It's very easy to quote Scripture, to be "book smart" when describing Jesus. It's easy to talk about His work and life on earth with love and adoration. It's easy to describe His kind nature, His healing touch. We can quote Canon Law, we can quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church. But if you don't practice what you preach, it falls on deaf ears. In todays Gospel (Luke 9:18-22), Jesus is teaching the apostles that namedropping is not allowed:
Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'" Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Christ of God." He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised."
Jesus wants us to exude Him in how we think, speak and act. Don't judge the level of faith or poor choices of another. As the old saying goes, walk a mile in my shoes . . .
In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, she brilliantly describes Jesus, and, lives her life as Jesus would want of all His servants:
"It is distressing to witness a spirit of pride and arrogance. We must always look for personal outrage as a marker for pride in ourselves. By this I do not refer to the outrage one feels regarding injustice done to others. This is appropriate. By this, the marker for pride, I refer to personal outrage associated with being treated less respectfully than we would like or being judged in a way that is less positive than we feel we deserve or desire. To clarify, we can go, as usual, to the Lord’s example. When people lied about Jesus personally or mistreated Him, He let it go, as in the Garden. He did not puff up and sputter in outrage. He was very consistent in behaving like a lamb. But when people planned to stone an adulteress, He stopped them. He exhibited a sense of outrage, turning the situation on its head and using it to promote non-judgmental treatment of others. Also, when He witnessed His Father’s house being used as a market place, He exhibited outrage, even reacting with just anger. Jesus quietly accepted personal insults and slights to Himself. He did not accept cruel behavior against people or blasphemous behavior against His Father."
Lay apostles, read, read, read. Then, practice, practice, practice. What can you do today to witness your love of Christ? Not judge another's mistakes? Defend the unborn? There are so many ways to describe Jesus in our actions. Start practicing today.
Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'" Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Christ of God." He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised."
Jesus wants us to exude Him in how we think, speak and act. Don't judge the level of faith or poor choices of another. As the old saying goes, walk a mile in my shoes . . .
In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, she brilliantly describes Jesus, and, lives her life as Jesus would want of all His servants:
"It is distressing to witness a spirit of pride and arrogance. We must always look for personal outrage as a marker for pride in ourselves. By this I do not refer to the outrage one feels regarding injustice done to others. This is appropriate. By this, the marker for pride, I refer to personal outrage associated with being treated less respectfully than we would like or being judged in a way that is less positive than we feel we deserve or desire. To clarify, we can go, as usual, to the Lord’s example. When people lied about Jesus personally or mistreated Him, He let it go, as in the Garden. He did not puff up and sputter in outrage. He was very consistent in behaving like a lamb. But when people planned to stone an adulteress, He stopped them. He exhibited a sense of outrage, turning the situation on its head and using it to promote non-judgmental treatment of others. Also, when He witnessed His Father’s house being used as a market place, He exhibited outrage, even reacting with just anger. Jesus quietly accepted personal insults and slights to Himself. He did not accept cruel behavior against people or blasphemous behavior against His Father."
Lay apostles, read, read, read. Then, practice, practice, practice. What can you do today to witness your love of Christ? Not judge another's mistakes? Defend the unborn? There are so many ways to describe Jesus in our actions. Start practicing today.
Thank you, Lord, for teaching me in addition to describing You, I must exude You, too.
God bless,
Bonnie
God bless,
Bonnie
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