Conversion - turning to God!

WORD 2day: Monday, 21st week in Ordinary time

August 26, 2019: 1 Thessalonians 1: 5, 8-10; Matthew 23: 13-22 

Evangelisation is one topic that the Church can never tire itself speaking of, because it is the primary reason for its being. As soon as the Church speaks of evangelisation, the anti-church civil society would interpret it as ‘Conversion’ and in turn those factions never tire themselves of accusing the Church of conversions. 

Conversion - while it would mean mere numbers for the referred-to civil society, the readings today present to us what true conversion should be for us, the people of God. It is not so much numbers, as a way of life that counts. It is a choice made for truth, justice, love and peace - in short, for God! 

Right priorities and right values are crucial within this discourse. St. Paul underlines it in such clear terms writing to the Thessalonians, that our faith should be active; our love committed and our hope firm. Active faith is love of God, committed love is self giving towards the others and firm hope is the confidence in our self identity that we are chosen by God and made for eternal happiness.

Faith in action, love as concrete compassion and hope as unceasing optimism – these are the reasons why Pope Francis is so fond of repeating – a ‘Christian’ can never be sad!