Good News Reflection
Thursday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time
November 30, 2006
Evangelizing our families


Today's Feast: Saint Andrew
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Andrew.htm

Today's Readings:
Rom 10:9-18
Ps 19:8-11
Matt 4:18-22
http://www.usccb.org/nab/113006.shtml

Reflection:
In today's Gospel story, we see Jesus calling people into apostleship. Saint
Andrew was the first Apostle (see John 1:40-42), and although he would later
lead many others to Christ, he started with his brother, Simon (who became
Peter our first pope).

The most difficult people to evangelize are usually our own family members.
We're too close. We care so much about them that we're too hard on them.
And
since they knew us before our conversion, we don't have much credibility.

Apostleship means being sent forth to do whatever God calls us and gifts us
to
do. Today's first reading describes the need: The message must go out! And
it
describes our importance: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the
good news!

If we each fulfill our part in the Body of Christ -- together -- the voice of
Jesus goes out to all the earth and our words (his words) reach to the ends of
the world. However, not enough of us are accepting our call to apostleship.

As baptized members of Christ's Body, we all have apostolates. And it starts
in
our homes. We could be the best evangelizers in the world or the best at what
we're gifted to do, but if we can't bring Jesus to our families, something's
wrong. Our priorities are out of order or we're a bad example of what it
means
to be Christian.

Being good apostles and terrific evangelizers does not mean that we're going
to
be successful at changing the hearts and minds of family members. "Not
everyone
has heeded the good news." But it's at home where we're challenged to grow.

It's at home where we learn to love others unconditionally. It's at home where
we become good at forgiving. And it's at home where we're tested and
strengthened in serving others without complaining or resentment.

Being an apostle at home does not mean preaching conversion and debating
the
need to go to Mass. To be effective apostles for our families, we evangelize
by
purifying ourselves and growing spiritually. We evangelize by extending
unconditional, undeserved love. We evangelize by forgiving others readily and
repeatedly. And we evangelize by taking good care of our loved ones
unselfishly.

How well do you imitate Jesus when you're with family? Consider every
interaction as an opportunity for them to meet Jesus, even if they stubbornly
refuse to recognize him in you. If you're a good reflection of Jesus,
eventually, this WILL make a difference. Maybe not as fast as you'd like, but
this hardship will help you grow more fully into the image of Christ if you
truly want to live the Good News that we proclaim.


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© 2006 by Terry A. Modica
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