PIME Missionaries
  • Home
  • What Makes Us Different
    • PIME 75 Years in the US
    • The Missionary Vocation
    • PIME Martyrs
    • PIME Saints & Causes
  • Get Involved
    • Sponsorships at A Distance
    • Mission Development Projects
    • Events
    • Mission Store
    • Prayer Intentions
  • Our Impact
    • Our Missions
    • Mission World Online
    • PIME Asia News
  • |
  • DONATE
  • Home
  • What Makes Us Different
    • PIME 75 Years in the US
    • The Missionary Vocation
    • PIME Martyrs
    • PIME Saints & Causes
  • Get Involved
    • Sponsorships at A Distance
    • Mission Development Projects
    • Events
    • Mission Store
    • Prayer Intentions
  • Our Impact
    • Our Missions
    • Mission World Online
    • PIME Asia News
  • |
  • DONATE
May 2, 2014  |  By PIMEMissionariesUSA In Uncategorized

A Mission “On The Cutting Edge”

    By Fr. Dino Vanin, PIME

    Jesus said “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens (hard to carry) and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues… (Matthew 23:2-6)

    We priests should keep that somber remark from Jesus in the back of our minds.

    This must, arguably, be the hardest of all areas where we should improve according to the mind and wishes of Pope Francis. It has to be so because we are always called, as priests, to actin persona Christi capitis (in place of Christ, the Head of the Mystical Body, the Church).

    Being beset with human weaknesses and frailty, just like everyone else, we too have the innate tendency to do what we can to look good, to make a good impression, to welcome accolades and praises while trying to minimize our deficiencies and cover up our flaws.

    A simple reality check would reveal to us that, while most people would overlook and try to excuse in the great majority of their fellow human beings the innate tendency of sprucing up their image, this is definitely not permitted of priests.

    The word “hypocrite” would be applied with lightning speed at the first signs of inconsistency in us.

    This seems unfair; but it is not.

    Many of the faithful who are supportive of us, who show respect and love us, place us on a pedestal. Meanwhile our denigrators look down on us at the bottom of the scum pit in which they had placed us from the beginning.
    What to do?

    To those who placed us on a pedestal we should quote Jeremiah 17:5 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings’…” And Jesus himself: “…without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). Indeed, from the worst sinner all the way to the saintliest person, no one is confirmed in grace: anyone can falter, cause horrific scandal, and drag many down with him.

    Once we get over our anger at our denigrators, we should thank them for holding us to a much higher standard. They are doing this unwittingly and, most likely, because they resent that, through our preaching and teaching, we tell them that the Catholic Church will always refuse to approve of any lifestyle that is against natural law or contrary to God’s commandments.

    Hence, we should continue to preach and teach the truth that Jesus Christ entrusted to the Church to be kept from alteration and misinterpretation (Cf. 1 Timothy 3:15), always humbly keeping our sins before us and have full and exclusive reliance on the Holy Spirit.
    We should be tough enough to endure our share of the rejection and abuse that was meted out to our divine Master. Ours is a mission on the cutting edge.
    It has been so from the Church’s inception:

    “For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,[ ] but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.”
    (2 Timothy 1:6-8).

    _________________
    The PIME Missionaries are Catholic priests and brothers who commit themselves to lifelong missionary services, but they can’t do alone. Will you help PIME Missionaries make a difference in crossing cultures and transforming lives through the Gospel?  
    Find Us Online: https://pimeusa.org/ 
    Follow Us on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, & Flickr
    Previous StoryTo Flower and Fade
    Next StoryEvery Child Makes a Difference

    Archives

    • August 2021
    • June 2021
    • April 2021
    • January 2021
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • March 2020
    • September 2019
    • July 2019
    • May 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • December 2016
    • April 2016
    • December 2014
    • May 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013

    Categories

    Tags

    Banglades Bangladesh Bishop Vijay Rayarala Brazil Coronavirus COVID-19 COVID-19 Relief Dhaka Education Fr. Ace Valdez Fr. Gian Paolo Gualzetti Fr. Simone Caelli Hill Tribes India Mission in India Mission Work New Missionaries PIME PIME in India PIME Missionary PIME Priests Social Justice Sponsorships Sponsorships at a Distance Thailand The Mission The Philippines Witness You Make a Difference

    About

    Sed molestie augue sit amet leo consequat posuere. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Proin vel ante a orci tempus eleifend ut et magna.

     

    WHO WE ARE

    • What Makes Us Different

    WHAT WE DO

    • Our Impact
    • Get Involved
    • DONATE

    ABOUT US

    The PIME Missionaries are Catholic priests and brothers who care for and develop communities in 19 countries around the world.

    FIND US ELSEWHERE

    Copyright ©2018 ThemeFuse. All Rights Reserved