WHITE HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT

St. Louis, MO 63129

1-800-643-1003

Jesuit retreat center high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO.  Since 1922, thousands of people from around the world make annual three-day silent, guided retreats here to relax, reconnect with God and strengthen their spirituality.  A true gem in the Midwest!  Call 314-416-6400 or 1-800-643-1003.  Email reservations@whretreat.org  7400 Christopher Rd.  St. Louis, MO 63129

Both men's and women's retreats are offered as well as recovery retreats.

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Weekend Reflection for 5/23/14

May 22, 2014  /  Joe Parisi

Proclaiming Jesus Christ

 

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed or crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:5-8)

 

One of the signs of the Spirit in our lives is what might be called a “holy and humble boldness.” I think of this today as I hear about Philip going to a city which might not be considered prime mission territory, since the Samaritans and the Jews were not on the best of terms, to say the least.

 

These are the same disciples who were hiding in an upper room not too long ago — and yet here they are now, proclaiming Christ to all the various peoples. Something happened. Something happened to “compel” them to tell others about Jesus. They had experienced the risen Christ and they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit. This boldness they had was not arrogance but the boldness which comes when I have received something so great that I cannot keep the message from you.

 

Have I experienced the risen Christ? Have I received the Spirit? If so, what is holding me back from being a true evangelist, speaking about Jesus and his love to all those around me? Too often I go only so far in my witnessing to Christ or I speak only what I feel is “safe” to those whom I think are “safe.” I remember also that much of my witnessing to Christ is not in what I say but in what I do.

 

Like Philip, like the apostles, I pray for the gift to speak the message of Christ crucified and risen for us “whether convenient or inconvenient.” Only when I do this will I be following Christ’s command to “love one another as I have loved you.”