Joy in Giving the Good News

May 2 Friday of the 2nd week of Easter: A thought for those who want to bear prophetic witness through lifestyle

Acts 5:34-42; Psalm 27:1,4,13-14; John 6:1-15

After being flogged for talking about Jesus, the apostles went out “rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer shame for Jesus’ name.” In the Gospel Jesus “gave thanks” that he was able to feed five thousand people on the mountainside—in a preview of the millions he would feed with Eucharist throughout the world. It makes us ask what we find joy in. Is there “one thing” we “ask of the Lord”? One thing above all that we seek?

For the psalmist it was “to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD.” For Christians, if we follow Pope Francis, that is not enough. We need to “go forth” and bring the rest of the world in. The Church “exists to evangelize.”

28. The parish is… an environment for hearing God’s word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration. In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelizers. It is a center of constant missionary outreach.

To evangelize, we first have to bear witness by a lifestyle that cannot be explained without the Good News. To live for others includes living in a way that expresses the truth to others. As prophets.

PRAY: Lord, let my life give light.

PRACTICE: Ask yourself what every choice expresses.