Now is the time(February 1 2020) NOW IS THE TIME
Brothers and sisters:
We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We entreat you, on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. For our sake, God made Christ to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Christ we might become the righteousness of God. As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For the Lord says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on the day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 5:20-6.2) 
Get ready! Lent is coming! The scripture passage above is the second reading for Ash Wednesday, which is fast approaching us, on February 26, 2020. As I read it I was impressed again by the message that ‘We are ambassadors for Christ… working together with him’. AMBASSADOR: An official envoy, a diplomatic agent of the highest rank But I’m just a regular Vincentian who visits people in their homes and brings them what they need – food, conversation, a listening ear. So many of those we visit are estranged from any form of religion. Our Vincentian visits are the only contact they have with anything associated with Church or with God. When we engage with our neighbours who need us we are acting in the name of Jesus. We are his agents as we speak with kindness, not judgment and as we listen as a friend, not as somebody who has all the answers. That is perhaps the most important component of this Vincentian life of ours. What a privilege it is to be Christ to others and to allow them to be Christ to us! Our Vincentian calling is something we must not take lightly or in vain. We are called to this service, to be ambassadors of Christ and to do it now. As we prepare for Lent 2020 perhaps we can search our hearts to renew ourselves and or conferences/councils. Let’s not wait; let’s do it now, with God’s help. Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation.
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