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| August 7, 2008 |
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CATHOLIC IDENTITY SERIESHoly versus unholy zealCatholic Identity SeriesFather Pasquini is the founder of Chi–rhoministries.com, a ministry dedicated to building the family and the faith. He is the parochial administrator of St. John of the Cross in Vero Beach. Jesus reminds us through his angel that he wants us to be “hot” or “cold,” and that he will spew us out if we are lukewarm (cf. Rv 3:16). In other words, Jesus desires us to be zealous. The question arises, however, in what manner are we called to be zealous? We have all seen on television too many examples of unholy zeal. We, as Christians, are called to a different kind of zeal, a holy zeal! What is the mark of authentic Christian zeal? Christian zeal is nourished by a deep-filled thirst to love God and neighbor above all. It is signified by an intense desire to imitate Christ in all things, to bring all people into the kingdom of God, to overcome the enemies of the church, and to overcome indifference, inertia, lack of comprehension, ill will and spiteful opposition. It is marked by the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Unlike bitter zeal or unholy zeal – which is marked by self-seeking, pride, insensitivity, impatience, rudeness, bitterness and hate – holy zeal is marked by calm, humility, meekness, patience, sensitivity and other-centeredness. In a world with way too much unholy zeal, let us be holy zealots!
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