I’d like to share with you a vision my mom had in a dream a few years ago. In the dream she was trying to find her way home, but was lost and afraid. There were hundreds, maybe thousands, of signs, all proclaiming the way home, but each pointing in different directions. She ran from sign to sign getting ever more confused, bewildered and frightened. Then the Lord appeared to her and asked her what was wrong. She said “Lord, I’m lost and can’t find my way home. I don’t know which signs to follow.” And the Lord said “Follow me, I know the way”. Let me repeat that, he said: “Follow me. I know the way.”

I believe the interpretation of this dream is pretty straightforward. All we have to do to find our way to our home in heaven is to follow Jesus. But unfortunately, many Christians get distracted along the way, looking so hard for signs and prophecies that they forget to follow Jesus. But how do we follow Jesus? To understand how to follow Jesus, all we have to do is listen to what the scriptures tell us about his teachings, his actions and how he behaved while he lived with us here on earth. Because one of the reasons he came to us was to show us by his example how we should live.

The first and most important thing is to follow his great commandment which can be paraphrased as “Love God with all your heart and love others as you love yourself.” If we do that, then all the rest follows. Jesus was specific about what he meant by “love one another”. It’s not good enough just to love those that love us, but we are to love those that do us wrong, even to love our enemies. That does not mean we can’t defend ourselves, or that we have to submit to mistreatment, but it means that we have to be compassionate in how we treat others.

Again, look to the example of our Lord. How did he treat his Roman oppressors that occupied Jerusalem and Israel? How did he treat sinners? Surely not with the sword, but with compassion. He welcomed and embraced sinners. Not condoning their sins, but treating them with compassion, and teaching them both in words and by the example of his own actions and behavior. We should strive to behave the same way. Teaching not with condescending lectures, or in condemnation, but with compassion and understanding. Never by turning sinners away, because one day they may hear and understand. Or perhaps we may unknowingly plant a seed that another person may germinate in them so that they are saved.

Now I’m not an expert in scripture, but I don’t recall ever reading a passage where Jesus tells us that those that are most learned of scripture, or that are the strongest warriors against evil, will see haven. But I do recall his frequent entreaties that we are to feed the hungry, clothe the poor and care for the sick. He tells us that anyone who does this is blessed, because it’s as if we were doing those thing for Jesus himself. In today’s times we might do well to remember the parable of the Good Samaritan, who aided a stranger in need, despite the expense and danger to himself. Scripture makes it clear that Jesus expects all of us to use our own two hands to help others. Not one of us is so poor or so old and feeble that we can’t help someone less fortunate, even if it’s just giving a needed hug, or lending a friendly ear.

Although following Jesus can be difficult in practice, it’s obvious enough in concept. I believe that mom’s vision tells us that we don’t need to be able to follow complicated signs and prophesies. All we have to do is follow our Lord. I think that mom understood this deep down, and that this is why she insisted, against my strenuous protests, that I sing the hymn “You come down to the lakeshore” at her funeral. The hymn is about answering Jesus’ call, abandoning our small boats, and following him.

Sing:
You have come to the lake shore.
By Cesareo Gabarain

You have come down to the lakeshore
Seeking neither the wise nor the wealthy,
But only asking for me to follow.

Oh Jesus, you have looked into my eyes,
Kindly smiling, you've called out my name.
On the sand I have abandoned my small boat;
Now with you, I will seek other seas.

You know full well what I have, Lord;
Neither treasure nor weapons for conquest,
Just these my fishnets and will for working.

Oh Jesus, you have looked into my eyes,
Kindly smiling, you've called out my name.
On the sand I have abandoned my small boat;
Now with you, I will seek other seas.

You need my hands, my exhaustion,
Working love for the rest of the weary,
A love that's willing to go on loving.

Oh Jesus, you have looked into my eyes,
Kindly smiling, you've called out my name.
On the sand I have abandoned my small boat;
Now with you, I will seek other seas.

You who have fished other waters;
You, the longing of souls that are yearning;
O loving Friend, you have come to call me.

Oh Jesus, you have looked into my eyes,
Kindly smiling, you've called out my name.
On the sand I have abandoned my small boat;
Now with you, I will seek other seas.

(After the hymn)