Scripture:
Acts 16: 1-10
Psalm 100
John 15: 18-21
Reflection:
Witnessing Jesus
St. Paul was truly a zealous traveling missionary, going from town to town to preach the Good News. He worked hard, had his share of sleepless nights – and his message of Jesus’ unconditional love was all-too-often not well received. Yet, nothing deterred him from his divine calling and his passionate response
We are women and men of faith today because of St. Paul and others like him. Many people have generously responded to God’s call to be missionaries and evangelists, our own Passionist saints and blesseds at the top of our "lists". That Good News continues to be spread throughout the world today, even "to the very ends of the earth".
As members of the Church, we are each called to be "missionary" in living and witnessing our faith in the person of Jesus, crucified and risen. By word and example, we share the treasure of our faith and show the power of God’s love in our lives — especially in our love for one another. Jesus’ words apply to us as well: the message of love we proclaim may not always be received with great enthusiasm; we may have to join Jesus in suffering as we proclaim God’s Kingdom.
May these Easter days and the coming gift of the Holy Spirit in Pentecost encourage us in praying the words of Psalm 100: "Let all the earth cry out to God with joy…Sing joyfully to the Lord…Know that the Lord is God…the Lord is good…"
Amen. Alleluia!
Fr. John Schork, C.P. is the local leader of the Passionist community in Louisville, Kentucky.