outside the Christian faith as I was of those outside the Jewish faith? I never rejected my own faith tradition, but I was never ordained into its official hierarchy either. Most of my critical statements were directed toward Jews. Have you noticed how accepting I was toward those outside? Consider the Centurion, the Syro-Phoenician woman, and the woman at the well, whom I accepted even though I had to correct some of her views. I told my disciples that I had other sheep who were not of this fold. They had no concept of this. Do you? This was not a one-time observation. It is an eternal truth. 

In extreme situations in combat a soldier who leaves a secure position to advance on the enemy will ask his buddies to ‘cover me!’ Perhaps you have never been in such extreme conditions, but could the same concept still apply? Has anyone ever covered for you in an awkward or embarrassing situation, helping you to a place of safety by not passing on damaging information? Perhaps you have done the same for others. Did you find a sense of satisfaction in ‘having their back’?  Even in situations not as severe as combat the same terms are used for the same concepts. Love covers a multitude of sins. 

What if I loved everyone? What would I expect from my followers? I would make it easy for them, and make my kingdom accessible for everyone, particularly the poor. I wouldn’t require special garments that not everyone could afford. I wouldn’t require a pilgrimage to some location that was too far away for some people. I would ordain rituals that involved common ordinary materials like water, food and drink. I would structure a faith that could be practiced by anyone, anywhere. My kingdom is not of this world, but the faith I established can be followed by everyone in the world. If I loved everyone I would found the Christian faith. 

On several occasions I mentioned that my time was not yet come, yet I told my disciples that their time was always ready. This wasn’t meant for them alone, but for all my followers, and it is a call to live now, rather than in the future or the past. You can’t change the past and you don’t know what the future will bring. Are you aware of the possibilities of the present moment? This is where obedience and redemptive acts take place. It is the only time that you can act. Paul forgot those things that were behind and pressed forward for the high calling. Different faith traditions recognize different sacraments. Are you willing to see the present moment as a sacrament?