July 18, 2025
Feast of Saint Camillus de Lellis
My sisters and brothers in the Lord,
Welcome to week twenty-ninth of BMW, Be My Witnesses. This is Bishop Earl Boyea of the Diocese of Lansing. This week, our witnessing will have us work on the Spiritual work of mercy, instructing the ignorant. Again, this will be the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
Witness: Instruct the Ignorant
We are to instruct the ignorant. Now that is a tough word. What is really meant is someone who is uninformed. For example, everyone has heard the name, Jesus. Yet, there are so many who really do not know him, who are uninformed or ignorant as to who he really is. These could be very young people or even those raised in Catholic families which did not practice or hand on the faith. Thus, there is no need here to cast any blame on anyone. Rather, we are to provide what is lacking for their salvation.
Jesus gave us this command at the end of his time on earth: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
The first attitude we need is to want to share what we treasure with others. Then, we have to care for and love those we are addressing. I remember a priest friend telling me as I approached my first assignment to love the people I would be serving. This reminds me of how the priest, Eli, informed the young Samuel how to listen to the voice of God (I Samuel 3:1-18). Or Nathan’s strong but loving correction of King David who had committed adultery and murder. We are not to be “know-it-alls,” but humble bearers of the truth.
First of all, we must prepare ourselves. This calls for us to pray both for ourselves and for those we seek to instruct. Then, we must be actually willing to teach. Jesus was constantly teaching, from the Sermon on the Mount, to instructing his disciples who did not understand the parables (Matt 13:36), to teaching Mary of Bethany who sat at his feet (Luke 10:39). It is important, of course, that we have done our preparations as the Second Letter to Timothy indicates: “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (3:16-17).
Secondly, we need the motivation described by St. Peter: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence” (I Peter 3:15-16). Peter was aware that those living in a hostile environment needed to be able to explain their faith-filled happiness and joy. The Holy Spirit in us wants out, wants to be shared with others.
Finally, we must always not only speak the truth in love, but live the truth in love (see Ephesians 4:15). These two virtues are never to be separated.
The Challenge
So, for our challenge this week, if you are up to it, ask if you might sit in on a catechetical class at your parish, or, if not that, affirm a Catholic School teacher or a catechist for his or her ministry of instructing the ignorant.
Until next week, may God Bless you.
+ Earl Boyea
Bishop of Lansing
P.S. Here is a video version of this week's Be My Witnesses. Please do share with friends and family. Thank you.