Memorial of Saint Gregory

Labor Day

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/090312.cfm

I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,and my message and my proclamationwere not with persuasive words of wisdom,but with a demonstration of spirit and power,so that your faith might rest not on human wisdombut on the power of God.


Bishop Moorman, in his History of the Franciscan Order, tells how medieval Franciscan preachers found themselves caught between the crusading aspirations of the papacy which wanted to retake Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and the European people who had lost interest in the conflict. The wars had already gone on for centuries with no end in sight, and the crusaders had been not only repulsed; they usually didn't get as far as Palestine before they fell into disarray.The friars and most of Europe saw little point in waging war any longer.Added to that, they recalled Saint Francis' change of heart about the crusades during his last years. As a boy he and all Europe were astounded when the Saracens recaptured Jerusalem. (If you saw the movie, The Kingdom of Heaven, you recall the incident.) He was delighted when several friars were martyred in Morocco, after they had incited a riot by insulting Allah, Muhammad and everything Muslims held holy.But when he went to Egypt in pursuit of the same glorious death, the Gentle Assisan could not bring himself to be rude. Instead he engaged in a devout conversation with the sultan and both went away edified. Scholars today find many traces of his admiration for Islam in the prayers he later wrote, including his Praises of God.From Saint Francis' change of heart and the lack of interest in Crusades arose a new chapter in the history of missions: instead of conquering people by war and imposing baptism on them, let's try persuasion! Perhaps the Truth will speak for itself and we won't have to kill anyone!The idea took root very slowly and the Spanish were not convinced when they set out to evangelize South and North America. Many indigenous people suffered by their cruelty and remain disinterested to this day.Other aggressive methods have also failed: Christians missionaries in China developed a cult of "rice-bowl Christians." Starving people were eager to attend the services so long as they were given free food. But when the food ran out the churches emptied. Another example of misguided good intentions are the judges who sentence drunk drivers to attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. I've heard the "fifth steps" of men whose only character defects were getting caught "driving while intoxicated." It's a waste of time.

Saint Paul discovered the true method of evangelizing when he arrived in Corinth. He would speak only of Christ Crucified, in fear and trembling, without the esoteric Greek wisdom in which he was schooled. He would let the story of Jesus speak for itself and the Holy Spirit work with his congregation in God's time, not his own. It seemed pretty foolish, and I am sure it felt that way at first.

But we should understand, not even the story of Jesus crucified and risen makes any difference unless the preachers demonstrate by their persons the change He has effected. Rudely button-holing people with "Have you been saved?" or "Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?" only exasperates; it does not reveal the "spirit and power" of Jesus which shines in the heart of the believer.In other words, evangelization is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of human effort. We should only get out of the way when people are drawn by our words or example to the Gospel. We should only applaud their deepening conviction, assurance, generosity and joy as they glow in the light of Christ.

And we must speak the whole truth to them. We dare not shortchange the Gospel by not speaking of sin, both actual and original. We must speak of mystery, and live in the mystery, as we invite others to enter with us through the Sacraments into Christ.