To the People of God,

Those who call themselves Christians are mandated to follow the instructions of Jesus. Through the eyes of the Gospel writer Luke, Jesus opened the minds of his followers "to understand the scriptures". And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem."

Luke is striving to convey that it is the responsibility of all believers to spread the "Good News" of Jesus to everyone. Each member of God's Church must be willing to take responsibility and ownership in spreading the faith.

In the first Letter of Saint John, we hear strong words about living and spreading the Gospel message. John tells us, "The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Those who say, 'I know him,' but do not keep his commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him."

Taking the Word of God seriously and living the Word of God in daily life will require more than what most of us are capable of doing on our own. In the Acts of the Apostles, we are told, "Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away." The process of conversion to Christ's way is a necessary process to put aside one's own personal aspirations and take on the task of God's plan. Part of God's plan is for each of us to bring the message of Christ to others. First however, each of us must accept that plan for ourselves. None of us can truly be a messenger for God's plan of love and salvation if we have not accepted it ourselves. For truth freely given must be truth freely received.

The remarkable success of the early Church was due to the fact that people who truly believed lived what they believed. "Fair-weather" believers do not and will not inspire many converts. As true as this was in the early Church, it is still true today. Believers who continually take personal responsibility for their actions mark the health of the Church. Living the commandments of Jesus, living the Gospel, is not an option for those who claim to be His followers. Arguing with this truth, as many may, will not change the truth that Jesus teaches. If a person wants the "face" of God to shine upon them, then deciding sooner rather than later to do things God's way is the only "way, truth and the life" worth living.

May the ever-present Easter grace of the Risen Lord be always with you!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. James Tarantino,
Pastor