Paul’s travels call out to us today as
they are described in the Acts of the Apostles.
In some places, In some villages, Paul is welcomed with open arms and he
is able to win over many converts for the faith. Yet, in one place as described in today’s
reading, Paul is stoned and dragged to the outskirts of the city and left for
dead. No matter how Paul is treated and
no matter what obstacles stand in his way, he never gives up in spreading the
Gospel throughout the land. He goes from
town to town bringing Christ’s message wherever he goes.
I think of the task we are faced with
in spreading the Good News of Jesus in the Catholic Church in Mississippi. I remember when I was with St Richard youth
choir in Rome, I was telling some other priests that I covered a territory in
Yazoo and Humphreys counties of more than 1400 square miles with my three
parishes there, but that there were less that 40,000 located in that area. Some of the priests there came places where
the entire diocese covered a much smaller area.
It is easy for us to get overwhelmed with the missionary task before us.
We are having discussions with other
parishes in our deanery about how we are going to cover all of the masses and
the spiritual needs of the people. Yet, like Paul, we will meet struggles and
hardships in our ministry at times, but we will have door opened for us in our
ministry as well. God’s grace and our
faithfulness to the Gospel will get us through no matter what.
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