As we celebrate the risen life of Jesus, the world, so enamored of death, will eventually oppose us. The world will not just be upset about our verbal proclamation of Jesus' resurrection. It will especially convulse when we practice what we preach by changing our lifestyle so as to more powerfully proclaim the resurrection. At this point, the world will pressure us to obey it rather than God. Because Jesus is risen, we may dramatically change our finances so as to free up more money and time to proclaim the resurrection. The world will then tell us to be like "everybody else" by putting our money in the bank, making investments, and being a good "consumer." It will laugh at us when we tithe, give alms, and simplify our lives. If we obey the world, the resurrection message will be stifled. If we obey God, we're gaining momentum in witnessing for the risen Christ.
After we by faith meet the risen King, we may choose to be celibate for the kingdom (see Mt 19:12) or to have a large family. In either case, the world will ridicule such practical acts of faith. The world can tolerate lip-service to Jesus' resurrection, but when we act as if the resurrection demanded a new life, then we threaten the world. If the world doesn't stop us, we may break other unwritten rules in our society by sharing our faith in Jesus on our job and rejecting the world's entertainment. Therefore, the world will try to force us to comply. We'll have to obey someone. Will it be God or the pressures of the world?
| PRAYER: | Father, may I continue to proclaim Your Son's resurrection by disobeying any unwritten rules of this society that are not Your will. |
| PROMISE: | "Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation." –Mk 16:15 |
| PRAISE: | Praise the risen Jesus, Whose obedience gave us life with God. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College