Tuesday 10 February 2015

Tuesday of the 4th Week of Easter

Some of us seem to think that a particular ministry in church belongs to us. Some try to prevent other people from taking leadership roles in such ministries, and then they complain that it is difficult to bring in new blood to improve on the particular ministry. What these people fail to realise is that the various ministries in church do not belong to anybody. We are serving in such ministries for the glory of God, and not for our own gratification or to show how good or capable we are.

The same principle applies when it comes to preaching the Good News. We are called to preach the Good News to all nations, not just to a certain group of people or to a certain community. In today's reading, we are told: "Those who had escaped during the persecution that happened because of Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, but they usually proclaimed the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, who came from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch where they started preaching to the Greeks, proclaiming the Good News of the Lord Jesus to them as well. The Lord helped them, and a great number believed and were converted to the Lord." As we can see, the reading shows us that the Good News is meant for all, not only are Jews meant to be converted, but even Greeks and others too can be converted.

If this is the case, then we should not try to segregate ourselves according to ethnic group, racial lines, or language. We are supposed to be brothers and sisters in Christ, not brothers and sisters of a particular group in Christ. Are we making effort to come out of our comfort zones and learn to love and live with others as part of God's family? Or have we still allowed ourselves to be separated, differentiated and segregated, and only care about those within our circle? Has our Christian faith grown to be more of a communitarian one, or are we still individualistic about our Christian faith?

2 comments:

  1. Padre..how if somebody like to promote them self to taking care of the higher position then before ? It's seems fail with the last post then move to other post because perhaps he/she felt not suitable for her/himself ? can we call this is
    a calling from God or own desire want to proof them self? I think only him/her self know right?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Padre..how if somebody like to promote them self to taking care of the higher position then before ? It's seems fail with the last post then move to other post because perhaps he/she felt not suitable for her/himself ? can we call this is
    a calling from God or own desire want to proof them self? I think only him/her self know right?

    ReplyDelete