Word Today, Apr. 1, 2005 (Friday in the Octave of Easter)
Readings: Acts 4:1-12/ Jn 21:1-14
Following the instructions of the Lord, the apostles
had left Jerusalem for Galilee. They were now beside the
lake, in the same place where many of them had first met
Christ. They had gone back to their former occupation of
fishing. As on a previous occasion, they had caught nothing
all night. Suddenly, from the shore, they heard a voice, “Do
you have anything to eat?... Cast the net to the right
of the boat and you will have a catch.” Perhaps recalling
the previous occasion, John confirmed the suspicions of
Peter, “It is the Lord!”
At night, on their own, without Christ, they worked uselessly.
They wasted their time. In the morning, with the light,
with Jesus present, his words enlightening them and guiding
their activities, the nets get filled with fish. We have
to be always united to Christ in order to be fruitful.
Word Today, Apr. 2, 2005 (Saturday in the Octave of Easter)
Readings: Acts 4:13-21/ Mk 16:9-15
The resurrection of Christ is a call to the apostolate.
All the apparitions of Christ end up with some kind of
apostolic mandate. In the reading for today, Jesus tells
the eleven apostles to “Go into the whole world and
preach the gospel to every creature.”
Those eleven persons represent the whole Church. Through
them, we Christians have received the joyful mandate to
communicate that Christ is alive and is calling us to share
his divine life. A light is not lit to be put under a table
but to let the light shine before all. We must communicate
the faith and values that we have received.
Word Today, Apr. 3, 2005 (SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER OR DIVINE
MERCY SUNDAY)
Readings: Acts 2:42-47/1 Pt 1:3-9/Jn 20:19-31
“Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall
forgive they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain,
they are retained.” (Jn 20:23) This gospel passage
is related to the other passages before the death and resurrection
of Christ when he promised the twelve apostles, and especially
Peter, the power to “bind and to lose”. Let
us not be afraid of the sacrament of reconciliation. It
is a wonderful sacrament manifesting God’s mercy.
The Second Sunday of Easter is especially dedicated to
the Divine Mercy – it is a devotion that depicts
a red and a white ray streaming from the side of Christ,
representing the “blood and water” that flowed
out from his heart at the crucifixion. It symbolizes how
much Christ loved us. That blood and water washes away
our sins, especially through the sacrament of forgiveness.
Some people do not want to go to confession because they “confess
directly to God” to have their sins forgiven. No
one is stopping us from telling God how sorry we are for
our sins. But that is not enough for forgiveness. If we
have offended someone, it is not we, but the offended party,
who should set the terms of forgiveness. If Christ gave
the power to forgive sins to the apostles and their successors,
these are Jesus’ terms, and we should avail of this
channel. What great peace of soul results from this sacrament
of mercy!
Word Today, Apr. 4, 2005 (The Annunciation of the Lord)
Readings: Is 7:10-14; 8:10/ Heb 10:4-10/ Lk 1:26-38
The conception of Christ is a truly momentous event. It
is the moment of the Incarnation, of the “Word taking
flesh.” Yet this event, so crucial for the whole
universe and for the fulfillment of God’s plan of
redemption, depended on a young village girl in the isolated
town of Nazareth.
While we celebrate an event in the life of Jesus Christ,
we also remember with gratitude how Mary cooperated wholeheartedly
in this event. In the Eucharistic celebration, we pray
the Preface of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this celebration,
we see the blending of Marian and Christological aspects.
We go to Jesus through Mary. And Jesus gives us his own
mother to be ours.
Word Today, Apr. 5, 2005 (Tuesday in
the Second Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 4:32-37/ Jn 3:7b-15
“Now the multitude of the believers were of one
heart and one soul...” (Acts 4: 32) These words summarize
the deep unity and fraternal love of the first Christians.
Through their unity and love, the Christians gave a strong
witness to the pagan world of their time. Unity within
the Church is the explicit will of Christ, who prayed for
it and spoke of one pastor and of one herd of sheep.
The variety of races, temperaments, lifestyles and orientations
do not break the unity of the Church. Variety, when there
is unity, manifests the riches of God’s creation.
What is opposed to unity is discord, hatred, jealousy and
rivalry. The bottom line is that when there is love and
union with God, there is union with other men. When there
is self-love, there is division from other men. If we want
to help the cause of unity, we should start with our own
personal dispositions.
Word Today, Apr. 6, 2005 (Wednesday in the Second Week
of Easter)
Readings: Acts 5:17-26/ Jn 3:16-21
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten
son, that those who believe in him may not perish...”(Jn
3: 16) With these words, we see how the passion and death
of Christ are the supreme manifestations of the love of
God for men. It was God who took the initiative. The sacrifice
of Christ is an urgent call to us to correspond to God’s
love and mercy. In Spanish, there is a saying, “Amor
con amor se paga” (love is paid back with love).
We should remember, however, that the love of God does
not consist of sensible feelings, although God may give
these to help us. Love consists mainly in the complete
identification of our will with God’s. Do I do my
duty at every moment? Do I do what I have to do with the
intention of giving the glory to God?
Word Today, Apr. 7, 2005 (Thursday in the Second Week
of Easter)
Readings: Acts 5:27-33/Jn 3:31-36
“He who is from the earth belongs to earth, and
of the earth he speaks. He who comes from heaven is over
all.” Indeed, while there is a very rightful autonomy
of the temporal order (i.e., of things referring to “the
earth”), there are many issues and areas of life
that have to be guided by the higher principles of Christian
faith.
Nowadays, there are many areas of life in which the faith
is either frontally contradicted or relegated to the background.
There are in fact many issues in which Christian moral
teaching has a great bearing. To name a few: the defense
of the right to life of the unborn, the promotion of the
family institution, the right to a clean moral environment
against the “pollution” of pornography, the
right to religious freedom, the right to property, the
obligation to practice solidarity especially with the poor,
the obligation to promote the common good. Passivity in
these matters could be considered sins of omission. Let
us not be afraid to let our Christian principles influence
our actions in social and political life.
Word Today, Apr. 8, 2005 (Friday in the Second Week of
Easter)
Readings: Acts 5:34-42/ Jn 6:1-15
The gospel today is about the miracle of the loaves.
In order to feed the great crowd of people who had followed
him to an isolated place in their enthusiasm, Jesus made
use of five loaves and two fish, then ended up with twelve
baskets of leftovers.
There were some 19th century rationalists (people who,
by their choice, refuse to accept that there is such a
thing as a miracle) who claimed that there was really no
multiplication of food, but that there was only a “miracle” of
the heart, in the sense that the people, who had presumably
brought their own provisions but were keeping them selfishly
for themselves, were then moved to share it with the rest.
Jose Rizal, who was very much influenced by this school
of thinkers, adhered to this interpretation. The unfortunate
thing is that nowadays, there are some persons who want
to pass off this unfounded speculation as something “new”,
as a great discovery of modern scholarship.
Such an interpretation is full of inconsistencies with
the biblical text. Why would the apostles say that there
was only a small boy with the loaves and the fish? Why
would the people react so strongly to the miracle? And
in the next gospel scene, the crucial discourse on the
Eucharist at Capernaum, why would Jesus make reference
to the abundance of bread he had provided for them (See
Jn 6: 26)?
Finally, if we truly believe in the divinity of Jesus,
why should we go to all kinds of convolutions of the scriptural
text in order to depart from the obvious meaning of what
is said?
Word Today, Apr. 9, 2005 (Saturday in the Second Week
of Easter)
Readings: Acts 6:1-7/Jn 6:16-21
The disciples were having a very hard time navigating
their boat in the storm, until Jesus came walking over
the water to join them. Once Jesus was in the boat, they
easily reached their destination.
Christian writers have seen a symbol of the Church in
this boat, driven by the apostles, and buffeted by strong
waves. From the first centuries, the Church has had to
face contradictions from within and from without. Even
now, the Church is undergoing difficulties. Just think
of the consumerist environment in which the Church often
has to present its values. There are many places, quite
a number within Asia, where there is discrimination against
followers of Christ.
All these should not discourage us. We have the assurance
from Christ that the Church will last until the end of
the world. And the Lord will be with the Church till then.
It can never sink even if it may seem to totter.
Word Today, Apr. 10, 2005 (THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER)
Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33/1 Pt 1:17-21/Lk 24:13-35
We already saw this gospel incident during the octave
of Easter. It is so important that the Church once again
brings it to our consideration today. The two disciples
on their way to Emmaus are met by Jesus, incognito, and
as he explains the scripture to them, their minds are gradually
enlightened. Jesus waited until he had made them understand
the scripture before he allowed them to recognize him.
God does not force our faith. He will usually not appear
to us, overpowering our senses, leaving us no choice but
to believe. He prefers to enlighten us gradually, to address
our understanding. For this, we need periods of silence
and reflection. That is why the Church encourages recollections
and retreats. These are the moments of conversion and of
growth in faith.
Commenting on this event in his letter on the Eucharistic
Year, Pope John Paul II pointed out how the eyes of the
disciples of Emmaus were opened and they recognized Jesus
at the “breaking of the bread.” Eucharist devotion
is an important part of retreats and recollections – the
Eucharistic presence is a source of light and encouragement
for all of us.
Word Today, Apr. 11, 2005 (Monday in the Third Week of
Easter)
Readings: Acts 6:8-15/ Jn 6:22-29
The crowd of five thousand that Jesus had fed followed
Him to the other side of the lake. But Jesus could see
that their intentions were not so pure. “You are
not looking for me because you have seen the signs but
because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.” Hence,
he advised them to turn their attention to higher things. “Do
not work for the food that cannot last, but work for the
food that endures to eternal life.”
How hard we work to achieve material prosperity. Yet
we do so little in order to lay up treasure in heaven.
Word Today, Apr. 12, 2005 (Tuesday in the Third Week of
Easter)
Readings: Acts 7:51—8:1a/ Jn 6:30-35
During their years of wandering in the desert, God gave
the Israelites manna for them to eat. This mysterious substance
was apportioned daily and every person had exactly what
he needed, no more and no less. This manna was a symbol
or figure of the food of our soul, Jesus Christ himself.
Jesus Christ fills all the yearnings, the hunger and
thirst of our soul. “He who comes to me will never
be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst.” Our
longing for truth, for love, for beauty, harmony and affection… all
the longings of the human heart are perfectly satisfied
in Christ. May one of the fruits of this Year of the Eucharist
be the deep awareness that we have of our need for Jesus
in the Blessed Sacrament… as spiritual nourishment
and as a permanent companion in the road of our life.
Word Today, Apr. 13, 2005 (Wednesday in the Third Week
of Easter)
Readings: Acts 8:1b-8/ Jn 6:35-40
The gospel today contains a terse summary of what the
Christian faith is all about. “Yes, it is my Father’s
will that whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall
have eternal life, and that I shall raise him up on the
last day.”
God’s will to save all men takes place through
the Son. To be saved, we must have faith in Jesus Christ.
We must unite ourselves to him, who is the bread of life.
Every time we receive Holy Communion with the proper dispositions
of faith and grace, we truly believe in Christ. That is
why it is an ancient practice to give a dying Christian
the Communion as his “viaticum”, his companion
on the way to eternal life.
Word Today, Apr. 14, 2005 (Thursday in the Third Week
of Easter)
Readings: Acts 8:26-40/ Jn 6:44-51
“I am the bread of life,” said Jesus to the
great crowd gathered at the synagogue in Capernaum. Here
Jesus revealed the great mystery of the Holy Eucharist.
His words are so clear and unequivocal; there is no room
for doubting what he meant. At the same time, what he is
saying is so difficult to accept that without the gift
of faith, it would be impossible to adhere to it.
Christ is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. His presence
is not merely symbolic. It is not temporary. It does not
depend on our likes or dislikes about it. It is from this
belief that the Church draws certain practices, which are
nothing more than the logical application of this truth
-- for example, to keep the Lord in the tabernacle and
to have a light indicating his presence. How about us?
When we are in the presence of the Holy Eucharist, do we
act consistently, as one who is in the presence of the
body of Christ? And how do we behave after receiving Christ
in communion?
Word Today, Apr. 15, 2005 (Friday in the Third Week of
Easter)
Readings: Acts 9:1-20/ Jn 6:52-59
The Jews could not accept what Christ was saying. Rather
than soften the impact of his words, Christ emphasized
it even more. “My flesh is real food and my blood
is real drink.”
The “real” presence of Christ in the Eucharist
is at the heart of our Catholic faith. In the face of heresies
that tried to deny this teaching, the Church has reacted
by emphasizing the primacy of faith over our senses. Instead
of hiding the appearance of bread, the Church “exposes” the
appearance but at the same time asks us to surround this
appearance with all the requirements of adoration and worship. “This
is the Lamb of God,” even if it looks otherwise.
Before the Blessed Sacrament, let us react with a firm
act of faith.
Word Today, Apr. 16, 2005 (Saturday in the Third Week
of Easter)
Readings: Acts 9:31-42/ Jn 6:60-69
Crisis! All the followers of Christ were abandoning him.
The promise of the Eucharist (that they had to eat his
flesh and drink his blood) was too much for the sensibilities
of those listeners. But so firm was Christ in his position
(and thanks to that, we too can be firm now in our faith
in the real presence) that he did not budge and he even “invited” the
closest ones, the apostles, to go away if they wanted.
Peter answered for all of them. “Lord, to whom
shall we go? You have words of everlasting life and we
have come to believe and to know that you are the Christ,
the Son of God.” It seems that they did not understand
the Eucharist either, but they were just banking on their
personal commitment to the Master. Loyalty, that is what
they had. And that is what kept them from abandoning Christ.
Word Today, Apr. 17, 2005 (FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER)
Readings: Acts 2:14a, 36-41/1 Pt 2:20b-25/Jn 10:1-10
The liturgy today is centered on the Good Shepherd. The
communion antiphon says, “The Good Shepherd is risen!
He who laid down his life for his sheep, who died for his
flock, he is risen, alleluia!” Jesus is the good
shepherd. The early Christians cherished this symbol, as
we can see from the murals, mosaics and other pieces of
early Christian art.
Christ told Peter, “Feed my sheep.” That
is why we can also consider the Pope, as well as other
bishops of the Church, as our good shepherds. Like Christ,
they are ready to give their lives for us. The Holy Father
has a very great burden on his shoulders. He carries it
lovingly and with a great spirit of sacrifice. Let us pray
daily for his person and his intentions.
Word Today, Apr. 18, 2005 (Monday in the Fourth Week of
Easter)
Readings: Acts 11:1-18/ Jn 10:11-18
In the gospel today, Jesus applies to himself the lovable
image of the Good Shepherd who takes loving and exquisite
care of the sheep entrusted to him. “He calls his
own sheep by name and leads them forth.” The Good
Shepherd acquires an intimate knowledge of each and every
sheep. Those who somehow act as “pastor” (we
can apply this to parents, teachers and other persons involved
in formation of people) can learn from Jesus’ example.
We must know the persons we are leading. Each human being
is unique. A true pastor takes into consideration the individual
situation and traits of his subjects. Besides, like the
Good Shepherd who “goes before his sheep,” the
pastor must lead the way by example.
Word Today, Apr. 19, 2005 (Tuesday in the Fourth Week
of Easter)
Readings: Acts 11:19-26/ Jn 10:22-30
After explaining his role as a Good Shepherd who gives
his followers eternal life, Jesus goes one step further.
He tells his restless listeners, “I and the father
are one.” They are scandalized at this assertion
of Jesus and they accuse him of blasphemy.
As Christians, the Divinity of Christ is at the heart
of our belief and convictions. Being one with God (hence,
being God himself), we see God’s care for us through
Jesus. The merciful heart of God is shown to us by the
infinite patience and love that Jesus has toward us. All
we need to do, if we want to avail of God’s mercy,
is to be true followers of the Good Shepherd. We must strive
to be docile to the will of God as manifested to us by
Jesus’ words.
Word Today, Apr. 20, 2005 (Wednesday in the Fourth Week
of Easter)
Readings: Acts 12:24—13:5a/Jn 12:44-50
“Many of the Jews who had come with Mary and had
seen what he (Jesus) did, believed in him.” Because
of their friendship with the family of Martha, Mary and
Lazarus, these persons came into personal contact with
Jesus. They witnessed his deeds, and ended up believing.
Just like the members of this family, the ordinary Christian
faithful have the duty to bring Christ to their friends.
All Christians have a duty to spread the gospel, to do
apostolate. The apostolate of the ordinary Christian faithful
is not an extension or a delegation of the apostolate of
the hierarchy. It is the lay person’s duty and right.
A Christian mother’s instruction to her children,
an office worker’s example and words of advice to
his co-workers -- these arise, not from an external mandate,
but from the overflow of charity. Pastors should watch
over its doctrinal soundness and ensure unity and coordination.
But they should not be afraid nor feel threatened if the
ordinary faithful have initiatives that will promote a
more intense Christian life.
Word Today, Apr. 21, 2005 (Thursday in the Fourth Week
of Easter)
Readings: Acts 13:13-25/ Jn 13:16-20
“(A) servant is not greater than his master, nor
is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.” These
words of Jesus were spoken right after he had washed the
feet of the apostles, as an example of how they ought to
deal with one another. It is a wonderful principle that
those who want to serve the Church (clergy, religious and
laity) should remember whenever they encounter difficulties.
Jesus was misunderstood and even persecuted by the very
persons he came to redeem. If we experience suffering and
misunderstanding, let us remember that we are just following
the footsteps of Christ. What’s more, we must realize
that our suffering is infinitesimal in comparison with
what our Divine Master underwent.
Word Today, Apr. 22, 2005 (Friday in the Fourth Week of
Easter)
Readings: Acts 13:26-33/ Jn 14:1-6
The apostles were feeling troubled because, referring
to his redemptive sacrifice, Jesus had told them that he
was going to leave them. In order to soften the blow, Jesus
also told them that he was going to “prepare a place” for
them “in my Father’s house”, so that “where
I am you may be also.” He is obviously referring
to Heaven, the place and state of perfect supernatural
happiness that awaits all those who die in the friendship
of God.
It is good to think about this great reward promised
to us by Jesus. The thought of heaven should fill us with
hope as we go through the difficulties of this life – this
life, which St. Theresa once described as spending a “bad
night in a bad inn.” Because of our hope of reaching
heaven, we shall struggle to love God and do his will on
this earth by loving our fellow human beings without seeking
our reward in this life.
Word Today, Apr. 23, 2005 (Saturday in the Fourth Week
of Easter)
Readings: Acts 13:44-52/ Jn 14:7-14
“He who has seen me has seen the Father.” In
the light of our Faith, we can understand this to refer
to the truth about the Most Blessed Trinity. While there
is a distinction of persons, there is a unity of nature,
essence or substance. In the English translation of the
Nicene Creed, this is described as “one in being” with
the Father.
A practical consequence of this truth is that Jesus is
the only way for us to go to the Father. Specifically,
ever since the Incarnation and because of our own condition,
our way to God is through the Most Holy Humanity of Jesus.
All the manifestations of his Humanity, such as the Holy
Eucharist, his Sacred Heart or even the representation
of Jesus in his infancy and childhood, are effective means
to lead us to God.
In this Year of the Eucharist, the Body of Christ is presented
to us so that we can accompany Jesus physically whenever
he his reserved in the tabernacle or exposed for our adoration.
Let us get close to Jesus and we shall then be close to
God, the Most Blessed Trinity.
Word Today, Apr. 24, 2005 (FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER)
Readings: Acts 6:1-7/1 Pt 2:4-9/Jn 14:1-12
The gospel today contains those mysterious words that
have come down to us as the most fitting description of
Jesus Christ: “I am the way, the truth and the life,” --
words so rich in meaning and content. Jesus himself explains
part of the meaning of being “the way”. “No
one can come to the Father except through me.”
To go to God the Father, we must necessarily pass through
God the Son made man. The great Christian writers have
rightly insisted on the importance of getting closer to
Christ in his humanity. We human beings can only reach
the sublime divine realities through human ways. If we
put what is on our part, God will do the rest. Turning
to the person of Christ, we can then be lifted up by the
grace of the spirit of God.
Word Today, Apr. 25, 2005 (Saint Mark, evangelist)
Readings: 1 Pt 5:5b-14/Mk 16:15-20
St. Mark wrote the gospel which is commonly believed
to contain the oral preaching of St. Peter. Aside from
our debt of gratitude to St. Mark, we can also learn a
lesson from his life.
As a young man, he joined Paul and Barnabas in their
first missionary journey. He later abandoned them because
he found the task too difficult. However, he was ready
to go again on the second missionary journey. Paul did
not want to take him because he had failed them the first
time. But Barnabas gave him a second chance. This time
he stuck it out. Many years later, Paul himself would ask
for Mark’s help in his ministry. We should not let
defeats discourage us. After a mistake, we can always put
things right. And we should also learn to give people a
second chance.
Word Today, Apr. 26, 2005 (Tuesday in
the Fifth Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 14:19-28/ Jn 14:27-31a
“Peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give,
this is my gift to you.” The peace Jesus describes
here is not only external peace. It is the inner peace
that is the condition for any other type of peace to be
possible. We normally associate peace with order. This
is so because peace is the rest and quietude that follows
when things are as they ought to be.
The most important order is the relationship that exists
between each person and his God. Thus, if deep in our heart
we know that we are not reconciled with God, we can have
no real peace. We can cover up the voice of conscience
through external distractions. But we will eventually have
to face the issue. And when we are at peace with God, we
can also have true peace with our fellowmen in our imperfect
world.
Word Today, Apr. 27, 2005 (Wednesday
in the Fifth Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 15:1-6/ Jn 15:1-8
“Every branch in me that bears no fruit, he cuts
away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to
make it bear even more.” The life of every Christian
must be based on a life of prayer, a life of communion
with his fellow men, and a life of sacrifice.
We must be united to Jesus Christ, who is the vine. This
is done through a life of prayer. We must be united among
ourselves, especially with those whom God has placed at
our side through a common calling or through our particular
circumstances. Finally, we must realize that every good
thing always involves sacrifice. We must be willing to
face sufferings and difficulties, and see that these are
good, even contrary to all appearances. Apparent setbacks
bring a promise of fruitfulness.
Word Today, Apr. 28, 2005 (Thursday in
the Fifth Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 15:7-21/ Jn 15:9-11
“Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments,
you will remain in my love.” Unfortunately, many
people identify love with mere feelings or limit it to
the romantic sentiment. Although these emotions are an
integral part of human love, the substantial aspect of
love is much deeper. Love lies in our spirit -- in our
free choices, in our decisions, in our will for the good.
True love effectively seeks the good of the beloved. If
it is not transformed into deeds, then all the nice sentiments
become forms of selfishness.
The test of loving God is an upright moral life. Likewise,
the test of true human love is deeds of faithfulness and
sacrifice for the good of the loved one.
Word Today, Apr. 29, 2005 (Friday in
the Fifth Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 15:22-31/ Jn 15:12-17
“I shall not call you servants any more...I call
you friends, because I have made known to you everything
I have learnt from my Father.” These words addressed
by Jesus to his apostles can also be addressed to us. This
is an invitation for all Christians to be friends of Christ.
What does that mean?
According to St. Francis de Sales in his classic work
Introduction to the Devout Life, friendship means mutual
love with a common basis. If there is no common base, then
it would be more a relationship of admiration (down to
up) or benevolence (up to down); but with friendship, there
is a certain equality and mutuality. To be friends of Christ,
we must rely on what we have in common with him -- the
grace of God given to us. Friendship with Christ starts
with the life of grace in our souls. It grows through mutual
dealings (prayer) and increases with the sacraments, especially
the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
In this Year of the Eucharist, the Church encourages
us to participate in the different Eucharistic devotions
(including granting of plenary indulgence for some of them).
This will hopefully result in every Christian developing
a deeper friendship with Jesus Christ.
Word Today, Apr. 30, 2005 (Saturday in
the Fifth Week of Easter)
Readings: Acts 16:1-10/ Jn 15:18-21
The “world,” in the sense of the universe
coming from the hands of the Creator, is good – so
we see from the narration of Creation in the book of Genesis.
But in the gospel today, Jesus does not refer to the world
in this sense. He is talking about the “world” as
the evil forces that seek to hinder the work of redemption
and sanctification of men. And so he says to the apostles, “you
are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the
world, therefore the world hates you.”
Some people are called by God to somehow “leave” the
world and detach themselves externally and internally from
all worldly affairs, in order to devote themselves exclusively
to things of God or the Church. But the majority of Christians
have to remain in the world while keeping themselves from
being stained by the forces of evil. St. Josemaria Escriva
would express it in a catchy phrase – being of the
world but without being worldly. They have to remain in
the world precisely so that the saving power of Christ
can act through these Christians in the different environments
of the world.
