The Second Vatican Council issued this call to us, the laity, because we “live in the midst of the world and its concerns.”
Recall that after Jesus had sent out the Twelve (Luke 9:2), he sent seventy-two others to spread his kingdom throughout the earth to offer all people a share in God’s mercy.
In the Church there is a diversity of ministry but a unity of mission, with the laity sharing in the priestly office of Jesus. The council fathers stated flatly that we, the laity, are called by God to exercise our mission by openly bearing witness to Christ and promoting the salvation of humankind.
We are challenged to do this with the ardor Jesus himself demonstrated. This means with passion, fervor, zeal, intensity, fire, emotion, enthusiasm, eagerness.
It’s a tall order, but one we cannot walk away from now that the Year of Mercy has ended.
Our prayer today:
Peter W. Yaremko, a former journalist, is the owner of Executive Media, Inc. and is a specialist in executive communications. He attends St. Peter the Apostle Church in Provincetown, Massachusetts and blogs at peterwyaremko.com/paradise_diaries.