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Theo Tigno•
6/3/2003 6:47 am
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Tuesday, June 3rd 2003 |
Acts 20:17-27
From Miletus Paul had the presbyters of the Church at Ephesus summoned. When they came to him, he addressed them, "You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I first came to the province of Asia. I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews, and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes. I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus. But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen to me there I do not know, except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace.
"But now I know that none of you to whom I preached the kingdom during my travels will ever see my face again. And so I solemnly declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God."
Dawg's thought:
We offer up today's reading for two intentions: for those who struggle with depression and for the Diocese of Phoenix.
"I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit."
There is a line in the song Elijah by Rich Mullins that goes, "How it's okay to be lonely as long as your free." We often struggle with telling the The Truth because we choose to fulfill our desires to be loved affectionately versus choosing to love charitably. In essence, we act out of our fear of loneliness than our calling to greatness. We choose to shrink.
St. Paul is a great example of "To those who have, more will be given." St. Paul chooses not to shrink. St. Paul chooses not to be a slave to popularity. St. Paul chooses not be be afraid of The Truth, for indeed in the Truth there is nothing to fear.
As many of you know, the Diocese of Phoenix is under great stress due to the alleged cover-ups of sexual abuse in this diocese. For those of you in Phoenix, I pray that you continue to stay strong in faith. Please pray that the Truth prevails over fear, and that humility prevails over pride.
May peace prevail in your hearts this day, and may you never shrink from the Truth. Take care and God Bless.
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