“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. (2 Cor 4:5)”
One of the most devastating blows to the Church’s mission of evangelization, especially in our day, is the terrible scandal of her immoral members. How are we supposed to convince our family, friends, and coworkers to join us when the community we are inviting them into includes thieves and pedophiles at the highest levels of the hierarchy, or even petty members of cliques among the parish faithful? St. Paul certainly knew his own life was wide open to criticism as he had previously persecuted Christians to death. If we are counting points for “our team” based on our human virtues, we will always lose in the analysis. The lonely person living a life of quiet desperation does not need to know that we have a bunch of good people on our team. They need to know that Jesus is God’s Son, that He has conquered death, and that even they can be redeemed through Him.
Jessie, this is such a gift! Even if you don’t write 100 words daily, you are making us more spiritually rich with your gifts. Thank you from this friend and English teacher!
Thank you, Theresa!