GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 4TH NOVEMBER 2016
FRIDAY OF THE 31ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
(MEMORIAL OF SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO, BISHOP)
1ST READING: Philippian 3:17 – 4:1
PSALM: Psalm 122:1-5
GOSPEL: Luke 16:1-8
THEME: IMMITATE ME
In 1975, Pope Paul VI made the powerful comment, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” (Evangelii Nuntiandi 41).
Our modern world is blessed with so many teachers and preachers of the Gospel. Simply tune in to the radio, television or social media and you would find a variety of teachers of the Gospel. Some are highly intellectual and others down to earth, some spice their speech with comedy and others intersperse their preaching with songs. However, preaching or teaching can easily degenerate into a performance with no correlation between what one says and does in real life.
What is the point in giving a beautiful teaching on prayer when the teacher himself has no sound prayer-life? What is the point in talking about following Christ in simplicity and yet greedily amass wealth by trampling on the poor? What sense does it make to preach peace and then after preaching, one goes about planting seeds of division and rancour? Talk is cheap. To walk the talk is the essence of witnessing.
Paul was not just a teacher. He was first and foremost a witness. He did not just throw theories into the air; he spoke and wrote based on a lived-experience of the Gospel. Since there was no dichotomy between what he taught and how he lived his life, he had the audacity to tell his audience in our First Reading for today, “Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us” (Phi 3:17).
Paul’s call to imitate him runs through other writings of his. Some examples are:
1. “I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me” (1Cor 4:16).
2. “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1Cor 11:1).
3. “Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me…” (Phi 4:9).
Prior to making the statement about “imitation” in Phil 3:17, Paul first writes “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:12). The theme of “imitation” is therefore situated within the context of perseverance/pressing on. Paul offers himself as an example of perseverance in the call to become like Christ.
As preachers and teachers of the Word, we must first preach to ourselves before preaching to others. We may not be “perfect” disciples of Christ; however, there must be evidence that we are following Christ and taking the steps towards perfection. People may forget what we said but they would not easily forget what we did.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, draw me close to you and imprint your image on me so that my life may be a sign post for others to draw closer to you. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).