Making A Difference

We moved through the crowds quickly and got to her gate just as they were giving the last boarding call. She thanked me and got on the plane. I turned and looked at over at my gate. My flight was delayed by 30 minutes. I had plenty of time. I couldn’t help everyone in the airport with their luggage that night, but to the one I did help, it made a difference.

I think the second thing that immobilizes us with evangelism is the thought that in order to be a witness in God’s mission field we need to stand on a soap box on a Boston street corner passing out Bible tracks, or walk down Main Street with a sandwich board sign that says “Repent !” on the front and, “For the end is near !” on the back. Well that’s not always the case. Sidewalk evangelism does have its place, and there are some people who are cut out to do that type of evangelizing. (I don’t happen to be one of them.)

I think the most effective form of evangelism we can offer is the way in which we live our lives, and by the example we set as Christians. I also believe some of the best forms of evangelism come very in small ways with random acts of kindness, like throwing a starfish back into the ocean or helping a distressed girl carry her luggage. That, my friends is how we can defeat the evil in the world, one kind act at a time.

In the Gospel reading today, Jesus said to the seventy upon their return, “I saw Satan falling from Heaven like lightning.” Jesus was saying that the Seventy were participating in the defeat of evil in the world. We too can participate in the defeat of evil in our world.

Jesus says to us, I see Satan fall like lightning from Heaven when your church takes its Thanksgiving offering and sends it to St. Francis Samaritan House to feed the homeless. I see Satan fall like lightning from Heaven when you conduct a youth confirmation class and four of your youth join the church. I see Satan falling from Heaven when you plan a prayer workshop for the Fall. I see Satan fall like lightning when the church holds a family picnic and everyone invites a friend. I see Satan fall like lightning when you cheerfully welcome the new person who comes to church. I see Satan fall like lightning when you forgive the one who has wronged you.

My friends, let us not be tricked into thinking that we can’t make a difference, because we can make a difference one small act at a time. May we get up from these pews today and go out into the world knowing that there is a great need out there. There is a world full of hurt and people are just looking for a ray of hope to get them through. May we be that ray of hope. May we be the seventy that make a difference in the life of just one. AMEN!