Necessary Words

We can talk to almost anyone about fluff like entertainment and sports and gossip.

And even weightier subjects like world events, social issues, moral issues, and the economy.

We can even discuss our personal politics, health conditions and finances.

But in today’s culture, any talk of God seems proper only in strictly restricted settings.

Settings where everyone knows that they’re going to be exposed to that kind of talk.

Settings where their consent to exposure is implied by their knowing and voluntary presence.

Maybe I exaggerate just a little.

But in our culture, how can we be expected to go out and spread the Gospel?

And yet the last three popes have been calling us to a New Evangelization.

Calling us, as individuals, to help spread the Good News.

To share what we’ve found in our Church and in our relationship with Christ.

Share not with some isolated tribe deep in the Amazon.

But with our family, friends, neighbors, coworkers—the people we encounter every day.

For some reason many of us are reluctant to do that.

Maybe we’re just naturally private or shy.

Maybe we don’t want to risk a conversation that might feel awkward or uncomfortable—

Either for ourselves or for the person we’re speaking with.

We might even fear that we’d offend the other person.

They might think we’re acting holier-than-thou.

Or maybe we don’t feel like we’re expert enough to start a discussion about God.

That might lead to a discussion of religious beliefs or doctrines.

We could end up having to explain or defend our beliefs.

We can seek some comfort in the old quote:

Preach always, and when necessary use words.

Preaching by action could be an easier form of evangelization.

And a truer, more genuine form.

Far better than Do as I say, not as I do.

But it relies on people not only noticing our good actions,

But also seeing the link between our actions and our faith.

Living a life of good example is certainly required.

But as even the quote concedes, words too are—at least sometimes—necessary.

Our Scripture readings today show examples of good actions combined with necessary words.

And they confirm, as we already know, that good actions are not always easy.

The leading scribe, old Eleazar, gave his life when he could have opted for an easy out.

His torturers offered to let him merely pretend to join in the idol worship.

But he was concerned that his pretense might lead others astray.

So Eleazar chose to endure torture and death rather than set a bad example.

And he didn’t go silently—he used words.

He explicitly stated his reason for choosing death and he proclaimed his devotion to God.

Zacchaeus also chose to take actions that weren’t easy for a man who loved his money.

And he used words to pledge those acts.

Saying he’d donate half his wealth to the poor and repay four-fold for any prior cheating.

And he made those pledges in public and in the clear context of his faith in Jesus.

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God, help us to share the necessary words.

Tuesday, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

Lk 19:1-10           Read this Scripture @usccb.org