Photo credit: Resplashed.com Matthew Weibe
“I… 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… as you were also called
to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and
Father of all... But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of
Christ's gift." Eph 4:1-7
The readings for
the Ascension recount the Great Commission given to the Apostles to go out to
the ends of the earth to proclaim the Good News. The Apostles are called to be
witnesses – martyrs in the original
Greek – to Christ. They will face persecution and even death, but Jesus also
promises them great powers and graces to accomplish their mission. Some among
them will be prophets, teachers, pastors, evangelists, to help all mankind come
to faith and knowledge of God.
Each Christian
must also take up this mission. Although we may not be called to be evangelists
and martyrs, grace was given to all. Jesus Himself sustains and equips each of
us for the job He’s chosen for us. In our work, families, communities, and the
world, we are called to use our gifts to witness to Jesus Christ.
Each of us has a
purpose. Without your gifts, given courageously for Christ, the Church’s
mission is diminished. By following God’s will for your life, you will find
peace and joy even in adversity. By loving one another, we bring Christ to the
world. That’s not always easy to do, especially when we are wounded by others.
Like our Lord, our hearts may be pierced, our souls scarred, and our minds
pierced with thorns of sorrow. Like our Lord, we are asked to do what seems
impossible – to forgive our persecutors and love our enemies.
But all things
are possible through Christ, and God will help us forgive those who have hurt
us and to respond in love even when we are unjustly persecuted. Sometimes, the
best way we can evangelize others may be without words, but just by living “…
in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and
gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love…”
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