Friday of the 28th
Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch
October 17, 2014 8:30am
In August of 2013, just a little
over a year ago, the parish staff and the Pastoral Council had an evening of
recollection.
The topic was evangelization –
bringing faith to people today, in the 21st century.
The last thing the presenter said
was this question:
When people leave Saint
Margaret’s church on Sunday, what Good News have they heard?
Have they heard some “Good” News,
something to lift them up and move them positively as persons?
The presenter said: this must
happen for today’s people and we have to make sure it happens.
It is a great point.
Sometimes Christianity is
presented in a negative way, as if it consists only of “Thou shalt nots.”
And sometimes the negativity
comes out in blasting the darkness of the world and in harping on sin and sinfulness.
The truth is that Christianity
and that means Catholicism is positive.
And we need to present it that
way.
Today’s readings are so clear on
this.
Saint Paul says that we are
chosen in Christ and endowed with the Holy Spirit.
He speaks of our hope in Christ
and our having the gospel of salvation – Pope Francis calls it The Gospel of Joy.
And Jesus in today’s gospel calls
us his “friends” – what a warm, positive word and relationship.
And he assures us that we do not
have to be afraid.
So, the gospel, our faith, our
religion is positive.
It is Good News.
We have to make sure we are embracing
it in this way and then conveying it in this way, and not missing this by
focusing only on this or that problem or this or that sin or on darkness here
or wherever.
This will be our best way to
evangelize in this 21st century.
