Word to the Wise
Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - Twenty-second Tuesday in Ordinary Time
[1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11 and Luke 4:31-37]For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.
Some people definitely think God is "out to get them." Others think that it's all predestined and nothing we can do makes any difference. St. Paul says that as long as we maintain our relationship with God in a right way, we will be by the very gift of Christ destined for salvation. St. Paul points out a very positive aspect of the Thessalonian community as an example of this when he says, "Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do." Maintaining a Christian life with integrity requires a lot of faith and support and encouragement. Some years ago, the Master of the Order, Timothy Radcliffe, OP, came for an official visitation. I was a member of the provincial council at the time and all of us on the council were summoned to our priory in Raleigh, NC, to meet with him as he began the visitation process. I'll never forget something that he said (quoting another famous former Master of the Order, St. Hyacinth Cormier: "The purpose of a visitation is to encourage, to encourage, to encourage!" Some folks in religious life believe that the superior is out to "get them." Some feel they have no "say so" in their lives. In campus ministry I have met students who felt that way about parents or professors! Under such circumstances, what is needed is not a "Job's friend" who points out what mistakes you've made. What is needed is encouragement. We need to know that God loves us and cares about us. We need to be "built up" and to do our share of building up. When we know that we have the ability to meet the challenges and that our friends share our concerns and want to help, we can get a lot done for God. Encourage, encourage, encourage!! AMEN