St Paul speaks about the many gifts that the Spirit can grant us. These gifts are necessary for us to function as the Body of Christ here on earth. We are all called to bring those gifts to the community for the benefit of all. However, some of these gifts are subtle and sublime and have more to them than meets the eye. I think of St Paul and the apostles who traveled as missionaries to bring the Gospel to different parts of the ancient world. We have been blessed with many great missionaries who have gone out to faraway lands to bring Christ's message. But we all can be missionary in our own way. St Therese of Lisieux was a cloistered Carmelite nun who lived her whole life in the same region of rural France. She physically never went to a faraway land as a missionary, but she was named one of the patron saints of the missions for the depth of charity she had in in her heart and for the prayer support she had for our Church’s missionary activity. The Second Vatican Council reminds us that even though all of the faithful are not called to give their lives as martyrs for the faith, we are all called to that level of holiness and tenacity in living out our faith that will allow us to become a martyr if faced with that circumstance in our lives. Even though certain members of our community are called to consecrate their lives through ordination as priests or deacons or professed religious, we are all called to embrace the values that make chastity, obedience, and poverty aspects of our lives of faith. Each of us is only one member of the body of Christ in our gifts and in our functions. Our Church is rich in its diversity. The love of Christ animates and unifies the Church’s many members. May we appreciate and glory in being part of that one Body.
No comments:
Post a Comment