Ordinary Men and Women Recognized As Companions of Jesus

Belief in the Divinity of Jesus, faith

“Uneducated, ordinary men…companions of Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) That’s how the Jewish leaders characterized Peter and John after they cured the crippled man at “the Beautiful Gate.” Once they received the Holy Spirit, the apostles boldly taught and worked miracles in Jesus’ name. Jesus told them to “make disciples of all nations,” (Mt 28:19) and they actively pursued that mission. We, too, have such a mission. The Church sends each of us out, in our own way, using the charisms God gives us, to evangelize others. This applies to the laity as well as to the clergy and religious. All of us ordinary men and women have a role to play in bringing Jesus to others.

Ordinary Men and Women – Not Necessarily Highly Educated

If you’re reading this article you probably are not uneducated. You need some minimal education to access and read these materials. In any event, your general level of education probably exceeds that of any of the apostles. You may think that you don’t know as much theology as members of the clergy and religious. Because of this, you may hesitate to step out and speak about your faith. Yet, many great saints had little training in theology or anything else. Consider just a couple of examples, below.

Saint Catherine Labouré lost her mother at the age of nine. A simple, holy young woman, she entered the Daughters of Charity in 1830 at the age of 24. There Our Lady instructed her to have what we know as the Miraculous Medal created. Her incorrupt body lies beneath the side altar at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Paris.

About three decades later, Bernadette Soubirous encountered Our Lady at a grotto near Lourdes. At this place, she found a spring which flows to this day. More than 7,000 cases of unexplained cures have occurred there. One of her religious sisters asked her if she had temptations to pride because of Our Lady’s apparitions to her.  She responded that she did not, and, “The Blessed Virgin chose me only because I was the most ignorant.” Her intact body lies in the main chapel of her order at Nevers, France.

A century or so later, Jesus and Mary came to Elizabeth Kindelmann, a poor, relatively uneducated, single mother of six in Hungary. Over the years, in their locutions to her, Jesus and Mary gave her, and us, the Flame of Love–“the greatest grace given to mankind since the incarnation.” Bishops in both Hungary and the US have provided imprimaturs on her diary.

These represent just three examples where God chose ordinary men and women as His instruments. Although uneducated, they served humbly with great faith, as instruments of Our Lord and Our Lady.

But Were They Really Ordinary People?

About now, you may be thinking something to the effect of the following. “Sure, at least some saints or other holy people had little education and seemed to be ordinary men and women. But Our Lord or Our Blessed Mother chose them and gave them special graces. That’s why they were able to do what they did.” Well, the Lord did give them special graces to do what they did. Yet,  each of us–you and I–receive the special graces we need to carry out the mission He’s given us. You may have heard the expression, “God doesn’t send the equipped–He equips those He sends.” And He does, indeed, provide the equipping, the preparation, and graces needed for you to carry out your unique mission in this life. These graces include what you need to know to do your part.

Ordinary Men and Women – Extraordinary Relationships with Jesus

The knowledge you and I need to evangelize others is knowledge of and from the heart. Plenty of educated people with theology certificates or degrees have a lot of head knowledge. Intellectual knowledge doesn’t convert people. Unless you really know Jesus, deeply and intimately, how will you draw others to Him? Certainly, it helps to know where to find answers to questions or objections others present to us. However, we first need to share our love of Christ with others. A saying that may seem trite is that we can’t share what we don’t have. But it is true. We need to develop and grow our love for Jesus in order to share it with others.

How do we develop that depth of love to share with others? It’s about a relationship–our relationship with Jesus Christ. The only way we can build a strong relationship with another person is to spend time with them. In this case, that’s called prayer. Relational prayer, or praying with Scripture, helps us get to know Jesus. It lets us be open to His message to us and for us. You don’t need a theology degree to pray–consider the three holy women mentioned above, or St. Juan Diego or St. Joseph of Cupertino. They all had strong relationships with Our Lord, as well as Our Lady–relationships built through prayer. They were humble, holy people who focused on “the better part” (cf. Lk10:41-42), as we should.

Recognized as Companions of Jesus

Actually sharing our knowledge of God with others doesn’t require a degree, either. It requires, first and foremost, behaving as we believe in, and follow, Him. Do you find that, at times, it’s hard to be charitable to others, particularly certain people? Pray for the grace to see them through the eyes of Jesus and to love them with the heart of Jesus. If you have a “history” with someone, pray in advance of engaging with them for these graces. Pray also for the grace to let the Holy Spirit guide you in your interactions with them for God’s greater glory and the salvation of your and their souls.

St. John of the Cross gives us some good advice. He suggests that we not do or say anything that Jesus would not have done or said if he were in the same state of life we’re in, as old as we are, with the same kind of health. So, strive to follow the example of Jesus, and the examples of Mary and Joseph, in how you behave toward others. Demonstrate God’s love for them.

And pray for the grace to stay recollected always in the presence of Jesus, Mary, and the Holy Spirit. Relying on them in difficult moments will give you the confidence to behave like a true follower of Christ. His command to make disciples of all applies to you and me. He didn’t add any qualifiers such as if you feel like it, or if you think you can. He sent us out to do it. As ordinary men and women, we can do this if we rely on God’s graces and are faithful to the graces we receive.

I can do all things in him who strengthens me.Phil 4:13

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2 thoughts on “Ordinary Men and Women Recognized As Companions of Jesus”

  1. Pingback: God Speaks to Us, But Do We Take Time To Listen? - Catholic Stand

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