Word to the Wise
Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - Sept. 21 - St. Matthew, Apostle and evangelist
[Eph 4:1-7, 11-13 and Matt 9:9-13]I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace......But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry......[Ephesians]
The liturgical celebration of the feast of an Apostle is always an occasion to take a look at how the vision in the Letter to the Ephesians was realized! The group of men Jesus chose as apostles could not have been more diverse! Matthew was a tax collector. Peter, James and John were all fishermen! Simon was a member of a radical revolutionary group. Judas Iscariot was a thief. Somehow the Holy Spirit was able to transform this group (minus Judas Iscariot!) into a preaching force, living in a manner worthy of their call!
In every parish or campus ministry center, one of the most important tasks is the discernment of the gifts of the Spirit in each person and finding ways these gifts can be marshaled to benefit the entire community. The letters of St. Paul (especially 1 Corinthians) indicate how big a concern that was to him. It is still a big concern to every pastor. This process has to begin with the challenge to each parishioner/student to do an honest self-assessment and then volunteer to share their gift in whatever way it can benefit the entire community. This is truly living in a manner worthy of the call each of us has received. AMEN
[Note to the Beloved Congregation: beginning Tues. Sept 20 till Tues. Sept 27, I will be on the west coast. I'll be sending WTTW but it will seem to appear later on your screens because of the time differences.]