How can I reconcile the profound significance of the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul—marked by the universal call to “proclaim the #Gospel to every creature”—with Bishop Zurek’s choice to prioritize his Respect Life Mass on a date disconnected from the actual anniversary of Roe v. Wade, leading to his “Trumping” of the Gospel proclamation of today’s feast and his nonparticipation in the Church’s united prayer for the unborn last Tuesday❓
Reading I
“Why are you persecuting me❓” These words from Christ to Paul on the road to Damascus call us to examine how our actions align with the Gospel. When we disfigure the Gospel through misdirected priorities or exclusivity, we fail to embody its transformative power. As I reflect on the actions of Bishop Zurek, I wonder whether the decision to emphasize a local Respect Life Mass over the universal call of the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul misrepresented the Gospel’s call to unity and universal outreach.
Responsorial Psalm
“Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.” The Gospel is a message meant to transcend boundaries, bringing hope to every corner of the earth. By not joining the rest of the Church in the United States on the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn, did we inadvertently limit the reach of this Good News❓ The Gospel calls us to proclaim, pray, and act in harmony, yet we seem to have isolated our efforts in a way that may have diluted their impact.
Alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia. “I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” The Gospel empowers us to make choices that bear lasting fruit. Saint Paul’s conversion reminds us that even the most misguided paths can be redirected toward fulfilling God’s mission. The question arises: Are we, as a diocese, bearing fruit that reflects the enduring truth and breadth of the Gospel, or are we narrowing its scope to fit human designs❓
Gospel
Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
rejuvenate the Church with the power of the Gospel, renew her and lead her to perfect union
with her Bridegroom (cf. LG 4).
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
The Gospel demands a response, one that is as broad and inclusive as Christ’s love for all creation.
When pigheaded choices lead to the omission of a universal celebration such as the Feast of Saint Paul or to fragmented participation in shared prayer for the unborn, we risk diminishing the Gospel’s global and eternal significance. Are our actions truly aligned with the command to…
Such unhealthy dualisms, nonetheless, left a mark on certain Christian thinkers in the course of history and disfigured the Gospel.
FROM PARAGRAPH 98 ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME