Bringing Strength to Others

In today's first reading, Acts 18: 23-28, Paul is traveling through "the Galatians country and Phrygia, bringing strength to all the disciples."  Today, God has given each of us a "territory," through which to travel: our families, our religious community, our parish community, our civic community.  What will I bring to those with whom I interact? Hope or hopelessness? Joy or sadness? Comfort or misery? Peace or discord? Mercy or mercilessness? Forgiveness or revenge? A humble disposition or a self filled with pride? Love or hate? Warmth or coldness? Acceptance or rejection? My strengths in the Lord or my weaknesses? A God-centered approach or self-centered narcissism?

Paul and those traveling with Him as missionaries encounter a "Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent speaker,...[who] was an authority on the Scriptures."   With an ardent spirit, he instructed the people in "theWay of the Lord ," speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, though he only knew John's baptism.  When Pricilla and Aquila, missionaries with Paul, heard him, they took him aside and explained to him "the Way of God more accurately."

Note the role of women in missionary activity, in spreading the news about Jesus, in explaining "the Way of God."  Also note Paul's inclusion of women in the work of spreading the Gospel, speaking about it, instructing others about Jesus.  And all Pricilla and Aquila did, Paul did, and Apollos did led others "to believe through grace."

All is grace! And all are called to be proclaimers of the Good News! What role are you playing to make Jesus better known? to bring others to Jesus?