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"Utter madness" or "a model of courage and an unforgettable example of virtue"? As with Eleazer, so with all the saints. Looked at from the point of view of mere human wisdom or a totally secular spirit, the lives of many saints seem to be "utter madness". Looked at with that conviction of faith which today's responsorial psalm so strongly expresses, these same lives appear in a different light. Because they were confident that God was their shield and their glory, they accepted rejection, torture and even death. The story of Eleazer has been repeated endlessly in the Church since Jesus Himself was rejected and killed. No one accused Zacchaeus of "utter madness", but no doubt many in the crowd thought him foolish and even comic, He was trying to see Jesus, Luke tells us. What was his motivation? Curiosity or a deep spiritual desire reaching out to salvation? In Jesus' eyes, he was not a fool but a "son of Abraham", a man deserving acceptance and understanding. Jesus dealt kindly with him in a human way, but at the same time offered him the divine gift of salvation.Lord Jesus, grant us the grace always to desire to see You, to reach out to You as You give us the gift of salvation. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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That holy and exemplary men and women may be our companions in proclaiming boldly the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
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"They began to proclaim the word of God boldly" (Acts 4:31). The word "boldly" can also be translated as "audaciously" or with "forthrightness" in announcing the Christian message. The ideal agents of evangelisation should be "holy and exemplary persons". Though God could have spread His Kingdom without human collaboration, He has always sought human partners, who as suitable and free instruments, work for the salvation of humankind. The laity can evangelise chiefly through prayer, the testimony of life and the establishment of a temporal order inspired by the Gospel. Though preaching the Gospel is the competence and principal duty of those who have been ordained, lay people, who have the necessary theological training, can preach. Vatican II stresses the need for priests to be holy preachers. God ordinarily prefers to show his wonders through those men who are more submissive to the impulse and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because of their intimate union with Christ and their holiness of life, they are able to say with St Paul: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal. 2:20). Let us therefore pray that all those who devote themselves directly to evangelisation may live a holy life that emphasises the credibility of the Christian message. | |
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