#8 ACTION
Action is a natural element of being human; therefore, Christian Action is a natural element of being Christian. Our “Action” is a natural flow coming from us because of our deep love for Jesus Christ.
Sharing what Jesus our Lord is doing in your life, or the lives of the people that are close to you is “The Great Commission”. As you will recall, in Matthew 28: 19-20 Jesus told his disciples “Go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.” Have you ever noticed that when you begin to share an experience that came to you from our Lord, that not only the person or friends you are sharing with are listening with all ears, but others around you are also straining to hear you too?
Christian Action is as natural as going for a cup of coffee. ! You can Make a Friend through sharing, you can be a Friend by listening, and you are bringing that Friend to Christ. Let us say this together it has such a nice ring to it, MAKE A FRIEND, BE A FRIEND, BRING YOUR FRIEND TO CHRIST. You probably don’t remember, if you were a baby, however, I know you have attended many baptisms, so you will recall that in our baptismal covenant we were asked: “will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ? “Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbor as yourself?” And our responses were, I will, with God’s help.
Let us look at this three-legged stool. As you heard in Dyke’s Rollo one leg is Piety, which is a covenant relationship, our deep love for God. The second leg as Fran mentioned is Study, using our minds, hearts and souls, to grow into a deeper relationship with God and lastly the third leg is ACTION. You will notice that by adding Action that the stool is standing. Each of these legs represents the aspects of the Christian life. Each are equally important in being a successful living follower of Jesus Christ. In this Action we have the opportunity to share and to spread the life of grace with others. In James 2:14-17 we are reminded to put our faith into Action. Be the hands, the eyes and feet of our Lord.
PERSONAL SHARING
I went to my Cursillo in 1995; it was named “The Revelation of Divine Love”. As I was preparing my talk I realized just how appropriate the name of my Cursillo is for I know that God has been with me my entire life, thus far. I was born into a Jewish family. My life in my growing years was a roller coaster ride of emotions. In reflecting back over my life I can see that our Lord has placed me on so many stepping stones to prepare me for the “Action” he needed me to do for him. From leaving my dysfunctional home life at the age of 18, to joining the Air Force, where I grew to know who I am that I am not “stupid”, as I was labeled daily at home. You see parents were divorced and my mother could not stand that I resembled my dad. So she would find some way to punish me for reminding her of their life together. While in the Air Force in the early stage of my basic training, I had an incredible dream that I know came from God specifically to reassure me that I was in the right place and that HE had a definite plan for me and to TRUST HIM. After basic and years in between, I met my husband, have 3 beautiful adult children, and 8 of the most awesome grandchildren in the world!
If you take a meditated look back at your life, and see where you are and what you have accomplished, you will realize that our Lord has been using you. Our Lord has given me many assignments along my way molding me in his grace to prepare me for what he needed me to do for him. At the start of each day, as I put on my DOK pin, I ask the Lord “What would you have me do”.
Attending Cursillo is just one of the things he had on the list for me to do. Through this I have a stronger desire, or longing to be in “Action” for our Lord. I am currently a Coordinator for the Thrift Shop at my church which is the Church of the Resurrection, in Austin. This ministry has opened up so many opportunities to share what Jesus has been to me. It is a glorious feeling to tell share with someone what prayer can do. Suggesting that they ask Jesus to come and help through prayer and I tell them that I personally will be in prayer for them. Please understand that I am not telling you that you have to be in Action because of my feelings of wanting to be in Action for our Lord or because you are attending this Cursillo. I am sharing this with you because I love our Lord so much, that I can’t imagine what my life would be without the opportunity to be in Action.
Please remember that Action is our opportunity to share and spread the Love we have for our Lord with others. There is a need for -
THE NEED FOR APOSTOLIC ACTION
The word “apostle” means “one who is sent.” Apostolic action implies that we are sent by God to perform Christian action in the world. Without action our Christian life is incomplete. By practicing and speaking our faith it helps us develop as Christians. I was kind of shaky at first when the opportunity came to me to express to a person I did not know, that was down on themselves, that God hears all prayers and that I would pray with them. However, after I did I too felt blessed by sharing this; it made it so much easier. I know that our Lord was helping me to do this.
OUR WORLD NEEDS APOSTOLIC ACTION
We (Christians) are called to be the bread of life. Bringing life to the world.
I believe that the evil that is in our world can be transformed by Christian ACTION. Just think of it, if we all would be the people our Lord has desired us to be, as Michael Jackson’s song suggests, this world would be a better place.
The mission of all our churches depends on OUR ACTION as members of the Body of Christ.
We are sent into the world to “represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever we may be; and to do the best we can to carry on the work of reconciliation through Christ in the world. Remember in Matthew 28: 19 that we are called by the gospel to “make disciples of all nations” that the church might be found everywhere.
THE OBLIGATION OF ACTION This call to action is a direct result of:
1. Being examples of the good news of God in Christ.
2. Our confirmation. The Bishop revisits the prayer made at our baptism by asking our Lord to “send us forth in the power of that Spirit to perform the service you set before us, through Jesus Christ” The service of course meaning ACTION.
3.In 1 Cor. 1:26-31; and Cor. 12: 12-13 we are reminded of our membership in the Body of Christ. “Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy, and have been set free from sin.” “We are all baptized into one body through one Spirit. And we were all made to share in the one Spirit.”
THE GOALS OF APOSTOLIC ACTION
1. To tell people about Jesus Christ.
2.To help people grow in their relationship with God. We do this by sharing our own spiritual journey.
3.To transform society and its structures. We could bring Peace throughout the world.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ACTION
1.Action is motivated by a love of God and it comes from the heart. As you will recall in Fran’s Rollo she mentioned that in Cor. 13:1-8, & vs.13 we are told if we do not have love, we are only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal etc. If we do not have love, then we are nothing. It reminds us that love is patient and kind etc. All this comes from the love of God.
2.It is well thought out, carefully planned, based on the use of our intellect. It is directed by our heads. We as Christians are connected in Christ. When one Christian fails, we share his or her failure and care for their needs. When he/she is restored to fellowship, we rejoice with them.
3.It is persevering. It is an act of the will. We cannot afford to believe it does not matter whether we are actively involved in struggles against the world or whatever, we cannot be preoccupied with our own concerns, and we must not drown in icy waters of indifference. We MUST show the CHRIST within us.
4.Action is balanced:
a.We understand that God needs us to do our part.
b.We understand that we cannot do everything on our own.
c.We need to rely on prayer and sacrifice. Get down on our knees they are our levers our (palanca, our way of showing love) of apostolic action.
HOW CAN APOSTOLIC ACTION BE EXERCISED?
1.Individually, through word and witness. As you heard earlier this is your PIETY. You’re sharing of your deep love for God to encourage others to love HIM as much as you do.
2.In groups were you can be linked together by others who are ready to also share their own love and moments of when God has been actually visible to them.
3.In various organizations. I play a game called BUNCO which is 12 women getting together to have fun. I often find an opportunity to share a recent experience where God showed Himself to me.
WHERE CAN APOSTOIC ACTION BE DONE?
In church communities: such as your parishes, in dioceses, in diocesan organizations in national and international Christian organizations.
Out in the wide world, in our own families, youth organizations, vocational and recreational groups. If you are fortunate, sometimes, at your work.
HOW DO WE CARRY OUT APOSTOLIC ACTION?
1.By faithful living. A true apostle speaks of his love of Christ to: nonbelievers, or believers to strengthen them and motivate them to also live a more fervent life. We are given many examples in our bibles. Like Col.4:5-6 “Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity. When you talk, you should always be kind and pleasant so you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should, and Heb.12:14. Try to live in peace with all people, and try to live free from sin.
I love what the message in James 2:14-26 tells us, which is to use our tongues to bring joy, peace, and happiness into the lives of others. Thank others for their friendship. Encourage those who are struggling. Tell others of your love for them. Most of all, use your words to praise God throughout your day.
CONCLUSION
So you can basically tell that our personal contact is the basis of “Apostolic Action”. As I noted earlier in my talk, I work in our church Thrift Shop. A woman and her two girls came in one day to shop and loved the way we made her and her girls feel welcome. The woman actually asked if we needed any help and offered to volunteer to work in our shop. After a few times, I invited her to come to our church service. I told her I would look for her and you know, she took me up on this. She has since been coming and has been baptized and confirmed. As a result her husband has been coming and he was baptized and confirmed as well as their daughters. And we have become good friends.
Again, Make friends – approach them, don’t wait for them to approach you. Talk to God about your friend before you talk to your friend about God.
Be a friend: let the friendship grow. Be interested, joyful, understanding, accepting, loving, just be you.
Bring your friend to Christ. Tell them you will meet them at the door of your church. Tell them you will be in prayer for them and offer to pray with them. If they do not have Jesus in their heart, ask them if they want him and show them the way.
My heritage is Jewish. As I noted earlier in my talk, I have been down a very rocky road. However, many years of struggling and being distant from my family because of my marriage to a Christian actually led me to a friend. I was in my middle 40’s when a friend that that will always be very special to me, helped me ask Jesus to come into my heart. This Jesus has changed my life. My friend took ACTION, she spoke of the love of Jesus in her own life to me, and helped me realize that I could have that too.
So I will close by asking you to say this with me:
MAKE A FRIEND
BE A FRIEND
BRING A FRIEND TO CHRIST.
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