SHINE BRIGHTLY!
When
I was still in the seminary, there was always a year-end tribute to the
seniors who have finished their seminary formation. Some of them would
be ordained, some would opt to take a break prior to ordination, and
some would decide to discern continuously for maybe other options in
life.
When it was time to say thanks to the seminary priest formators, I
noticed one thing in the thanksgiving speeches they gave. It would
usually run something like this: “I thank Father for being a
co-journeyer,” “I thank the Fathers for the times they ate, played and
prayed with us,” “I thank Father for showing us how to be a priest of
Jesus Christ.”
What do those words mean? It seems that seminarians remember not so
much what we said in our homilies, discussed in our lectures, or
developed in our conferences and recollections. What they remembered
most and left a deep imprint were what we did together with them.
Today, Jesus reminds the multitude before Him that they are the light
of the world, a lamp that is lit not to be hidden but to be brought out
in the open to give light and be seen. Besides priests and those in the
religious life, all baptized Christians share in the priesthood of
Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls this the common
priesthood of the baptized. We proclaim the Gospel of Christ not so much
with words as with the conduct of our lives.
What we say is audible only to several pairs of ears. What we do,
however, is visible to innumerable pairs of eyes. Actions evangelize
better than words. Fr. Joel Jason
REFLECTION QUESTION:
In Evangelii Nuntiandi #41, Pope Paul VI wrote: “Modern man listens
more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to
teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” In what category do you
belong to?
Lord Jesus, I humbly declare, I am not ashamed of the Gospel. Grant me grace to live by it.
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