www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization A little good goes a long way

Glory to Jesus Christ.

Here�s something to think about. Before her conversion, Edith Stien visited a Catholic cathedral. While she was admiring the art work she noticed a woman praying, with a shopping bag next to her. This simple act of devotion stuck in Blessed Edith Stien�s memory. She was inspired by the fact that this woman stopped in the middle of her busy day to pray to God. The woman with the shopping bag had no idea that she was inspiring a saint. Likewise, we can not measure the impact of our simple acts of love kindness and devotion.

Another example of a little good going a long way is in the life of Oskar Schindler. When Oskar was a boy he was friends with some Jewish children in his neighborhood. This childhood friendship prevented Oskar from accepting the Nazi view of the Jewish people. He knew that Jews are human beings and not a disease to be eradicated. He could not be blinded to the fact that the Nazis were killing human beings, which motivated him to save the lives of 1,300 Jews.

Now, the reason for this little history lesson is to illustrate the potential impact of our actions, good or bad. Imagine, if the woman who inspired Edith Stien had decided that she was to busy to stop at the Cathedral and pray. It�s possible that Edith Stien would not have converted to Catholicism, and our Church would be denied of her heroic witness. Likewise, Oskar Schindler would have had a much different view of the Jewish people if the Jewish children in his neighborhood would have rejected him or treated him unkindly. He would have easily embraced anti Semitism and the 6,000 descendants of Schindler�s Jews would not exist.

I know this little reflection is very sobering. However, it is essential to the growth and the health of our Church for us to scrutinize our actions and attitudes. We must ask ourselves if what we do or say builds up the Church or tears it down. For example, if we stand in the back of the Church after Divine Liturgy and cut down the priest because the sermon was not to our liking, we set a bad example for our children and visitors to the parish, who may overhear our conversation. In fact, we could discourage a potential vocation to the priesthood by treating our pastor badly.

Furthermore, all the ideas and plans for evangelizing our faith are fruitless unless we set aside our personal feelings and agendas and focus on building up the Church. It�s been said that our Church suffers from an identity crisis and I couldn�t agree more. At times it seems as though we loose sight of the most basic mission of our Church. That is, embracing and proclaiming the truth in order to bring people to Christ. We must keep in mind that disease spreads through the body from a microscopic organism, in the same way a seemingly insignificant negative act can do serious damage to the body of Christ. On the other hand, our small acts of love, devotion, care and compassion can grow like a mustard seed. A little good goes a long way.

God Bless
Pete

Thank you Pete.

This is a wonderful reflection not just on actions but 'words'

I was looking up the verses from Proverbs on the tongue and came across this page. It provides a lot of meat to chew on. It lists more Proverbs than I was recollecting. Check out the whole page.

Conclusion

In summarizing, let me attempt to review what we have learned from Proverbs on the use of our words by pointing out several passages in the New Testament which teach the same principles.

�But let your statement be, �Yes, yes� or �No, no�; and anything beyond these is evil� (Matt. 5:37).

Our Lord was not so much condemning vows as He was stressing the need for absolute truthfulness in what we say. The only reason why people require us to take an oath is because they have learned not to take our words at face value. Jesus taught that we should be so characterized by truthfulness in our speech that no other statement is required of us. Jesus, like Proverbs, taught that there is no place for falsehood and deception in the life of those who are godly and wise.

�You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil. And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned� (Matt. 12:34-37).

Like Proverbs, Jesus taught that a man�s character is revealed by his words. The Pharisees had attributed the power of our Lord to Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons (Matt. 12:24).Jesus warned His critics that they should be more careful in their use of words, since it was by their own words that they would be judged.

All too often we, like the Pharisees of old, are quick to speak without thinking. We will be judged for every idle or careless word. Let us not use words thoughtlessly if we are to be judged for what we say. Words have great power, for good or evil, for the listener as well as for the speaker.

This you know, my beloved brethren. But let every one be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves (James 1:19-22).

We have learned in Proverbs that the wise are those who economize in the use of words. The wise person is slow to speak, considering the character of the one to whom he speaks. He does not lash out in anger, and his words are timely and well chosen. James reminds us of this same principle. Perhaps when James says, �This you know� (v. 19) he is actually alluding to the teaching of Proverbs. In addition to warning against a hasty, angry retort, James reminds his readers that while we should be cautious in the use of our words, we should be quick in our response to the Word of God. Apart from obedience to the Word, it does us no good.

�Not every one who says to Me, �Lord, Lord,� will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven� (Matt. 7:21).

What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14).

Our Lord and James both taught that mere words never saved anyone. A profession alone, without any practical outworking, was evidence of a dead faith, not a living and saving faith. Perhaps there was a time when you made a profession of faith, my friend, but it was only that--a profession. Professions do not save, only a living and vital faith--a faith which brings about change in your way of living. Do not deceive yourself into thinking that mere words will save you. Those who professed to know the Lord in Matthew 7 and who even accomplished great works in His name were those whom our Lord said He never knew (Matt. 7:22-23).May your faith become more than a mere profession, by placing your trust in Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, who died in your place on the cross that you might live eternally.

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person (Col. 4:5-6).

But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to every one who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (I Peter 3:15).

Our words can be used of God to bear witness to our faith. We should be ready to speak when the occasion presents itself. Our words should be gracious and yet stimulate others along spiritual lines of conversation.

Perhaps there is no better summary of the use of our words than Paul�s teaching in Ephesians 4:29:

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

May God enable us to use our lips as an instrument of His grace.
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=640