From the Deacon's Desk

Each day, I reflect upon a word or phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

“Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” (Acts 5:17-26)

TELL THE PEOPLE: God anointed prophets for thousands of years, to ensure that His message would be heard. Did He suddenly stop? Or are we, as suggested by the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, modern day prophets?

At our baptism we were marked with oil as a sign we are consecrated to God and anointed by the Holy Spirit. Our anointing also was a sign that we are joined to Christ and share in his threefold mission as priest, prophet, and king.

It says in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Christ establishes the faithful as witnesses and provides them with the sense of the faith and the grace of the word. Lay people evangelize, that is, they proclaim Christ by word and testimony of life.”

What does that mean? It means we are prophets, and we have work to do. 

How can we, as prophets, proclaim Christ? Here are just a few ways to do that:

• We do this when the words we choose lift up and affirm rather than ridicule or demean.
• We do this when we speak up for those who don’t have a voice – the unborn, the homeless, the imprisoned, the poor, and the forgotten.
• We do this when we speak up to correct an injustice or defend the weak.
• We do this when we participate in the Mass, praying and singing in full voice.
• We do this when we share our faith with our children, not leaving their formation to chance.

Any time we say or do something that lets people know that Christ is central to our lives, we “tell the people everything about this life.”