“Even when you’re left out, Jesus loves you.”
My girls were reciting this back and forth to each other last week. You could tell their Vacation Bible School was doing a great job. They have the line memorized and the stories they heard, videos they watched, and activities they did reinforced this message. I’m so pleased with how well that program has done. The joy on their faces as they tell me about it is just priceless.
The phrases they kept reciting got me thinking though . . .
I hope they never have to learn this lesson through experience, but I know they will.
I hope they never feel left out, but I know they will.
We all do. It’s a part of life.
I’m so grateful that I had people in my life that showed me that even when I felt left out, Jesus loved me.
It’s a corny line, isn’t it? It’s not something you can just teach someone with words; it has to be experienced. I’m grateful for the people that SHOWED me Jesus loved me, not just told me Jesus loved me.
How I Know Jesus Loves You
Jesus went to the people who felt left out. He healed the lepers, the blind, the poor, the Samaritans, and many other people who were rejected by their neighbors.
These people felt left out and it hurt–it probably hurt worse than their physical pain.
“Even when you’re left out, Jesus loves you.”
Today, there are so many people who feel left out. We can’t just tell them Jesus loves them. It won’t make any sense and, besides, they’ve heard it in Sunday school classes for years. They have sung songs about it since they were two.
Instead, we need to show them Jesus loves them.
First, we need to know why they feel left out. We need to enter into the pain as people who have been left out too. We need to listen.
Then, we need to invite them into an encounter.
In my experience, the best places for that encounter is in Scripture and the Sacraments.
God is alive in his word. It has healing power.
God is truly present in the Eucharist. That’s where I first met Jesus.
I found out that Jesus loved me during adoration one evening during a summer youth conference in Steubenville. It was a powerful event. I heard in my head without a shadow of doubt a message from God:
“Jared, when you feel left out, turn to me.”
I have ever since. When I feel left out (and I know this sounds corny), I know that Jesus loves me.
I’m writing a book about evangelization tentatively titled Heal, Proclaim, Teach. I’m sharing what I learn along the way. Sign up for updates, articles, interviews, resources, and more.
