Daily Reflection for Friday, September 16, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091622.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First reading: Corinthians 15:12-20
Responsorial: Psalm 17:1, 6-8, 15
Gospel: Luke 8: 1-3
Our reflection on Friday’s reading:
“Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.” Luke 8:1
Today’s gospel tells us that Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. When I think of proclaiming something, I usually think about great oratory or written proclamations. However, the dictionary also defines proclaim as: “to give an outward indication of or to SHOW.” As I imagine Jesus and the disciples moving from one town to the next, I believe that they were not just giving slick speeches, but they were doing things like healing the sick, feeding the hungry, seeking justice for the poor. They were proclaiming the good news by showing and demonstrating what being a good community member looks like.
The Pew Research Center conducted two studies on the religious landscape in the United States in 2007 and 2014. Pew Religious Landscape Research The trends indicate that the US is in a slow decline when looking at practices that would point to our belief in God and being a practicing member of a faith community. The data also reveals how deeply divided we are even within our own faith communities on multiple socio-political-economic issues. How are we to reverse this decline inactive faith?
I believe that one simple way to reverse this decline is to follow Jesus’s call to proclaim the good news to our neighbors, friends, and enemies alike. Perhaps if we take this call seriously we might change the hearts and minds of those we serve, one person at a time. No preaching is necessary; just being and doing what we are called to do is enough to turn the tide. After all, each Mass is dismissed with the proclamation; “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Is there a better way to “practice” our faith than to bring Jesus to someone’s life by simply being available to them?
Lord, send your Spirit to accompany me in proclaiming your love through service.
Paul Gunn