Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter | USCCB
In our first reading for today, we continue with the
Acts of the Apostles and the challenge St. Paul had in proclaiming Jesus Christ
to those who could not and would not accept Jesus as their savior.
Paul, once he had that vision of Jesus and became a
believer and follower of Jesus Christ, become very zealous in proclaiming the
gospel of the Lord. As you may recall, before his conversion, Paul was adamant
in trying to wipe out the Christian faith. He thought they were heretics and as
a result deserved death for going against the Jewish faith as he understood it.
But on the road to Damascus, Paul encountered the Risen Jesus and had that
profound conversion. As a result, the one who was a great persecutor of the
Christian faith became a great follower and preacher of the Lord Jesus Christ.
That encounter with the Lord changed his life, and as a result, he went far and
wide proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.
In today’s reading from Acts, we hear people charging
Paul with, “inducing people to worship God contrary to the law.” Paul remained
steadfast in his faith and continued to proclaim the Gospel. As a result, many
came to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ through Paul’s preaching and
perseverance, and eventually all the writings that are attributed to him in the
New Testament.
We are all, like Paul, called to bring the gospel of
Jesus Christ to all those we come into contact within our lives. We may not be
called to preach as Paul did, or like any bishop, priest or deacon. But we are
called to preach in how we live out our lives as Christians.
Our day-to-day actions should reflect the fact that we
are Christians. First, we are called to love and respect all those in our lives
as the Lord Jesus loves us. All throughout the gospels, Jesus always taught
that there are two things we need to do: love God with our whole being, and to
love others as God loves us. This is central to being a follower of Jesus
Christ.
By living out our lives by the regular attendance at
Mass, by frequent reading of scripture, and by showing love and respect for
others in our lives, regardless of who they are or how they may treat us,
people will see that we are indeed Christians. There’s a hymn that was popular
a few years back: “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.” Can that be
said about us? Can people see that we are Christians by how we love those in
our lives and by the fact that we show love and respect towards God by
attending Mass every Sunday?
Sometimes the only bible or scripture verse people may
see is in how we live out our lives in service to God and to others. And when
we fall short of following Jesus as he wants, turn to him in the sacrament of
confession and through prayer and He will help you along the way to become the
Christian he wants you to be. Jesus promises us in today’s Gospel: “…whatever
you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” Pray for an increase in love
of God and love of neighbor.
Praise be Jesus Christ now and forever.
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteAmen. I agree 100%. A saying attributed to St. Francis of Assisi is "PREACH THE GOSPEL ALWAYS; WHEN NECESSARY USE WORDS." We witness to Our LORD & His GOSPEL first & foremost by the way we live our lives & then, as St. Peter exhorts us in his letter, we must always be ready for share the reason for our hope (and I would add, for our behavior) & we should share our faith in a spirit of gentleness & respect.
I well remember & will always love the song "AND THEY'LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE" that dates back to my high school Folk Mass days at Our Lady of Wisdom Academy in the late 1960s/early 1970s--this song brings back GREAT MEMORIES of the days when Catholics & other Christians in different branches of Christianity had begun to sing & pray together, to focus more on WHOM & what we share in common more than our differences, & had begun to view & treat one another less as adversaries & competitors & more as brothers & sisters, thanks to a movement of the Holy Spirit working through St. Pope John XXIII and Vatican II.
This is how I try to live & I hope that everyone whom I encounter will know I am a CHRISTIAN by my love shown in the way I treat people & the way I pray & will see beyond me to the LORD I seek to know, love & serve.