God is in the business of drawing all to Himself, of embracing all in His infinite healing Love. And, to our surprise, He chooses to need us to help Him accomplish this mission. Jesus wants to dwell within and work through each of us, as members of His very Body, to finish the work He began during His earthly life.
We become members of the family of God through Baptism, and the life of grace in us is replenished and nourished and increased when we receive the very Bread of Life, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ, in the Eucharist. As the life of Christ increases in us, so He is increasingly able to work in us and through us, to draw others to Himself.
Through the sacraments, Christ’s life in us expands, so that He is living His life in ours, and He is continuing His work with our cooperation. Our baptism makes us co-workers with Christ, co-missionaries, not fossils. We are baptized to become disciples, and as disciples, we must grow in knowledge and grace so that we can go and help make more disciples!
We are called by our baptism and empowered by our participation in the Eucharistic liturgy to be ready to open our mouths to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who are open (this openness being a critical point for our missionary efforts). As Philip opened his mouth and proclaimed Jesus to the eunuch, who expressed an openness to the Truth by asking a question, so may we be willing to invite others into the joy of all that is true and good and beautiful. Then we will be able to say with the Psalmist: “Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what He has done for me!”
Dios se dedica a atraer a todos hacia Sí mismo, a abrazar a todos en Su infinito Amor sanador. Y, para nuestra sorpresa, Él elige necesitarnos para que le ayudemos a cumplir esta misión. Jesús desea habitar en cada uno de nosotros y obrar a través de nosotros, como miembros de Su propio Cuerpo, para terminar la obra que comenzó durante Su vida terrenal.
Nos convertimos en miembros de la familia de Dios a través del Bautismo, y la vida de gracia en nosotros se renueva, se nutre y se incrementa cuando recibimos el verdadero Pan de Vida, el Cuerpo, la Sangre, el Alma y la Divinidad de Cristo, en la Eucaristía. A medida que la vida de Cristo crece en nosotros, Él es cada vez más capaz de obrar en nosotros y a través de nosotros para atraer a otros hacia Sí mismo.
A través de los sacramentos, la vida de Cristo en nosotros se expande, de modo que Él vive su vida en la nuestra, y continúa su obra con nuestra cooperación. Nuestro bautismo nos convierte en colaboradores de Cristo, en misioneros, no en seres pasivos. Somos bautizados para convertirnos en discípulos, y como discípulos, debemos crecer en conocimiento y gracia para poder ir y ayudar a formar más discípulos.
Estamos llamados por nuestro bautismo y fortalecidos por nuestra participación en la liturgia eucarística para estar listos para abrir la boca y compartir la Buena Nueva de Jesucristo con aquellos que están abiertos a ella (esta apertura es un punto crucial para nuestros esfuerzos misioneros). Así como Felipe abrió la boca y proclamó a Jesús al eunuco, quien expresó su apertura a la Verdad haciendo una pregunta, así también nosotros podemos estar dispuestos a invitar a otros a la alegría de todo lo que es verdadero, bueno y bello. Entonces podremos decir con el salmista: “Cuantos temen a Dios, vengan y escuchen, y les diré lo que ha hecho por mí”.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com
Feature Image Credit: Comunidade Javé Nissi, pexels.com/photo/gold-colored-trophy-in-tilt-shift-lens-6915822/
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