I have no doubt in my mind that there are many people who would like to do good and be a positive influence on their neighbour, but when we look at the history of those who have been the examples of altruism we shy away and try to keep our good thoughts hidden.

Our experience is that the great Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi was assassinated for trying to bring unity in his homeland. After all his efforts at fighting for the betterment of the status of non-caste Hindus (“untouchables”) and working for the many minorities of India , he was gunned down.

Martin Luther King Jr suffered a similar fate after his non-violent struggle against racism in his homeland. His well-known dream is that one day he would see whites and blacks walking hand in hand, a noble aspiration, an example of love of neighbour.

Nelson Mandela spent a generation of his life in jail for his fight against the forces of apartheid. He wanted equal rights and opportunities for the blacks in South Africa .

These were all people who were highly respected by many, especially the marginalised in society and the least of the brethren, but they had to be lifted up by their followers just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert.

There are still those who believe in what these “prophets” proclaimed and because of their legacy the world has been saved. In other words, those who have believed in them and have followed their teachings have done much to make a better life for all.

We know that blacks in the USA have benefited tremendously because of the teachings of Martin Luther Jr. The same may be said of the blacks and coloureds in South Africa as a result of the life of Nelson Mandela. Similarly, India is now a better country because of Gandhi and those who have followed his wisdom.

Isn't this what Jesus was saying to Nicodemus? Jesus himself had to live this experience and he too had to give his life in defense of his beliefs.

His followers, Christians, have been left to act on what he has left and carry on his legacy of the greatest commandment: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength… You must love your neighbour as yourself.

Those who believe in what he has said and act on it will find that they are saved. They live a more fruitful life. Those who refuse to believe condemn themselves to an empty life.

These latter are the ones who are steeped in corruption and are afraid to come into the light for fear their actions should be exposed; but those of us who live by the truth come out into the light so that it may be plainly seen that what we do is done in God.

And so we pray : Lord, we thank you for people like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, and Mother Teresa who gave their life in the service of their neighbour. They have been lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes in them may have eternal life. We have noticed that those who have followed them have made the world a better place and they lead us on the road to eternal life.

We are sorry for the times when we refuse to believe in words of wisdom or when we reject advice that we know to be good. Sometimes we do this because of fear, indifference, laziness or selfishness. At these times we are really condemning ourselves and making life more difficult for ourselves and others.

May we continue to find in our community, in our country and in the world selfless leaders and role models who will teach us to live a life of virtue and help us to realise that we are saved by loving our neighbour and we condemn ourselves when we are selfish.

Send us, Lord, leaders that we can lift up, those who are not afraid of the light so that it may be plainly seen that what they do is done in God. Amen.

Gospel Meditations for March are by Felix Edinborough, Managing Director of Catholic Communications Studios and a parishioner of St Anthony's, Petit Valley.