During her tour of the Russian provinces in 1787, Catherine the Great,
seeing joyful people and prosperous villages, believed she had succeeded in
making her subjects happy. She never learned that the misery and squalor
had been hidden from her. Her tour was all a sham, concocted by her prime
minister. He had prepared phony villages along the royal route to deceive
her.
Jesus insisted we see the world as it really is and then move to change it.
Jesus said "All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:18b-20). As Christians,
we are to not accept the facade of happiness and joy in sin that the world
offers, but rather Jesus has called us to change our world through His
love. Today, let us make a positive impact in the world where we live.
