Christians have duty to be witnesses to presence of Christ in our lives
CHARLOTTE — Murder, violence and destruction in today’s world are signs that “many people are far away from God,” so Christians must live and act following the example of Jesus if we are to effectively spread the Gospel.
That was the message from Bishop Peter Jugis during Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral Jan. 10, the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord.
The feast day, which formally concludes the Christmas season, commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist. The day’s Gospel from Mark recounts: “On coming up out of the water He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him. And a voice came from the heavens, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’” (Mk 1:7-11)
Not many people knew then that Jesus was the Savior come to redeem the world by His death and resurrection, and not enough people know Him as Savior today, Bishop Jugis said in his homily.
“A lot of people are ignorant of the fact of who Christ is and what He offers to us,” he noted. That means Christians “have a lot of important work to do.”
“All we have to do is consider the riots and the vandalism and the looting, and the destruction of property (and) the murders last summer, fall and this winter (that) show that many people are far away from God – many people do not know God and have not accepted Christ into their hearts,” he said.
“So, every one of us has the duty to make this culture more Christian, imbued with Christian values and virtues,” he said.
By our own baptism we follow in Jesus’ footsteps, Bishop Jugis said, noting that “we live in this world but we’re citizens of another Kingdom.”
“Let us be faithful always in practicing our faith, this precious gift that God has given to us, meant to be not only for ourselves, but lived and shared with others. So that we give (a) good example and good witness of the presence of Christ in our lives.”
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor
Related news:
- Pope Francis urges prayers, calm following violence at Capitol
- In wake of Capitol attack, leaders urge rejections of divisions that lead to violence