Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time (October 9, 2018): What's your story?

Thứ Hai, 08-10-2018 | 22:16:55

Today’s Readings:

Galatians 1:13-24
Psalm 139:1b-3,13-15
Luke 10:38-42
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/100918.cfm

USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/18_10_09.mp3


A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

Jesus entered a village 
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? 
Tell her to help me.” 
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 
There is need of only one thing. 
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”


Good News Reflection: What’s your story?

How comfortable are you telling stories about your faith growth? If anyone asks you why you’re a Christian and how did it happen, would you have a conversion story to share? Yes, undoubtedly. No matter whether you were raised Catholic or in some other Christian denomination or you discovered the Christian faith more recently, you have a story that could help others.

Actually, you have a number of conversion stories. Any time your life changed as a result of discovering something new spiritually – taking you closer to God and deeper into the life of the Christian community – you experienced conversion. Any time a problem brought you closer to Jesus and his sufferings on the cross, you experienced conversion.

Any time you repented from a sin, you experienced a conversion that could help others if you talk about it, like St. Paul did in today’s first reading. Any time you put aside the busyness of life to sit quietly and learn from Jesus, you experienced conversion, like Martha did in the Gospel reading.

There are people in your life right now who are ready to be like Mary in this Gospel, but they don’t know how. They want to sit at the feet of the Jesus who lives in you; they want to hear him from your voice. God has placed you in their lives to be Jesus in the flesh for them. They want to hear your stories of love and faith. They want to be loved by the Jesus in you.

Trust that the Holy Spirit will inspire them through your story. Some will ponder what you said and respond to the Spirit’s guidance rather quickly. Others will change their lives only after hearing many other faith stories, because right now they don’t want to accept the truth completely. That’s okay! God appreciates you for sharing the truth with them in your own way, with your own faith-building story.

Here’s how to become more comfortable sharing your story: First choose any conversion experience and get very familiar with it. Answer these questions: (1) What was my life like before this happened and why did I want something to change? (2) What helped me to find God? (3) How did my life improve as a result of this conversion?

Next, tell it to people who understand, for example in a prayer group or faith-sharing community at church or a Christian friend. Then you’ll know that you really do have the ability to share it. This confidence will empower you to tell it to someone who needs to hear it for their own growth.

Never underestimate the power of your story! You can make a difference in other people’s lives just by being a blabbermouth about God’s love!

For a copy of this reflection that can be distributed to faith sharing groups, prayer groups, evangelization teams, etc., please visit: http://catholicdr.com/evangelization-aids/whats-your-story/

Today’s Prayer:Lord Jesus, give me the grace of discerning Your path every day in my life. Thank you for talking to me through the simplest things! Amen.

© 2018 by Terry A. Modica

Tags: , ,

Có thể bạn quan tâm