Sunday Gospel Reflection by Bishop Parkes: Have you ever had the feeling that our world is lost? That it has no direction? That the people that we’ve elected or those that are in charge seem out of touch with some of the biblical principles we, as Christians, try to live? Peace, justice, forgiveness, kindness and compassion for all are just a few.
We are a joyful community of disciples proclaiming the Good News and inviting all people to encounter the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.
Read the Gospel reflection by Bishop Parkes below or click here to listen to it.
Looking in the right place
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.You are witnesses of these things.” – Luke 24:47-48
Have you ever had the feeling that our world is lost? That it has no direction? That the people that we’ve elected or those that are in charge seem out of touch with some of the biblical principles we, as Christians, try to live? Peace, justice, forgiveness, kindness and compassion for all are just a few. Even the most devout Christians can become lost or distracted by giving into sin and temptation.
Even before Covid-19, we were seeing declines in Church attendance. As always, people are searching for answers to life’s questions and meaning for their lives. However, it seems that more and more they look for those answers in places other than by turning to God. We look for meaning and fulfillment through success at business, or accumulating wealth and material possessions. Many are looking for answers, but in all the wrong places.
Instead, we should look to Jesus. Our Lord came to earth that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Yet, we tend to forget the lessons we learned in our religious education classes or at Mass and instead, look for answers on social media and questionable news sources.
The Gospel reading from St. Luke this weekend reminds the disciples, and us, that by our faith we are also witnesses to what God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. And we receive the commission to be His witnesses through our baptism and initiation into the Church. If we fail to accept this mission, then the world will not hear Christ’s message of reconciliation and forgiveness.
We are called to hear His Word, accept His Word, live His Word and share His Word. Are we willing to take on this challenge? Do you have the courage to go forth to live and proclaim the Good News? Start this weekend by coming to church and to a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Buscar en el lugar correcto
“Está escrito que el Mesías tenía que padecer y había de resucitar de entre los muertos al tercer día, y que en su nombre se había de predicar a todas las naciones, comenzando por Jerusalén, la necesidad de volverse a Dios para el perdón de los pecados. Ustedes son testigos de esto”. – Lucas 24, 47-48
¿Has tenido alguna vez la sensación de que nuestro mundo está perdido, que le falta dirección y que las personas que hemos elegido o que están al mando parecen no estar en contacto con algunos de los principios bíblicos que como cristianos intentamos emular? La paz, la justicia, el perdón, la bondad y la compasión son algunos de esos principios. Incluso los cristianos más devotos pueden perderse o distraerse cediendo al pecado y a la tentación.
Aun antes del Covid-19 estábamos viendo un descenso en la asistencia a la iglesia. Como siempre, la gente anda en busca de respuestas a las preguntas sobre la vida y su significado. Sin embargo, parece que cada vez más buscan esas respuestas en lugares que no conducen a Dios. Buscamos el significado y la realización a través del éxito en los negocios, o acumulando riquezas y bienes materiales. Muchos buscan respuestas, pero en lugares equivocados.
En cambio, debemos mirar a Jesús. Nuestro Señor vino a la tierra para que tuviéramos vida y la tuviéramos en abundancia. Pero aún tendemos a olvidar las lecciones que aprendimos en nuestras clases de educación religiosa o en la Misa, y en cambio buscamos respuestas en las redes sociales y en fuentes dudosas de noticias.
La lectura del Evangelio de san Lucas de este fin de semana les recuerda no sólo a los discípulos, sino también a nosotros, que por nuestra fe también somos testigos de lo que Dios ha hecho por nosotros por medio de su Hijo, Jesucristo. También nosotros, por nuestro Bautismo e iniciación en la Iglesia, hemos recibido el encargo de ser su testigo. Y si no aceptamos esta misión, el mundo no escuchará el mensaje de reconciliación y perdón de Cristo.
Estamos llamados a escuchar, aceptar, vivir y compartir la palabra de Dios. ¿Estamos dispuestos a asumir ese reto? ¿Tienes el valor de vivir conforme a la buena nueva y salir a proclamarla? Comienza este fin de semana viniendo a la iglesia y estableciendo una relación más personal con Jesucristo.
Reflection by:
Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes is the fifth Bishop of St. Petersburg. Prior to his appointment to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop Parkes served as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 2012-2016. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Orlando on June 26, 1999. Before answering the call to the priesthood, Bishop Parkes worked for several years in Tampa’s banking industry.
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