Dead or Alive

September 15: Tuesday of Week 23 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31; Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 4, 5; Luke 7:11-17

What is Jesus saying to us as stewards of his kingship? (To support Reaching Jesus... Step Five).

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"The dead man sat up and began to speak" (Luke 7:15).

We will recognize the presence of Jesus in the Church when all those who are dead in the pews sit up and begin to speak. Paul says “all the parts of the body, though many, are one body… and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.” There is no difference between clergy and laity in this. We all have equal voice in the Church. It is a sin not to use it.

To paraphrase Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil in the Church is for the laity to leave everything to the clergy.” Experience makes that evident.

When did you last read Vatican II’s Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity?

2. The Church was founded to spread the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth… that through the work of every member the whole world might enter into a relationship with Christ… No part of the structure of a living body is merely passive… so, too, in the body of Christ (see Ephesians 4:16).

The Vatican II documents are “required reading” for any disciple of Jesus aiming higher than a C.

Grading system: A = Authentic; B = Barely Christian; C = Conformist; D = Dead Weight; F = Fool.

Passing grade: B or higher.

PRAY: “Jesus, say to me ‘Arise.’ Live with me; live in me; live through me.”

PRACTICE: Look out. Speak out. Reach out.