Reflection by Rev. Leonard N. Peterson
Even though we might find it annoying when a pair of young Mormons ring our doorbells, I believe we also bear a certain grudging respect for them. After all, they are practicing what they preach. At the same time, we realize they are acting in the context of our culture, one that generally disregards religion and pushes it out the door to land in the trash bin of the “real world.” I know that one of our online comedians picks up on that opinion and tells his audiences that a sure way to ruin a party is to say to someone “I’d like to talk about Jesus.”
Our personal temperament may be such that precludes us from ever being a “knock on the door” type of evangelist. Still, there is a duty that we all must be missionary disciples. So how do we fulfill that baptismal obligation to spread the Gospel?
One way for sure is to take on the project of living the way the bible tells us, specifically Our Lord Jesus, and to live it daily. This would make clear to any observer that Jesus Christ is central in our lives. That decision of ours has consequences. In short, it is the primary ingredient of all our decisions, big and little. What shall I buy? How shall I converse with others? How should I raise my children if I’m blessed to have them? What do we watch on TV or online?
Those questions and the answers we give are noticed. Yes, by God of course. But also, by everybody else, be they friends or strangers. Presume for the sake of argument that someone at the supermarket knows you are a parishioner at St. X parish and overhears your conversation. It happens to be all about a pesky neighbor of yours who has got on your nerves for way too many reasons and for way too long. What can that observer conclude about your take on the obligation Christ commanded to love one’s neighbor?
The early Christian author Tertullian wrote about behavior way back in the 2nd century. He wrote: “The heathens were accustomed to exclaiming with astonishment: ‘Behold how these Christians love one another, and how they are ready to die for one another’.” Could a present-day writer say the same about us? Or would he/she declare on the editorial page of a respected publication the following observation: “Too many Christians today are no longer fishers of men but keepers of the aquarium.”
God love you and give you His peace.
Rev. Peterson’s Reading & Gospel Summary
Reading I: Isaiah 66: 10-14c
Mother Zion will comfort her little ones, and the “hand of the Lord” is with His chosen ones.
Reading II: Galatians 6: 14-18
“Let us boast only of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, by which we have been crucified to the world.”
The Gospel: Luke 18: 1-12, 17-20 or 10: 1-9
Luke alone records this second missionary tour of the 70 disciples. Jesus gives them His “marching orders” that God’s reign is near and brings about peace.