A new portrait of Christ

I am a retired teacher and one of my many hobbies is reading, especially inspirational religious books like Fulton Sheen, Louis Evely etc.

One of my very favourite books is Through the Year With Words of Wisdom (published in 1988) compiled by Fr Daniel P. Cronin with a foreword by Cardinal Basil Hume OSB. A few days ago, while going through my daily reading, I came across this "unique, beautiful portrait of Jesus Christ, our Divine Saviour", which I would like to share with readers of The Times:

What exactly was Jesus like to meet? If one had been a fellow-guest when he asked himself to dinner with Zacchaeus or when he was eating with the Pharisee what sort of man would one in fact have seen and spoken to? What was his conversation like? Having asked this question, I looked at the Gospel again and quite suddenly a new portrait seemed to stare at me out of the pages.

I had never previously thought of a laughing, joking Jesus, physically strong and active, fond of good company and a glass of wine, telling funny stories, using, as every good teacher does, paradox and exaggeration as among the most effective aids to instruction, applying nicknames to his friends and holding his companions spellbound with his talk... The first thing we must learn about him is that we should have been absolutely entranced by his company.

Jesus was irresistibly attractive as a man. The man whom they crucified was intensely fond of life and intensely vital and vivacious. The 21st century needs to recapture the visions of this glorious and happy man whose mere presence filled his companions with delight.

When I am asked about the utility of Christianity I must point to the consolations of living life in the companionship of this person who commands your love and adoration precisely because, having been through it all and sympathising with it all, he cheers you up and will not have you sad.

Your shame at your own misdoings, and shortcomings, your sense of awe and fear for divine majesty, your broken heart in the presence of this person into sheer wonder and delight which the happiness of his presence excites... the magical personality of the most lovable young man that was ever born of woman and walked the earth.