I heard an advertisement for a Christian radio station indicating we needed Jesus because of the troublesome events occurring in America. I disagree with that logic.

Do we need Jesus in our life? Yes! Always and all the time. Is that because life is full of heartache and trouble? No. We need Jesus because His life, death and resurrection are the bridge we can use to become closer to the Triune God. God should be the center of our universe, the reason we get up in the morning and the passion to do everything to the best of our ability. As the Catechism teaches, “He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength.” (CCC 1) We need Jesus not because of things happening around us or to us, but simply because that’s what we were created for: relationship with God.

So how does one “get” Jesus? To seek Him, is to take action. We cannot merely sit by and expect to experience Him. Actions include reading the Bible, attending Mass and praying. They can also include getting to know other people, since there’s always a little bit of Jesus in every person. We can also seek Him in the world the Father created. From the tiniest little insects to the massive redwood trees and everything in between, all reflect God in some way.

One has to take action in order to be able to know Jesus. It’s in absorbing our experiences that we can start to get a glimpse of Him. He can be both an old friend and a new acquaintance all at the same time. When we are not focused on Him, it’s not that the Lord has abandoned us, but rather that we turn our backs to Him. Making the effort to search for Jesus is the only way to focus on Him and to get to know Him.

Seeking and knowing the Lord are linked by loving. Love also involves action. It can be a prayer, a smile to a stranger or a hug to a friend. When we offer up our daily activities — no matter how small — we are seeking Him out, getting to know Him better and showing our love for Him. We are modeling Jesus’ total gift of self to God.

Invite Jesus into your life today, because you want Him in your life. He will give you what you need to get through life’s obstacles as He journeys beside you to the Kingdom of God.