The Salvation Army is well known for its concern of outcasts in society. They practise many different activities including children’s day centres and nurseries and family welfare work and homes for the elderly.
There are international Christian organisations that include the Tear fund and Christian Aid, these groups care for the needs of developing nations. They help third world countries to live life as best as they can by providing clean water, health care and education.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark’s Gospel - 12: 30-31).
This is an extract from Mark’s gospel in the passage of ‘The Great Commandment’; it is what Jesus said to be the greatest commandment of all. Jesus explains this to mean that God is the only Lord we have so therefore we need to love trust him and depend on him in everything we do. The second greatest commandment of them all is to “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark’s Gospel - 12: 31). When Jesus was talking of these two great commandments he wanted us to realise that life does not revolve around ourselves it is about what we can do for others. Ordinary people can do many things for others for example: running Sunday schools and charity fund raising events.
Individuals such as Mother Teresa and Jackie Pullinger have demonstrated how to be a true disciple in today’s modern world. These unique, caring and hard working ladies who like the first disciple gave up everything they had both followed in the footsteps of the ‘Rich Young Man’ described in Mark’s Gospel apart from the exception that the Rich man could not give up his wealth. The Rich Young Man came to Jesus asking what he must do to receive eternal life. Jesus asked him ‘Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honour your mother and father. Teacher he declared all these things I have kept since I was a boy. Jesus looked at him with love and said, “You need only one thing. Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor and you will have riches in heaven; and then come and follow me. (Mark’s Gospel – 10-21)
The reason why Mother Teresa and Jackie Pullinger are compared with the Rich Young Man was because they gave up everything in order to help the poor but the Rich Young man could not part with his wealth. Mother Teresa served others by feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, working for peace and fighting for justice. Jackie Pullinger Provided food, shelter and healthcare, visiting prisons, speaking up for victims, and these became the ingredients of her everyday life. The situation was so transformed that even the drug barons watched out for her safety. As well as individuals there are also many societies who act as true disciples like Oxfam, Cardinal Hume Centre, Amnesty International and many others.
Jesus commission to the apostles was to ‘go into the world and preach the gospel news, baptize believers, drive out demons and place your hands on sick people. Today this is what the modern church and individuals basis their principles on like priests, ministers, monks, nuns and missionaries who devote their lives to this commission and through Jesus’ teachings the world is becoming a better place.
Word count- 535
Quotations 115
