Daily Retreat 10/16/07
2007 Oct 16 Tue/ Hedwig, r/ Margaret Mary Alacoque, v
Rom 1: 16-25/ Ps 18(19): 2-3. 4-5/ Lk 11: 37-41
From today’s readings: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel!... The heavens proclaim the glory of God.... Give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you....”
Are you ashamed of the Gospel?
St. Paul had a way of presenting the truth in a rather straightforward fashion. His words are so refreshing in this age, when so much of what we hear and read is crafted by “spin doctors” or advertising professionals who make their living capitalizing on equivocation, suppressing the truth, and stretching and distorting the simple meaning of words.
Paul’s claim, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel!” was proven with his years of tireless and fearless missionary travels and eventual martyrdom. He was not ashamed of the Gospel because he understood what it is: the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, the Good News of the revelation of God’s love in the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus His Son!
When you and I treat the Gospel as just another advertisement clamoring for our attention, then it’s easy to be ashamed of it, to relegate it to a minor place in our lives. But then comes this unadulterated, unequivocal reminder from St. Paul: “They have no excuse; for although they knew God, they did not accord Him glory as God or give Him thanks!”
When you and I understand, as Paul did, what the Gospel is, then it will become unthinkable for us to be ashamed of it. May we never exchange the truth of God for a lie, and revere and worship the creature rather than the Creator - rather, let the boast proven with our own thoughts, words, and actions be, "I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL!"
Rom 1: 16-25/ Ps 18(19): 2-3. 4-5/ Lk 11: 37-41
From today’s readings: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel!... The heavens proclaim the glory of God.... Give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you....”
Are you ashamed of the Gospel?
St. Paul had a way of presenting the truth in a rather straightforward fashion. His words are so refreshing in this age, when so much of what we hear and read is crafted by “spin doctors” or advertising professionals who make their living capitalizing on equivocation, suppressing the truth, and stretching and distorting the simple meaning of words.
Paul’s claim, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel!” was proven with his years of tireless and fearless missionary travels and eventual martyrdom. He was not ashamed of the Gospel because he understood what it is: the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, the Good News of the revelation of God’s love in the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus His Son!
When you and I treat the Gospel as just another advertisement clamoring for our attention, then it’s easy to be ashamed of it, to relegate it to a minor place in our lives. But then comes this unadulterated, unequivocal reminder from St. Paul: “They have no excuse; for although they knew God, they did not accord Him glory as God or give Him thanks!”
When you and I understand, as Paul did, what the Gospel is, then it will become unthinkable for us to be ashamed of it. May we never exchange the truth of God for a lie, and revere and worship the creature rather than the Creator - rather, let the boast proven with our own thoughts, words, and actions be, "I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL!"
posted by FrPitstick | 10/15/2007
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