In our Baptismal Covenant (found in the Book of Common Prayer, p. 305), the entire congregation and the person(s) to be baptized profess that they will, with God’s help, “proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.” All too often, words are cheap, and speech is meaningless. Countless persons have given up on the Church because they claim that her members say one thing and do another. So, could it be that in such an age as ours, we proclaim the Good News most effectively by example? One of the most striking documents from the Church’s earliest years (around the 2nd or 3rd century) is the Letter to Diognetus, in which the author says the following of those first Christians.
“They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers.” (https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0101.htm)
We could do worse than to aim for others to praise us in such a way. It’s humbling to recognize that our writing and spoken exhortations may have little effect on those we’re addressing, but our behavior—a simple action, a kind word, a selfless gesture, a refusal to return evil for evil—speaks volumes.
We might say that we Christians hold a quiet power to command respect and attention through what we do. The earliest Christians committed themselves to a way of life—indeed, it was called The Way (see the Acts of the Apostles). True, there were profound speeches in those early days (think of Peter’s sermons in Acts or Paul’s letters that were meant to be heard), but the way those Christians lived is perhaps what grabs our attention even to this day. Many went to gory deaths because they refused to speak out of both sides of their mouth. Rather than renounce their faith, they said nothing at all and were killed. They literally gave their lives rather than deny their Lord.
Because of the prolixity—and frequently, the cheapness—of modern-day speech, exacerbated by social media and television, I find myself longing for fewer words, maybe even no words at all. My heart keeps getting pulled more and more down the via negativa. I crave silent prayer. I long for beauty. And even into “the city’s crowded clangor,” to quote a famous hymn, our actions as Christians can speak more powerfully than words, crying “aloud for sin to cease” (Judge eternal, throned in splendor, words by Henry Scott Holland).
I’m compelled to point out the power of actions here at Good Shepherd. At this very moment, parishioners are welcoming the stranger among us. Some among us are quietly reaching out to those who are sick or lonely, ensuring them that they aren’t alone. Right now, children and youth are being embraced by this parish even when they’re alienated at school. And the beauty of all this is that, despite our diversity of perspective and viewpoints on some matters, we exist together, in love. It’s the Gospel that unites us. And we do our best to live the Gospel, which restores us to God and one another.
I don’t want to dwell on the divisiveness of our current national climate or on the growing animosity among nations of the world. I want to dwell on the potential for the Church to step into the rancor surrounding us and live as if we confidently believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ. When we’re confused, we can be grateful for our Lord’s words in Luke 4 (heard last Sunday at Mass). We have marching orders, and they’re fairly clear, as I said in last Sunday’s sermon. Preach good news to the poor. Do something for them in Christ’s name. Preach release to the captives. Better yet, work for their release and live your life as if you believe in God’s forgiveness for all. Ensure that the blind receive their sight, and strive for the healing of all who suffer. Human healing is rooted ultimately in Christ’s power to heal. Let the oppressed go free. Work to ensure that their social status, ethnicity, or place in life is not a barrier to their living a full life. The Incarnation of our Lord assures us that these hopeful words are more than words; they can be realized in action with God’s help. As his body on earth, Christ has told us (in John 14), that we will do even greater works than the ones witnessed in his earthly ministry. We will do them only by God’s power. Let that soak in for a minute. So, my invitation to you is to focus your gaze on Christ. Let his Gospel animate your life. When too many words weigh you down, do something. Recalibrate the actions of your life around the One who gives you life.
As we think about how to live in Christ and preach the Gospel by example, I’m pleased to share that our recently dormant Social Concerns Committee is being revived by parishioners Allen and Jason Crockett and John Williams. A few years ago, this committee was formed to function as a kind of social conscience for the parish. Of course, we must all hone our own social consciences as Christians, but this committee pledges to be a visible presence of prayer, attuning itself to the needs of the local community and world. Every parish needs a “remnant,” a small group of the faithful who are visibly doing things on behalf of the whole. Some of us show up as a remnant for the Daily Office, knowing that the entire parish can’t be present, and yet, the prayer offered is no less effective than if it were fifty persons present. So it is with the Social Concerns Committee. This group of parishioners will gather regularly to pray and discern how Good Shepherd, with its gifts and resources, might give public witness to the Gospel. They will then invite the parish into this public witness.
The committee will meet on Zoom on Saturday, February 22, at 2 p.m. to discuss next steps. If you feel called to participate in the work of this community, please email me, and I will send you the Zoom link. I hope that the revival of the Social Concerns Committee will enable us to connect our retreat house ministry more tangibly with the needs of the neighborhood, as well as those beyond.
I leave you with the striking words of our Lord to his disciples as he approaches his death: “when they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say; but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11). When I’m feeling rudderless or anxious or uncertain, I take great comfort in these words. Don’t worry. Don’t be anxious. The Holy Spirit will tell you what to say. And I also believe that in our hour of greatest need, the Holy Spirit will also show us what to do.
Yours in Christ,
Father Kyle