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Pope Francis said recently, “People will not follow ‘Christian parrots,’ those who talk about our faith, but do not live it.”
What people are looking for is an authentic witness, someone who not only speaks about Jesus; but also lives like him.
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This will be the challenge for the Twelve Apostles, called by Jesus in today’s Gospel.
Over the next three years, they must learn not only how to speak about Jesus; but also how to live like him.
To some extent, the credibility of the Gospel message will depend upon it. People will not follow them if they’re “Christian parrots,” or we might say, hypocrites.
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This is the same challenge we face today. Jesus has called all of us to follow him – it’s why we’re here.
But how can we act a little more like him?
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Perhaps it means being even more generous, more forgiving, more patient or less judgmental.
Anything but a “Christian parrot.”