Psalm Reflection: The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C

“Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.” - Psalm 96

Have you ever said, or been tempted to say, “no” to something someone asked you to do in the workplace, because: “that is not my job”?

While setting healthy boundaries and saying “no” are good practices, some things in life are mandatory. For disciples of Jesus Christ, the task of sharing the faith with others is not reserved to bishops, priests, deacons, religious sisters and brother, ministers or catechists. Sharing the faith is something all of us are expected to do.

Jesus commissioned the disciples, and all disciples to come after them, when He said: 

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. - Matthew 28:19-20

Saint Peter, who received this commissioning from Jesus firsthand with the rest of the Apostles, echoes it to the entire Church:

Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope - 1 Peter 3:15

You have a unique story and a unique combination of gifts to share that story, whether it be in writing, artwork, music, service to others, teaching, witnessing in your actions, sharing through spoken words, or in some other way. You are called to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others, to tell them the simple truth of the kerygma (the essential Gospel message):

God loves you and has an incredible plan for your life.

Sin will destroy you and ruin God’s plan for your life.

Jesus Christ died to save you.

Repent and believe in the Gospel. 

Be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit.

Abide in Christ and his body, the Church.

Go make disciples.

(taken from The Activated Disciple by Jeff Cavins, pp. 117-123)

It sounds incredibly simple, but it carries a power and an impact when proclaimed to others. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen saw the opportunity that television presented and used his gifts and talents to share the Good News in simple ways with others through his simple message, that “life is worth living.”

According to Wikipedia: For 20 years as "Father Sheen", later Monsignor, he hosted the night-time radio program The Catholic Hour on NBC (1930–1950) before moving to television and presenting Life Is Worth Living (1952–1957). Sheen's final presenting role was on the syndicated The Fulton Sheen Program (1961–1968) with a format very similar to that of the earlier Life is Worth Living show. For this work, Sheen twice won an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality, and was featured on the cover of Time Magazine. Starting in 2009, his shows were being re-broadcast on the EWTN and the Trinity Broadcasting Network's Church Channel cable networks. Due to his contribution to televised preaching, Sheen is often referred to as one of the first televangelists. 

We could not imagine an Archbishop with a primetime television show today, but his unique gifts and ability to share the faith made it happen at a time when television was just beginning to be widespread in this country.

Who knows what unique and widespread impact your story and unique gifts can bring to the world?! That is why it is crucial for us to recognize our own responsibility, and not rely on someone else to fulfill what Jesus called every single one of us to do.

This week, try to share the basic Gospel message above, and what it has meant to you in some way with someone else. Keep it simple, and do not try to do it like anyone else. Think about your own unique gifts and interests, and how you might use them to share the Good News with others who need to hear it. Before you know it, you, like Archbishop Fulton Sheen did, might be proclaiming the marvelous deeds of God to all the nations.

I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt