Speaking and Living as Followers of Christ

Good morning.  May the peace of out Risen Lord be with you.

 

Haven't the week's readings just been inspiring?  We have been enjoying the first few chapters of Acts in which Peter and the other Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, have been witnessing and performing miracles throughout Jerusalem.  Peter, he who denied knowing Christ in the late hours of Holy Thursday, has boldly challenged the Sanhedrin by asking them "Whom shall we obey?  You or God?  Are we to stop proclaiming Salvation through the risen Messiah, Jesus Christ, just because you demand that we do?"

 

Peter's attitude is a lesson for us today.  We pray together in the safety of our homes and in our churches.  But, do we proclaim Him in the streets?  at work?  at lunch?  over coffee?  Our great country, founded by men who believed in the One God and many of whom believed in Jesus Christ and His teachings, today tells us that we are wrong to proclaim the "bigotry" of Christianity.  Our Church is practically silent in public despite the beautiful example of its current and prior leaders, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.  In fact, many of us are be silent out of respect for the beliefs of others - beliefs we know are wrong.  Or, maybe we are silent out of lack of conviction and fear.  Regardless, we do not proclaim that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Light.  Yet, we would call ourselves His followers.  If you cannot be American without supporting America and obeying its laws, how can you be Christian if you do not do what Jesus commanded you to do?

 

It is time to decide, folks.  Are you Christian or are you tepid, lukewarm water?  Are you for Jesus or against Him?  Are you for your own Eternal Life or don't you care?  Are you going to embrace your salvation and the duties of a follower of Christ or do you just not truly believe?  Are you going to swallow your pride and reconcile with your brother and sister or not?  Jesus makes it clear that if His followers will not proclaim Him, the rocks will.  Are you prepared to let rocks live eternally while you suffer eternally for your lack of courage?

 

Let us pray for our families, our children, our boys and girls and moms and dads in the armed forces, our Church and ministers and leaders, our politicians, our enemies, the sick and the aged and the helpless, and for each other.  Let us give thanks for healings, for prayers answered, for life and breath.

 

 

Father, God, we adore you.  We thank you for your myriad blessings.  We repent our weakness and ask you for the courage of Peter and the apostles that we might proclaim Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, to the unbelieving world, to weakened believers (weekend believers, too), and to each other.  Help us.  Enflame our hearts and enliven our tongues that we might stay true to our Salvation and help lead others into your arms.  We ask these things and we lay our thanks and petitions before you in the holy Name of your Son, our brother, Jesus.  Amen.

 

Be like Bartimaeus!  Pray!  Trust!  Expect!

 

In Him and in His love,

Lou