Daily Retreat 10/21/06
2006 Oct 21 Sat: Ordinary Weekday/ BVM
Eph 1: 15-23/ Ps 8: 2-3ab. 4-5. 6-7/ Lk 12: 8-12
From today’s readings: “He put all things beneath His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.... O LORD, our LORD, how glorious is Your Name over all the earth!... Whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”
Not to deny Christ
Although, as we’ve seen in several Gospel passages just this past week, Jesus repeatedly warned His disciples to avoid the showy hypocrisy of the Pharisees, nevertheless, He didn’t go so far as to bid His followers ever to hide their faith, and so, perhaps this distinction deserves a bit more of our attention.
For faith in Christ is meant to be celebrated, shared, and proclaimed! There’s never a good reason to belittle or deny our belief in Christ - even a very real threat of martyrdom should inspire us to boldness, rather than timidity, in the proclamation of our faith. But, by extension, that means that the modern secular attacks on our faith should likewise stir us to ever greater Christian witness, instead of reducing us to mute bystanders in the ongoing public debates touching on cor Christian values.
Yes, Christians are called to be courageous, strong, and indefatigable in the proclamation of our faith in word and action, but, what we must avoid, however, is any hint of a sanctimonious, “holier-than-thou” attitude in our interactions with others. For, to dare to gloat about our own goodness, would be to deny Christ as the source of all goodness, and whoever denies Christ before men, will be denied before the angels of God!
Eph 1: 15-23/ Ps 8: 2-3ab. 4-5. 6-7/ Lk 12: 8-12
From today’s readings: “He put all things beneath His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.... O LORD, our LORD, how glorious is Your Name over all the earth!... Whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”
Not to deny Christ
Although, as we’ve seen in several Gospel passages just this past week, Jesus repeatedly warned His disciples to avoid the showy hypocrisy of the Pharisees, nevertheless, He didn’t go so far as to bid His followers ever to hide their faith, and so, perhaps this distinction deserves a bit more of our attention.
For faith in Christ is meant to be celebrated, shared, and proclaimed! There’s never a good reason to belittle or deny our belief in Christ - even a very real threat of martyrdom should inspire us to boldness, rather than timidity, in the proclamation of our faith. But, by extension, that means that the modern secular attacks on our faith should likewise stir us to ever greater Christian witness, instead of reducing us to mute bystanders in the ongoing public debates touching on cor Christian values.
Yes, Christians are called to be courageous, strong, and indefatigable in the proclamation of our faith in word and action, but, what we must avoid, however, is any hint of a sanctimonious, “holier-than-thou” attitude in our interactions with others. For, to dare to gloat about our own goodness, would be to deny Christ as the source of all goodness, and whoever denies Christ before men, will be denied before the angels of God!
posted by FrPitstick | 10/18/2006
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