Word to the Wise
Saturday, June 14, 2025 - Saturday in the 10th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Cor 5:14-21 and Matt 5:33-37]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 himself 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 Corinthians]
Can we imagine ourselves as "ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us?" Yet, that is exactly what our baptism and confirmation have called us to be! Pope Francis used the term, "missionary disciples," to describe all of us who have been baptized. The message that our lives are supposed to reflect is "be reconciled to God!"
We have a title and we have a job to do. So, how do we do it? Do we walk up to anyone and ask, "Have you been reconciled to God?" Although, I suppose that is certainly one way of doing the task, I doubt it is what most Catholics, at least of my acquaintance, would try to do. Most of them would say, "I'm not perfect, but I try to live a good life. I go to Mass and confession (once in a while) and I send my kids to Catholic schools (or CCD). I contribute to the parish and other worthy causes." Yes, that, too, is one way and, very likely, the most popular way. But we may be doing that because we are "Catholic" and that's what Catholics "do!" Is there need for anything "more?"
To go beyond the "expected" demands an intentional effort. It may be simply an increased awareness of our identity as "ambassadors" with a message that our everyday lives can convey to others. It may be a decision to take on a missionary commitment that requires us to leave our "comfort zones" and reach out to a given population or other person. It all begins with the awareness of the mission entrusted to us by baptism. We have St. Paul to inspire us! AMEN