Our lives in time consist of witnessing ever-changing, never-to-be-repeated events and experiences and our reaction to each in turn. Events as objectively unspectacular as seeing the smiling face of a child, the touch of a cool breeze on a hot summer afternoon, the rich and clear song of an oriole; or as potentially heartwrenching as seeing the aftermath of a natural disaster, hearing the cries of the poor, or feeling grief over the loss of a loved one.
We can witness a crime or a beautiful sunset, an athletic achievement or an injustice, an accident or a miracle. We obtain understanding and personal knowledge by way of these experiences, and in most cases, this is where our witness ends: our personal knowledge. But our witness turns from passive to active when we attest to what we've seen or heard or come to know -- when we choose not to keep it to ourselves but use it as a conduit for change.
Going public isn't always easy. Change isn't always welcomed. Speaking the truth, testifying to the truth, often exacts a price. Family, friends, job, reputation. What may we be asked to give up by our testimony to the truth?
Showing posts with label Evangelization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Evangelization. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Light of the World
The bible has plenty of what a skeptic might label contradictions, or at best, inconsistencies. Some of these are due to less-than-accurate translations. Others due to misinterpretation or unfamiliarity with the writing style of the text's ancient authors. But some of these are simply passages taken out of context.
John tells us that, despite the grumblings of the Pharisees, Jesus declared: "I am the light of the world." (Jn 8:12) Yet in today's gospel, we hear what seems to be a direct contradiction as He said to his disciples at the tail end of the Sermon on the Mount: "You are the light of the world." (Mt 5:14)
John tells us that, despite the grumblings of the Pharisees, Jesus declared: "I am the light of the world." (Jn 8:12) Yet in today's gospel, we hear what seems to be a direct contradiction as He said to his disciples at the tail end of the Sermon on the Mount: "You are the light of the world." (Mt 5:14)
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Newer Evangelization?
And I thought that our call to evangelize was timeless ...
To evangelize is to preach the gospel -- to give a reason for our hope in Christ. Saint Peter tells us that, with gentleness and respect, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for your hope." (1 Pet 3:15) His use of the word "always" is of no little significance -- literally, in every age and in every circumstance. When we encounter the Spirit of Christ, we are always driven to preach the gospel.
As Bl. Pope John XXIII convened the second Vatican Council, he spoke of the need to "open windows" of the Church and "let in fresh air". Regardless of the fact that some of our church facilities smell a little like grannie's attic, I'm pretty sure he was speaking about the Holy Spirit -- to let Him in, let Him move about freely and fill the Church as He did that first Pentecost.
To evangelize is to preach the gospel -- to give a reason for our hope in Christ. Saint Peter tells us that, with gentleness and respect, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for your hope." (1 Pet 3:15) His use of the word "always" is of no little significance -- literally, in every age and in every circumstance. When we encounter the Spirit of Christ, we are always driven to preach the gospel.
As Bl. Pope John XXIII convened the second Vatican Council, he spoke of the need to "open windows" of the Church and "let in fresh air". Regardless of the fact that some of our church facilities smell a little like grannie's attic, I'm pretty sure he was speaking about the Holy Spirit -- to let Him in, let Him move about freely and fill the Church as He did that first Pentecost.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Signaling a Retreat
In today's world, we all need structure, order, and balance to survive and thrive. Unfortunately, between housekeeping and yard work, running the kids to school activities and athletic events, the job, social and family commitments, exercise -- even vacations -- we leave precious little time for our spiritual growth.
The problem is probably not so much the quantity of the things we have to do in a given week, but the priority we give each of them. Inconsequential things in life can take up way too much of our time and energy. Sometimes we just need to step back and regain our perspective -- remember or find what is really important.
The problem is probably not so much the quantity of the things we have to do in a given week, but the priority we give each of them. Inconsequential things in life can take up way too much of our time and energy. Sometimes we just need to step back and regain our perspective -- remember or find what is really important.
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