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It
is this disciple who
testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his
testimony
is true. There are
also many other
things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually,
I do not
think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.
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In
the final session of “Mr. Holland’s
Opus,” Glenn Holland wonders whether he has
made a difference in people’s lives. He
wonders whether the years of hard work that he has put into teaching
has had
any effect at all on others. It
is a
common thought for teachers of youth. Often young people are so
occupied with their own
agenda that they do
not express their gratitude toward those who care for them. But
good teachers always
affect lives for the
better. In fact, we
all know people who
have touched our lives in some way and we know that we will always
remember
them precisely because they have touched our lives so well.
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The
ultimate example of
a person who touched other peoples’ lives is Jesus
Christ. This man had influenced
others from the first
moment of his existence. He
had
preached, he had healed, he had befriended, he had cared for people
like no one
had ever done before, perhaps ever in the history of the human race.
Accepting the human
condition, he had taken
people to a new height that they had never known. As John
concludes his Gospel, "There are
...
many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described
individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books
that would
be written."
Both Jesus Christ and Glenn Holland offer the example of a life spent on behalf of others. As people study the example, they should be moved to put others into a different light. We all know of people that we can help, that we can touch in much the same way that Glenn Holland and Jesus did. Both were remembered precisely because of their desire to help. It is a fitting conclusion to make our own. |
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THOUGHT
What are the most common ways in which people “touch” the lives of others for the better? PRAYER Good
and gracious God, your Son Jesus was a perfect teacher in our
world. He
influenced everyone he met for
the better. Grant
us the grace to
learn from him and to follow his example. Be
with us, we pray.
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©2007 Capuchin
Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |