I am Not Ashamed

...also found this over at "the Search for Integrity"

Enjoy!


I need to tell you what I am not ashamed of:

I am not ashamed to stand with Jesus Christ when he proclaims that he has come to proclaim good news to the poor.

I am not ashamed to be on his side when he touches the untouchable;

when he gives priority to a woman who has endured years of suffering over the child of a leader in the community;

when he goes out of his way to speak words of life to a Samaritan adulteress, or to a man tormented in mind who has been abandoned by his community to wander among the tombs.

I am not ashamed to see him moved with compassion.

I am not ashamed of his instructions when he tells me to love my enemy and do good to the one who hates me.

I am not ashamed when he counts himself among the homeless.
I am not ashamed of the way he prevented a righteous mob from executing a woman caught in sexual sin.

I am not ashamed of how he wept over the hypocrisy of religious leaders.

I am not ashamed of his call to pursue greatness by choosing to serve rather than rule.

I am not ashamed of his decision to pray for his killers to be forgiven, while they were killing him, nor am I ashamed that in this also he calls on us to follow him.

I am not ashamed that he healed indiscriminately and instructed his disciples to do the same, saying: “freely you have receive, freely give.”

I am not ashamed to say that I want to do more than be his worshiper, adoring him from a distance, as many do, proclaiming with false piety that it would be wrong to try to be like him.

I am not ashamed to be his apprentice, a student of the Master. My aim is to learn by doing.