A monk was passing along a dangerous and deserted highway. He came across a wounded man with high fever lying helplessly on the roadside. The monk took compassion on him and began to take care of him. He cleaned his wounds and tied them with medicinal leaves; he shared his food with him and spent the night taking care of him. The following morning the man was a little better and he was able to proceed on his own. When the monk was about to take leave, the stranger turned towards the monk and said to him, “Sir, you do not know who I am – neither my name, nor my race or caste or language, yet you bound my wounds, shared your food and spent the night taking care of me. Tell me, what made you do all these things for me?” Then the monk replied, “The Lord who created me said, ‘What you do to the least of your brethren, you do it for Me.’ You are my brother. What I had have done for you, I have done for my Lord.” Then the man said, “Sir who is your God. If your God makes you do all these things to a stranger, then I need that God. Give your God to me.” The monk paved the way for God in that man’s life. It is said that a saint is one who makes it easy for others to believe in God.
Every baptized Christian has got the duty to proclaim Christ to others. We can fulfill this duty by going to mission countries and preaching to people about Jesus and his teaching, by offering monetary help to missionaries who are preaching about Jesus and his message, by offering prayers for people who are working in the mission territories etc. But the best way we can preach the Gospel to others is by living a life which will inspire others to find out what makes us to live such a good and noble life. Our life example is the best way we can facilitate God’s coming in the life of others. During this season of advent, let us resolve to live such a life that will make our neighbors and family members to seek Jesus who inspires us to live such a good life.
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A man who thought he was John the Baptist was disturbing the neighborhood. So for public safety, he was forcefully taken to the psychiatric ward of a hospital. He was put in a room with another crazy patient. He immediately began his routine, “I am John the Baptist! The Lord has sent me as the forerunner of Christ the Messiah!” The other guy looked at him and declared, “I am the Lord your God. I did not send you!”
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Christmas shopping, though fun, can be difficult. Did you hear about the guy that bought his wife a beautiful diamond ring for Christmas? A friend of his said, “I thought she wanted one of those sporty 4-Wheel drive vehicles.” “She did,” he replied. “But where am I gonna find a fake Jeep?”