Friday, May 29, 2020

Peter and Paul... You and Me!

WORD 2day: Saturday before Pentecost

May 30, 2020: Acts 28: 16-20, 30-31; John 21: 10-25

These days we continuously hear of Paul and Peter, the two great leaders who led the band of apostles in their proclamation of the Gospel and the initial formation of the Church. They announced the Gospel in season and out of season, in the prison or out of it, in political custody or in the public squares, in health and in sickness, among the faithful or among skeptics, among simple peasants or to learned philosophers. Nothing held them back from preaching the Word.

Looking for ideal situations to evangelise, bemoaning the political atmosphere or the social apprehensions,  finding excuses for remaining unnoticed Christians and justifying our lack of initiatives towards evangelisation: these are very common these days. 

At the same time, speaking of the Word in an insensitive manner, caring nothing for the well being of persons around but all the time proclaiming with a self-promotional mentality, faking godliness, putting up appearances, hypocritical judgement of the other, hidden rush for self centered goals and economic gains, making the Word and God a commodity for self preservation or identity creation: these are widespread too!

Tomorrow we will be celebrating the feast of the descent of the Holy Spirit causing the rise of the Church, the People of God, the people of the Spirit. Let us pray for the Spirit, the Spirit of power, love and self-discipline, the Spirit of courage and wisdom, the Spirit who strengthens apostles and empowers martyrs, that we may be persons filled with the Spirit and witnessing to the Gospel without ceasing and with integrity.