A few weeks after my first Communion, a gentleman pulled me aside after church and criticized my posture while I was standing in line. He said I should not stand casually in line, but instead display some visible reverence for the Eucharistic meal. I was seven years old. I didn't understand what he was talking about.

It has been said that true evangelism is a matter of "one beggar telling another where he found bread." If someone has found something wonderful, you would expect them to talk about it. Of course, in today's culture the word evangelism is not very popular. Partly because instead of telling people where they found bread, many Christians and churches are telling people how to eat the bread.

In other words, instead of simply sharing our experience of Jesus Christ, we often tell people how they ought to experience Jesus Christ.

In today's second reading from the book of Revelation, John reports his spectacular vision of the inclusiveness of the church. "I, John, had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb." John sees all the peoples of the world not only worshipping God, but accepted by God.

In his earthly ministry, Jesus shared his life with all people - regardless of their religious or social pedigree. In fact, he seemed particularly annoyed when anyone suggested some people are out of God's reach due to their nation, race, people or tongue. There is no reason to believe that this policy changed after Jesus died and rose from the dead. He still calls all of us, wherever we are in our spiritual journeys, to follow him.

In today's first reading, Paul and Barnabas remind their contemporaries that God called the Jewish people to be a light to the gentiles. They were to be a beacon that pointed the way to the experience of God. Instead, they had separated themselves from the non-Jewish world for fear of being corrupted by other religions.

Today's readings suggest that we don't need to worry about being corrupted by other faiths. We should expect the good news of the Gospel to be reflected in how we live, and have a positive influence on our families, relationships and communities. Jesus was and is in the business of transforming the weak and weary into the strong and stable. We will be transformed by him, not damaged by a non-Christian culture.

We are privileged to enjoy the bread of life each time we celebrate the Eucharist. God promises to satisfy our hunger for purpose, contentment and joy. We can share this good fortune, share where we have found bread, to other hungry souls. But we are not called to tell people how, where and when to worship God. Nor are we called to identify who does and who does not belong in our churches.

Instead, we can respond to God's presence in our own lives, and we can expect by God's grace that all sincere seekers will wind up in the same place as expressed in John's vision.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.