Whoever teaches must become “all things to all men” ( I Cor 9:22), to win everyone to Christ Above all, teachers must not imagine that a single kind of soul has been entrusted to them, and that consequently it is lawful to teach and form equally all the faithful in true piety with one and the same method! Let them realize that some are in Christ as newborn babes, others as adolescents, and still others as adults in full command of their powers…. Those who are called to the ministry of preaching must suit their words to the maturity and understanding of their hearers, as they hand on the teaching of the mysteries of faith and the rules of moral conduct. 18
Roman Catechism, Preface II; I Cor 9:22; I Pt 2:2
Above all – Charity
25 To conclude this Prologue, it is fitting to recall this pastoral principle stated by the Roman Catechism:
The whole concern of doctrine and its teaching must be directed to the love that never ends. Whether something is proposed for belief, for hope or for action, the love of our Lord must always be made accessible, so that anyone can see that all the works of perfect Christian virtue spring from love and have no other objective than to arrive at love. 19
Roman Catechism, preface 10; cf. I Cor 13 8.
From today’s readings…
FIRST READING
Eph 4:1-7, 11-13
For the work of the ministry, for building up the Body of Christ.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace:
one Body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.
But grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,
to the extent of the full stature of Christ.
My take from all of this is how God is emphasizing how we are ALL needed. We all need to be reached, and then we all need to do our part in reaching others according to our own ‘gifts’. Use the little we’ve been given because it’s just right for those He has in mind. We aren’t to compare ourselves to others or be too concerned with criticism. Just be faithful to Him and the truth that He’s bestowing on us as we seek Him.