Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

His Witness

Yesterday I was fussing over some flowers in the front of the church where I work in preparation of a memorial scheduled the next day. Walking back to my office I was struck by one of the many banners hanging on the back wall of the church. “We are His Witnesses.” Wow… what a responsibility.

A few of the churches in town also have a sign to remind us of this challenge leaving their parking lots: “Now entering the mission field.” What we do in our ordinary lives can have a huge impact in furthering God’s kingdom. Are we truly acting in accordance to what Jesus preached?

At daily Mass yesterday, Fr. Bud reminded us to let the word of God seep into us like rain into dry soil. Through daily soaking in the Bible, holy words of life spring out of us naturally, radiating and witnessing God’s light to others. One simple way to keep in the word of God is through a 365-day Bible that breaks daily readings into bite-size chunks. Everyday there is an Old and New Testament section, psalm and proverb to read. It’s a great way to be submerged in God’s mission, beliefs, thoughts and preaching because we need to know it to share it.

I preface my reading by asking the Lord what he wants to teach me that day. Then I high-light what scripture impacts me, letting those passages ruminate in me all day. Here’s what hit me today in Matthew 5:3-5: “Humble men are very fortunate! He told them for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. Those who mourn are fortunate! For they shall be comforted. The meek and the lowly are fortunate for the whole wide world belongs to them.”

The first thing that struck me as I meditated on the verses is how counter-cultural those words are. We strive not to suffer and be lowly. It also makes me realize that my fussing over the flowers for the memorial was a small act to comfort those who lost a love one. Seeing that banner was a reminder to be a witness and my little daily Bible readings are exactly what Fr. Bud was suggesting in his homily so that we witness properly. In retrospect, the whole day came so perfectly together, woven by our God who molds our every response if we are in his word. I now see God even calling me to witness his way of seeing things in the writing of this article. His perspective, so desperately needed in this broken world, is what we are called to witness.

 

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