Tony in Todi

Public faith is what is needed today.  The biblical “call” to the ‘Ministry of Reconciliation’ is given to all, not only those of us who wear the Clerical Collar.  This is a grave misunderstanding that many faithful Christians suffer from - the fact is we’re ALL called to ‘BE’ Church in public life.  We Europeans must rekindle our first love for Jesus and arm ourselves with the boldness (gr = parrhesia), of the Holy Spirit and “Live the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.”   This is what St. Francis of Assisi is famous for saying - He was admonishing the Christians to LIVE the Gospel out loud!

Times may have changed but the needs and the mandate remain the same.  I call it “Pavement Exegesis” = Living (witnessing), in the midst my daily life.  I’d like to share a short story, a testimony, with you all, of a particular day of mine, here in Todi, Italy, where I live, in an ecumenical Christian Community, our blog link is: (SELAH: http://thearkcommunityselah.blogspot.com/).

It was a Wednesday morning, having just returned from dropping off my Archbishop at the Rome airport, I took the opportunity and stopped at our local Post Office to collect a parcel that had been sent for me.  Upon my arrival, the lady who served me exclaimed, “Mr. Palmer, please forgive me!  I have just sent your parcel up to the main Post Office, please forgive me for inconveniencing you.”    I’m always looking for an opportunity to get in the door with the Gospel, and this lovely lady gave me one!  I quickly replied, “It’s your lucky day, I’m a priest, and I can forgive you..!”   She was so surprised by my answer, because I was dressed in my gym gear (looking nothing like “what a priest should look like”..!! ).  Remember, my context is Italy and the Roman Catholic Church.  When I explained I was an Anglican Minister, she asked me if I could pray a blessing on their Offices and Staff.  I immediately agreed, thinking I’d be expected to pray a general prayer over the business from where I was standing.  But no, the lady serving me, turned and announced to the entire Post Office staff (around 20 or so employees), to congregate where we were standing, join hands in a circle and receive prayer and God’s blessing!  Then, seeing as it was early morning, they took me into the back room, fed me café latte and Cornetti (nutella of course), and asked me to share my personal testimony!

After being sent off, warmed inside and out, I stopped at the petrol station to fill up my car, and one of the pump attendants recognized me, and spontaneously announced to the other attendants, “Hey guys, come look at this Bishop in gym clothes!”  Once again, I found myself surrounded by a small congregation and took the opportunity to share a short encouraging word with the pump attendants at the petrol station.

Now I was really buzzing and thanking God for the divine opportunities He’d just given me to share the Good News of the Kingdom.  And on the way home, I remembered I had a blown bulb in my front headlamp, so quickly stopped at my mechanic (Ilio), to have it changed.  His workshop was empty and taking the opportunity, he began to spontaneously confess to me.  It was a special moment, a divine moment.  As he finished sharing, I began to feel so blessed that I could have been a source of joy and healing to those around me - I wasn’t sure who was feeling more happy, those I’d just ministered to, or myself, as I experienced the JOY that comes through sharing the Good News on the Road of Life!

Do we really need a degree in theology and a clerical collar to live like this?  No, all we need is a personal testimony, and this is exactly what Jesus always told people He had touched, to go do - He told them...  “Go tell them what God has done for you..!”

So let’s go...!