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Jesus began to speak, “There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more…”
A few Sunday’s ago, I went to a well known restaurant located in my neighborhood. As soon as I walked in, I could see someone staring at me in a very weird way. He looked shocked to see me. [That’s not uncommon but it never feels normal.]
He walked up to me and introduced himself to me. He told me that his family owned the restaurant and that he was “The Manager”. I congratulated him on his job and waited for him to explain why he was talking to me. Finally, and with a little bit of nervousness, he said to me, “Father, grew up in the Catholic Church but have not attended Mass in a very long time. Someone came in here a few minutes ago and asked me if I was saved. He told me to seek God in my life. That’s when you walked in. I think God is giving me a sign.”
Well, I was happy with that because it meant I would probably get a free meal. [Just kidding.]
Definitely the Lord was inviting this young man, through a Christian, to reflect on his life and to come back to Him.
Contrary to current folklore, God is not a human invention. He is a reality. Man did not invent God. God revealed himself to man. We did not find Him. He found most of us. Some are still lost.
God is not "something" you "added" to your life. He is our life. He is the beginning and the end of our life; He is the reason, purpose, and goal of our life.
Far too many people in this world (yes, even one person would be too many), continue to think that God is a crutch. God is not a crutch. God is our Creator. Legs and lungs are not crutches. If you want to walk, then you have to have legs. If you want to breathe, then you have to have lungs. If you want to live in this world, then you have to have God in your life.
We tell people all the time what is good for them. We tell complete strangers that they should think twice before eating this or that. We hear it all the time: watch out for carbs, watch your weight, and watch out for fat and steroids. We have no fears telling our neighbor what their body needs. But when it comes to our neighbor’s soul, we tend to remain silent, dead silent…unless we have a heresy we’d like to share.
Our faith was never meant to be concealed. It was never meant to be locked up and whispered away. It was meant to be proclaimed behind closed doors and in front of open doors. To be more like Jesus Christ never hurt anyone. If anything, it saved them.
A few weeks ago, a stranger walked into this restaurant, ordered something and asked a complete stranger a simple question: “Have you been saved?” The question shocked him. It surprised him. It even scared him a little. But what is more shocking and interesting is the fact that no friend or family member asked him or encouraged him to come back to Church; the Church he grew up in.
It’s time we stop making our faith a private affair. It’s time we stop worrying so much about what others may think and start helping others to think...and pray...and live. It’s time we stop making excuses and saying, “Well, I just don’t want to offend anyone.” If we can give our opinion on what food to eat, then we can give an invitation to the Lord’s feast. No one will be offended that you invited them to Church or that you spoke to them with love and conviction (regarding the truth of Jesus Christ).
Speak the truth and see what happens. Invite others to come to church and see what happens. You never know. You may actually change someone’s life for good.
Let us share our faith, our hope and our love with others just like we share our fries; generously.
Beautiful Meditation Father Alfonse! So real and straight to the point.
ReplyDeleteJust Love Your Meditations Father Alfonse , my Friday night excitement LOL!
God Bless u my Father
Keep on keeping it real Fr! You Rock!
ReplyDeleteIf all else we all need to go forth and evangelize because bottom line, each soul we meet and encounter is a soul on our watch and their blood is on our hands and we will be held responsible for them if we do not do what we were called to do. It is our mission, our duty & our responsibility to share the good news so that they can have eternal life and be able to experience the love and mercy of our good Lord Jesus Christ!
Ezekiel 33:7-9
"7 "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way; he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life."
Keep on telling it like it is Fr Alfonse! No sugar coating!