Aug 22, 2026
Where does that kind of service come from?
Jesus asked Peter, "who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "you are the Christ, the son of the living god." Only then did Jesus entrust him with the keys of the kingdom. Peter first knew Christ before leading the church. We cannot give what we do not have. We cannot lead people to Christ if we are not walking with Christ.
During a visitation to Cuba, I asked the archbishop, "what has been the greatest contribution of the society of the divine word?"
He answered, "your presence among the people." People can receive food from many organizations. They can receive education from schools. But they long to encounter Christ through someone who walks with them, listens to them, and prays with them. Our greatest contribution is helping people experience Christ through us. The church becomes believable when Christ becomes visible. This week, choose to serve rather than to be served. Choose to forgive rather than to hold on to resentment. Spend a few moments with Jesus every morning.
Then ask yourself every evening, "today, did someone come a little closer to Jesus because they met me?"
A church bell does not ring for itself. It rings so that others may hear. The church does not exist to draw attention to herself. She exists to point people to Christ.
May people never stop at us. May they always arrive at Jesus. For the church becomes believable when Christ becomes visible.
Amen.