Today’s first reading, Acts 4: 13-21, begins with the
statement: “Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be
uneducated, ordinary men, the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed, and
they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.” Would I be recognized as a companion of Jesus
and if yes, why; if not, why not? The scribes and Pharisees were highly
educated men but were not recognized as being Jesus’ disciples. What are the characteristics of someone who
is obviously perceived as one of Jesus’ followers? As I reflect upon that, I think of some of
the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother who have gone before us, those in hospital
kitchens who fed hobos who traveled the
country on freight trains and, for meals, relied on the kindness of others. I
think of the little girl in a refugee camp in Iraq, when interviewed by a TV
journalist, praised the Lord for the good things in her life. I think of
volunteers at a homeless shelter, at a school tutoring students who need extra
help, the “candy stripers” at a hospital delivering mail and flowers to
patients. I think of those who deliver our mail and newspapers day in and day
out in spite of the weather. I think of
the Amish people who forgave those who murdered their children, the young man
featured on the front page of the Northwestern this week who forgave the
21-year-old who caused an auto accident because of inattentive driving and left
him seriously injured and changed his life forever. It isn’t one’s education or
lack of it that reveals whether we are disciples of Christ. It is kindness,
humility, generosity, forgiveness, love, gentleness. It is living life to the
full and giving fuller life to others. It is becoming our best self day by day;
and each day being for the other in ways
that makes that life brighter, happier, stronger. It is proclaiming the
resurrection of Jesus, preaching the Gospel by the way we live each day, using
words only when necessary.
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