Memorial of Saint Monica
As a pediatrician I spend a great deal of my time counseling children on healthy habits and lifestyles. There have been several instances when I am encouraging a child to eat their fruits and vegetables and wear his or her seatbelt, and the parents are shaking their heads in agreement, when suddenly, the child says, “But Mom (or Dad),you don’t wear your seatbelt!!” As parents we try our best to teach our children how to live good, healthy, productive lives by telling them the right things to do, but it is by our example of how we live that we truly teach our children what we believe to be true. I believe that this is same for us as Christians as well, and today’s readings illustrate that how we act is the most powerful way to share our faith.
In the first reading, St. Paul recognizes the Thessalonians for their faith that they are putting into action. He gives thanks to God because the “love of every one of you for another grows ever greater.” (2 Thes 1: 3) He even boasts of the Thessalonians to other churches because of the “endurance and faith in your persecutions and afflictions you endure.” (2 Thes 1:4) St. Paul realizes that the actions of the Thessalonians are a great witness to the other people of the early church. Paul understands that although his words are important in instructing the various churches regarding living lives of faith, the actions of the people in Thessalonica provide an even greater teaching of how to be a disciple. St. Paul prays for the Thessalonians so that they may continue to “bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith. (1 Thes: 1 11) It is through living lives of faith that not only are they sharing the Good News with other people in their community, but the “name of the Lord Jesus” is also being glorified through their witness.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus is criticizing the Pharisees for being hypocrites. Throughout the gospels, there are many instances where Jesus shows that although the Pharisees have a great understanding of the Jewish Law, and they are able to preach the law with words, their actions do not support what they say. Jesus says that they “lock the Kingdom of heaven before men.” (Mt 23: 3), since they do not show others what God truly desires- lives lived with justice, mercy and compassion for others. In this gospel reading, not only does Jesus revile the Pharisees for not living what they preach, but He also claims that often what they preach does not even reflect truth. Jesus explains that the Pharisees place more importance on the things of this world (the gold, the gift of the altar and even the temple) than what is truly important- God.
As Christians we are called to live out what we believe in our daily lives. I know that I don’t always recognize the power of what I do. If people know that I am a Christian, but I speak unkindly about someone, or I judge someone, or I act unlike Christ, what does that say about my faith? I can tell others how much my faith means to me, but if I don’t show that by the way I live, it becomes empty words, and these words certainly don’t attract someone to want to join me in following Christ. I have always found several quotes from Gandhi to be very profound. “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” …“If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today.” This is the challenge for each of us- to live our lives putting our faith into action. I don’t think that this necessarily means we need to give everything away and go serve others in a far away land. I think the call is for us to recognize in every minute of the day there is a way that Christ would act- and that is how we are called to live that moment. Whether we are teachers, factory workers, parents, doctors, volunteers, students, whatever we do, we can be Christ-like by the way we think, speak and act. I do think it is important to share what are faith means to us, but if we are going to really teach others what it means to be a Christian, it will be done best by the example we give in our daily lives.
Let us pray today that God will strengthen our faith, so that we can put into action lives that are Christ-like. Through His Spirit may we give witness to others as we share our faith through works of love and mercy, and by our example may our lives give glory to God. AMEN.
- Marylynn Herchline