Word to the Wise
Saturday, June 17, 2017 - Saturday in the 10th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Cor 5:14-21 and Matt 5:33-37]Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer. So whoever is in Christ is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to him in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. " [2 Cor.]
Forty-six years ago on the occasion of my ordination to the priesthood, I followed the custom of issuing souvenir "holy cards" for the event. Mine were designed by a Jesuit friend of mine who is an artist. I gave him three quotes from scripture and left the designs to him. One of the quotes was taken from the passage above, beginning with, "So whoever...." up to "ministry of reconciliation." Paul is speaking of the transformation that faith and baptism bring about in the person. "Flesh" means the unconverted person. "Spirit" means the person who believes. But it goes further because Paul challenges us to be "ambassadors for Christ" to bring about reconciliation with God. This is exactly what I challenge to those who attend my parish missions. It is the challenge that Pope Francis gives to all of us in his "The Joy of the Gospel."
Can we believe that God "appeals" through us? We have that capacity if we only put our hearts and minds to it. The styles and means will be different according to our individual gifts. St. Paul speaks to that also in his letters when he speaks of the various gifts that are given for the common good. [1 Cor. 12:7]. We can actually reconcile people to God - an amazing gift if only we recognize it in ourselves. AMEN
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