Tell the People Everything April 26

Prayer

Jesus, you teach us constantly through your Word and Work. You are the Light of the world.

Give us the courage to take what we have learned and go into the temple area. There we can continue your teaching so that we might testify to the light and lead people away from whatever darkness tempts them. Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/042606.shtml

“Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” (Acts 5:20)

But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. (John 3:21)

After the disciples were miraculously released from prison, they no longer were retreating into their “comfort zone” to fish. They went right back out to the temple area to tell the people everything about their mission and become “fishers” of souls. Even though they face scourging by the authorities who try to convince them to stop this “unauthorized” teaching, they do not stop.

They want their works to be clearly seen as done in God. They want to live the truth openly as commanded. They want to work to save the world. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him (John 3:17).

Courage is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It takes courage to witness in the public square to the message of the Gospel like the Apostles. While I was in Los Angeles recently, I was able to see the effects of Cardinal Mahoney’s courage. He spoke out for just immigration laws – laws that he hopes will recognize that there is no such thing as an “illegal” person because we are all born in the image of God. This message gave the people in his flock – and his fellow Bishops and Catholics across the country – the support and courage that they needed to call on political leaders to support just laws.

Action

Do you need some courage to find your voice? What issue do you feel called to speak about? Act about? John’s Gospel doesn’t instruct us to “condemn the world” but to testify to the light. How can you do this so as to bless the Lord at all times?

(If the e-mail doesn't come through every day, reflections are posted at www.yourdailytripod.blogspot.com.)