"We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another." Heb 10:24St John Bosco was a dreamer. Realizing at a very young age that violence only begets violence, John Bosco listened to the God of his dreams and began to treat other children with kindness and compassion, an action that was so counter cultural it caused others to laugh at him.
The author of Hebrews, like John Bosco, insists that rousing others to love and good works is one of the primary works of believers. Only when we encourage one another to lives of service and compassion do we live as Jesus asks.
There is an important lesson in John Bosco's life and the letter to the Hebrews. While it is reasonable and understandable to leave or avoid the church because of its obvious dysfunction and confusion, we must try to live counter intuitively. The best way to enliven others is from within the messiness of the church as it strives to live the gospel. Encouraging others works best when we acknowledge our own weakness and inspire others to live in peace and harmony despite our differences.
Today, encourage someone who is struggling.
Who has encouraged you to patience with yourself and others?
You Br. Jack, cautioned my teenaged self to be patient with me and others. You also were the first person to ask me about my personal relationship to God, a totally novel concept to this good Catholic girl. I was blessed to meet you during your early ministry in Cold Spring, NY, and was delighted to read your post today.
ReplyDeletePatience has provided lifelong challenges for me. After three kids and forty years as a teacher, I have developed much more patience. However, as a young person my Church did not support me, and church after church turned me away when I reached out through my adulthood. I found much more welcome and complete acceptance within other congregations. That is important to me in my spiritual life, and that is why my patience and work with the Catholic Church comes from without.