For me, the definition of a Christian mission is to preach Christ in every possible place. Especially where there is darkness, evil and lack of love. In today’s reading, Paul seems to say the same thing: „What difference does it make, as long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed? And in that I rejoice.” That is why I am constantly surprised by the annual protests of many Christians: „I do not celebrate Halloween, I celebrate All Saints’ Day”. That approach does not change anything. For me, the question is always how we can positively enter into the popular culture (which has always been there, and always will be) to preach what is our highest value.
Yesterday I was at an evening of films in my secondary school and decided to bring my own jack-o-lantern, on which I carved the inscription „Jesus lives”, and in the very midst of witches and vampires I showed up in an angel costume. Compromise with evil? Or maybe a very specific idea for the implementation of Paul’s encouragement? Maybe instead of not letting our children go trick-or-treating, we can make them preachers of Jesus’s light dressing them as a positive figure. Maybe rather than chasing away trick-or-treating children who visit us, we can attach a picture with a saint to the candy (as indeed did once one of my sisters!). Let us show creativity and goodness!
Today’s reading also speaks about something crucial in thinking about death. „For to me life is Christ, and death is gain”. I think this should be our approach to death and the dead. Jesus conquered death and made it only the gateway to our eternity. There is nothing for us to fear. In our Polish tradition we exchanged the joy of the beautiful lives of saints and our loved ones into „meditation” over the graves. Why not simply celebrate with those who have departed? After all, we believe that they are among us and they want to help us reach our holiness. Because of my learning Spanish I saw an adorable cartoon yesterday about the day of the dead in the Mexican tradition – I think I would feel at home there 🙂
Let us learn to be wise, preaching the Good News everywhere without exception. We may prohibit, say that things are bad, scare people and warn them, but I’ve never heard that being the cause of someone’s conversion… we can also be creative and in all conditions proclaim the resurrection – that on the contrary!
