Where Would Jesus Go?

An older friend of mine called me the other day and we had the most wonderful conversation about updates in my life, new fruitful volunteer work I’m doing, and my vocation in general. 

I do not work in ministry and have always thought of myself as less than God’s chosen servants who do, so I found myself saying over the course of the conversation more than once, “Yes, but it’s not ministry.” He kept challenging me that yes, it is ministry, if it serves others and is a Christian response to the needs around me.

Now this person has worked in Catholic ministry his entire career, so hearing that struck me, and then he said something pretty profound that got me thinking. He said that he likes to look at things not just from the lens of “What would Jesus do?” but also “Where would Jesus go?” 

Jesus would go to the people. He would go to the secular places where the poor, suffering, and those in need of healing are found. He would go to the everyday places. He wouldn’t just go to the church. In fact, He would probably spend much of His time out of the church in search of His lost sheep. After all, He is the Good Shepherd, lover of lost women at the well, friend of sinners, and Savior of prodigal children. 

And what would Jesus do in those places? I imagine that He would encounter people where they are, personally and profoundly. He would meet the needs in His midst like He did with the multiplication of the loaves. He would respond to what is asked of Him like He did at the wedding at Cana. He would help people in their sickness and suffering. He would teach others wisdom to help them in their lives. He would coax people to reach their potential as a human being like He so often did with His disciples. He would spread the good news.

So where would Jesus go? The same places you and I go. Let’s do what He did in those places, for then, we will be His disciples.