Deacon Tom Anthony

Suggested Reading: Acts CHAPTER 13 AND 14

For so the Lord has commanded us,
I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
that you may be an instrument of salvation
to the ends of the earth.”

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

We are all instruments of salvation through and with Our Lord Jesus Christ. When we come to Jesus searching and praying for Him to intercede on our behalf, to have some sort of influence in our lives that lifts us above the darkness that so often envelopes us, a wonderful thing happens. We actually become a beacon of light and hope for all of those around us. When we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts we are then able to express that love that He has for us. This expression is oftentimes something that we are totally unaware of. The presence of Jesus Christ in our lives has the ability to change us in so many ways; some of these ways we will be unconscious of. Our thoughts and actions will be influenced while our entire thought process will be changed. Christ is always forming us and shaping beyond all of our expectations.

We are exemplars of the faith. It is through us that Christ reconfigures all of His creation. What a beautiful vision this can be. Wherever we are in our lives, what we say and do matters beyond ourselves and can influence all those that we come in contact with. As Christians, everyone truly looks to us for guidance and direction. Yes, we are watched more closely as many people will question if we do indeed practice what we preach, so there is a great responsibility there. We are encouraged, through our faith, to grasp that responsibility and take the obligation very seriously. We are all messengers of the faith.

Jesus knows each and every one of us. Every person that has ever existed in the history of the world is known by Jesus. His presence is impossible to ignore. Jesus tells us in the Gospel Reading today that no one can ever take us out of God’s hands. We are protected and cherished being His children. This is a promise that will never be broken. We need to separate ourselves from this world with its temptations and allures to listen to Jesus’ voice. This can be accomplished through prayer and devotion. Who wouldn’t want to acknowledge their Father and receive the comfort and protection needed to live a wonderful life united with Him?

We as Christians are destined for salvation being Children of God. This is the promise but the promise can only be fulfilled if we accept what is being offered. Ignore everything else and put Christ first. We all will be encouraged to do otherwise but that should be and will be an expected struggle. As with every struggle, the easiest way to overcome it is to stay united with likeminded people in community. This is why we gather to worship, celebrate, and share amongst ourselves. Never forget your community. It is through the community that we all touch the lives of others and we are then touched by Jesus Christ.

Deacon Tom