Saturday, June 18, 2005
LUKE 6:12-16
The gospel reading that the Church has chosen for this feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude talks about call and commitment. Jesus approached a band of fishermen and after a miraculous catch of fish, asked them to follow him. This band of fishermen formed the core group on which Jesus founded his Church. Unfortunately, many have the idea that the call of Christ is addressed only to the apostles and their successors, bishops, priests and religious. That is not true. Every Christian is commissioned to a ministry of love and justice by virtue of baptism.
The Decree on the Laity of Vatican II states: "Incorporated into Christ's Mystical Body through Baptism and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit through Confirmation, the laity are assigned to the apostolate of the Lord himself." So whether you are an accountant, lawyer, doctor, businessman or simple housewife, you share in the apostolate of preaching, teaching, and witnessing to Christ's teachings.
Today, there are very many Catholics who sacrifice time, money and effort for the Church. Think of the Eucharistic lay leaders, lectors, collectors, sacristans and others who render their services free. Consider, also, the many lay Catholics involved in various renewal movements such as charismatic organizations and neo-catechumenates. Never before has there been such a renaissance of spiritual awakening.
The most effective form of communicating the Good News is, however, our Christian living. We do not have to stand at street corners beating drums and shouting hallelujahs. We can do an effective job very quietly. Whenever we do not buy a lewd magazine, when we contribute neither money nor our presence to the type of movie or entertainment or search the internet for pornographic materials that are an insult to our morals and intelligence, we are preaching the Good News of Jesus by the example of our lives. When in our charity we help a missionary whom we will never see, when we give a beggar not just scraps of food but a good meal, when unnoticed we leave a good piece of literature somewhere which someone is bound to pick up and read and be drawn closer to Christ, we are proclaiming for Christ. Inconspicuously we are telling the world about Christ as effectively as if we had the whole world by the ear over radio or television.
Not everybody gets the big opportunities; but everyone gets the little opportunities for spreading the truth. The little circle in which we move everyday is our mission territory. In this work we must realize that no role is insignificant. The Mystical Body of Christ is so constituted that if each one does not contribute his or her share to spreading the truth in his or her own way, that part of the Mystical Body of Christ becomes a drag on the rest of the body. No matter what we are, we should do our best to contribute to the spread of Christianity.
PRAYER
"Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Inflame my heart with a burning love for you and with an expectant faith in your saving power. Take my life and all that I have as an offering of love for you, who are my All."
The Decree on the Laity of Vatican II states: "Incorporated into Christ's Mystical Body through Baptism and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit through Confirmation, the laity are assigned to the apostolate of the Lord himself." So whether you are an accountant, lawyer, doctor, businessman or simple housewife, you share in the apostolate of preaching, teaching, and witnessing to Christ's teachings.
Today, there are very many Catholics who sacrifice time, money and effort for the Church. Think of the Eucharistic lay leaders, lectors, collectors, sacristans and others who render their services free. Consider, also, the many lay Catholics involved in various renewal movements such as charismatic organizations and neo-catechumenates. Never before has there been such a renaissance of spiritual awakening.
The most effective form of communicating the Good News is, however, our Christian living. We do not have to stand at street corners beating drums and shouting hallelujahs. We can do an effective job very quietly. Whenever we do not buy a lewd magazine, when we contribute neither money nor our presence to the type of movie or entertainment or search the internet for pornographic materials that are an insult to our morals and intelligence, we are preaching the Good News of Jesus by the example of our lives. When in our charity we help a missionary whom we will never see, when we give a beggar not just scraps of food but a good meal, when unnoticed we leave a good piece of literature somewhere which someone is bound to pick up and read and be drawn closer to Christ, we are proclaiming for Christ. Inconspicuously we are telling the world about Christ as effectively as if we had the whole world by the ear over radio or television.
Not everybody gets the big opportunities; but everyone gets the little opportunities for spreading the truth. The little circle in which we move everyday is our mission territory. In this work we must realize that no role is insignificant. The Mystical Body of Christ is so constituted that if each one does not contribute his or her share to spreading the truth in his or her own way, that part of the Mystical Body of Christ becomes a drag on the rest of the body. No matter what we are, we should do our best to contribute to the spread of Christianity.
PRAYER
"Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Inflame my heart with a burning love for you and with an expectant faith in your saving power. Take my life and all that I have as an offering of love for you, who are my All."
# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 4:18 PM 
