WE ARE ALWAYS READY
Christians are told to be always ready to give our reply to people who ask us about our hope. But we have always to reply with gentleness and respect as St Peter says,
"Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15-16 TEV)
We are exhorted to learn how to answer, in a sensitive, gentle and respectful manner, the hard questions that will come our way. St Paul encourages all Christians to be very careful concerning their speech,
"Your speech should always be pleasing and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone." (Colossians 4:6 TEV)
Mother Teresa says:
"Often we Christians constitute the worst obstacle for those who try to become closer to Christ; we often preach a gospel we do not live. This is the principle reason why people of the world don't believe."(In My Own Words, 100)
"If you give to the people a broken Christ, a lame Christ, a crooked Christ--deformed by you that is all they will have. If you want them to love Him, they must know Him first. Therefore, give the whole Christ--to the Sisters, first, then to the people in the slums. Do I give the Christ who is full of zeal, love, joy, and sunshine? Do I come up to the mark? Or am I a dark light, a false light, a bulb without connection, having no current and therefore shedding no radiance? Put your heart into being a bright light. 'Help me to shed thy fragrance everywhere I go.'
"Let the poor, seeing you, be drawn to Christ.
Poverty makes people very bitter, and they speak and act without realizing what they do. But do they remember Christ when they see you--even if they get angry--because you remind them of Christ?
Draw them to God but never, never to yourself. If you are not drawing them to God, then you are seeking yourself, and people love you for yourself and not because you remind them of Christ." (Contemplative at the Heart of the world, 122)
"Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15-16 TEV)
We are exhorted to learn how to answer, in a sensitive, gentle and respectful manner, the hard questions that will come our way. St Paul encourages all Christians to be very careful concerning their speech,
"Your speech should always be pleasing and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone." (Colossians 4:6 TEV)
Mother Teresa says:
"Often we Christians constitute the worst obstacle for those who try to become closer to Christ; we often preach a gospel we do not live. This is the principle reason why people of the world don't believe."(In My Own Words, 100)
"If you give to the people a broken Christ, a lame Christ, a crooked Christ--deformed by you that is all they will have. If you want them to love Him, they must know Him first. Therefore, give the whole Christ--to the Sisters, first, then to the people in the slums. Do I give the Christ who is full of zeal, love, joy, and sunshine? Do I come up to the mark? Or am I a dark light, a false light, a bulb without connection, having no current and therefore shedding no radiance? Put your heart into being a bright light. 'Help me to shed thy fragrance everywhere I go.'
"Let the poor, seeing you, be drawn to Christ.
Poverty makes people very bitter, and they speak and act without realizing what they do. But do they remember Christ when they see you--even if they get angry--because you remind them of Christ?
Draw them to God but never, never to yourself. If you are not drawing them to God, then you are seeking yourself, and people love you for yourself and not because you remind them of Christ." (Contemplative at the Heart of the world, 122)
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