January 27: They’ll Know We Are Christians

John 13, 35 (“This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”) gave rise to the hymn from the 1960’s, “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love.” But how many people do know that we are Christians? How many see us practice our faith openly? How many are influenced by our living according to the Christian vision and our Catholic convictions?

Our faith and our knowledge of Jesus and His Gospel are not something to be kept to ourselves. We are certainly called to more than keeping all the Commandments, going often to Mass, and staying in the “state of grace.” Does our faith radiate from us, do we share it generously with others, are we as much concerned that others have the experience of loving and being loved by God as we are for ourselves? We are called to be more than good people. We are called to be “apostolic” (in that we are sent to proclaim and live the Good News). We are called to share that same Good News of faith by word and action, always and everywhere. We may not always do this perfectly well, but it remains our calling.

God continues to build His Kingdom through the cooperation of our feeble and imperfect efforts. Let us realize that it is precisely in our weakest moments that God can achieve the most in us and through us. As St. Paul says, “I can do everything in Him who gives me strength.”

Let us pray. “O God, bless us each and every day. Fill our minds and hearts with love, so that we may be living signs of Jesus and His Kingdom to all those living in our midst. Amen.”

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