You and I are the instruments of Gods saving action in the world. That statement sure sounds nice and pretty, but what the heck does it mean in practical, down to earth, simple terms?

Well first of all its important to realize that for most of us we are already allowing God to use us as His instruments and the orchestra sounds beautiful. It happens when parents share the Gospel values with their children by what they say and then back it up with how they live their lives. It happens when a nurse comforts a fearful patient or a youth minister is friendly and listens to the needs and problems of a teenager. We allow God to use us when we forgive someone when we don't want to or reach out to someone who is in physical, emotional, or spiritual pain.

In other words it is our daily loving service to our families and strangers that reveals the Good News and you don't have to have a degree in theology to be a mediator of Gods love and goodness. If that was a requirement, the apostles would have never made the first cut.

Jesus preached a great sermon but He also communicated God's love to the world by serving, healing, defending, the oppressed and laying down His life in love. And guess what? That's our job too. We can no longer hide behind the excuse that evangelization is only the responsibility of bishops, priests, sisters, or parish leaders. My heart is saddened when I hear someone say "I am incapable of communicating God's love and healing to others." It has nothing to do with our perceived capabilities or lack of them. It has to do with choice. We either choose to allow God to use us or we don't.

I recall that a couple of years ago I was asked to visit a woman in her home who was 34 years old and had been in a wheelchair most of her life. She was poor, uneducated (at least by societies standard) and was in great pain. The physical disease had consumed her body. When I arrived she asked me to kneel down next to her.

To my amazement, she began to pray for me that God would use me in a mighty way. When I looked into her eyes, I realized that I was seeing the face of Jesus. This woman had every right to be angry, sad, bitter, and unforgiving. But through her brokeness she made the choice to be an instrument of God. I left that day knowing that I had been touched by God.

Our Holy Father tells us that the human heart is the primary focus of liberation and evangelization. Together, we can help liberate our communities from hunger, poverty, disease, inadequate housing and dehumanizing conditions of every kind.

And finally, our church communities must be a sign of God's love to others. Take a hard and honest look at your church. You see, our churches either invite or repel others by everything it says and does. If you were new to the area, and you visited your faith community, would you walk away feeling that it was a place of loving and joyful service? Is it an agent of peace, reconciliation and hospitality? Is it a collective sign of God's goodness, openness and acceptance to all women and men? If your answer is yes, then get busy inviting all those who are looking for a church that communicates an understanding of the Gospel.

REJOICE IN YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!

Glenn Harmon © 2002