Word to the Wise
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)
[Ezra 9:5-9 and Luke 9:1-6]Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick...
There's an old truism in business that says, "Start small and grow!" This could be the story of the Christian faith as presented in the gospels, especially in the Gospel of Luke (and its second "volume" the Acts of the Apostles)! He presents it as a journey by Jesus eventually to Jerusalem where he would be crucified, rise from the dead, and commission the disciples with the Holy Spirit to go out to all the world to proclaim the "Good News." Jesus starts with calling a few to work with him, who are eventually called The Twelve. Then he commissions seventy-two others to the ministry. Then through the conversion of St. Paul, the message begins to spread beyond the Jewish community to the known world around the Mediterranean Sea. Now, of course, the Good News is available world-wide in many, many ways. Christianity is an evangelical movement. It has never been intended to be a private faith, shared only incidentally with others who happen to believe or hoarded from the public! The privatization of the faith is the best way to have it die out! This is not a matter of competing with other faith traditions. We have our commission at Baptism and we are obliged to share the truth that will set people free. Disciples are not some elite group within Christianity. We are all disciples and we are part of the ever expanding mission to preach the Good News. It all started in a small way with a big event - the birth of Jesus Christ. He and the early community did their part. We have to do ours! AMEN
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