WORD ALIVE

The old mentality wherein the laity were expected just to say "amen" and to "pray, pay and obey" has long been over. As a result of the numerous charismatic seminars, some lay people I know, who attended such renewal activities, now preached in streets and restaurants. Entering restaurants, one would give “sermons” exhorting the waitresses to live moral and upright life. \* \* \* Seeing him coming again, they would whisper: "Nandito na naman yong pari!" (Here comes the “priest again”!). He waxes eloquent especially when under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and sometimes, the unholy spirit! (Oh well, he's only human). The lay empowerment under the Second Vatican Council has, indeed, made a tremendous boost to the church. \* \* \* The gospel of this 11th Sunday relates about Jesus calling his first apostles--a band of simple fishermen. "They left everything"--their work, their boats, their families--and followed him (Lk 5,11). This formed the core group on which Christ founded his Church. However, every Christian now is commissioned to the ministry of healing, preaching and teaching by virtue of his or her baptism. The Decree on the Laity of Vatican II states: "Incorporated into Christ's Mystical Body through baptism and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit through confirmation, the laity are assigned to the apostolate by the Lord himself" (3). \* \* \* How can you be an apostle and shepherd of Christ? You could participate in church works in your parish. Today there are numerous lay Catholics who sacrifice time, talent and treasure for the church, rendering services as lay ministers, lectors, collectors, choir members, catechists, social workers. \* \* \* Then there are those involved in church organizations like the Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women’s League as well as the renewal movements like the Marriage Encounter, Couples for Christ, and others. \* \* \* The most basic and effective form of being a shepherd is the testimony of Christian living or witnessing to such gospel values as charity, justice, forgiveness, honesty, peace. The world-renowned British TV journalist Malcolm Muggeridge was a celebrity who did not care much about God and religion. He did something he swore he would never do—become a Catholic. \* \* \* What led to his conversion? He had an assignment to write about the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta. In the course of his talks and days of observation, he experienced a change of heart. \* \* \* Muggeridge said: “Words cannot express how much I owe her. She showed me Christianity in action.” His experience of conversion was written in his book entitled, “Something Beautiful for God.” Ask yourself: Would lukewarm and non-Catholics be so edified by your way of life as to want to become active Catholics? \* \* \* In his encyclical “Redemptoris Missio” the late Pope St. John Paul II said: “People today put more trust in witnesses than in teachers…The witness of a Christian life is the first and irreplaceable form of evangelization.” \* \* \* In the spirit of this Sunday gospel, we pray that there will be more and more laborers—religious and lay people—to work in the Lord’s harvest. \* \* \* Father’s Day. I recall how our late father Francisco, who was a district engineer—a.k.a.  d’strict engineer--in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), would become cranky and irritable, thinking how he could send all five of us siblings to high school, then to college. \* \* \* His crankiness and irritability were aggravated by his choleric  Spanish blood (from the Llanes clan) and high blood! But he possessed the Ilocano frugality with which he was able to stretch his meager income and saw all of us finish our courses. \* \* \* We often rebelled against our father’ authoritarian treatment but later in life, we learned the value of such discipline and how he wanted us to become God-fearing and worthwhile children. Apart from giving a good example, one very important gift a father can give to his children is quality time. There’s a subtle enemy that can erode family relationship, and that’s work. \* \* \* In the biblical book of the prophet Sirach, he says, “My son, take care of your father when he is old, grieve him not as long as he lives. Even if his mind fails, be considerate with him. For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin offering.” (Sirach 3, 2-6). \* \* \* Support seminarians. Seminarians are very important. We cannot have priests, missionaries and bishops if there are no seminarians simply because all priests and bishops start as seminarians. So let’s support them. Please contribute an amount or sponsor a seminarian's schooling for one year. ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]))