In today’s first reading, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8-10, St. Paul and company praise the Thessalonians for not only proclaiming the gospel to people in other cities and cultures, but for living lives of virtue that exemplify their faith. This contrasts with today’s gospel, Mt 23:13-22, in which Jesus castigates the Pharisees and Scribes for their hypocrisy, for saying one thing and doing another, thus leading the people down a path of confusion that replaced worship of God with worshipping God’s gifts.
As faithful of Christians that we are, we can too easily fall into the same trap as the Pharisees and Scribes. We can be seen going to church every Sunday, sitting in the pews and following the rubrics, yet let distractions keep us from fully participating in the Mass with our inner eye on the sacrifice that is taking place in front of us – the real reason we are there. But, even if our full attention is focused on Jesus during the Mass, we may live separate and disconnected lives once we walk out the doors. Or, we may do all the right things and live virtuous lives, but still fail to proclaim our faith in words.
If we are to truly live our faith and spread the gospel as Jesus instructed us, we should endeavor to connect all the pieces together: what others see in us and what they hear from us. We need to walk the talk and talk the walk like the Thessalonians. We could ask ourselves, “If St. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy were observing me today, could they say the same about me as they did to the Thessalonians? Have my actions become such a rote habit that I’ve lost the real meaning of Mass and purpose for worship, that is, to not only receive the Gift, but to worship the Giver of the Gift? Am I experiencing the joy and thanksgiving in my faith that is necessary for others to want some of what I have? Am I loving my ‘neighbor’ and desiring their good by helping them establish a relationship with the One Who truly loves them for who they are?”
Maybe take a few moments and spend time with Jesus in prayer, asking Him what He thinks you can do to be more like the Thessalonians.
“Heavenly Father, today’s Psalm reminds me to sing songs of praise of You, the One Who loves me and takes delight in me, Your creation. May I never forget the sacrifice of love You made for me. Help me, Lord, to walk the talk and talk the walk so that others may come to praise you as well. Amen.”
(Be Like the Thessalonians was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
For eight days from June 26th through July 3rd, I had the pleasure of being on pilgrimage to Rome, Italy along with three other parish Directors of Evangelization, and five from our Archdiocese Center for New Evangelization. This being the Jubilee Year of Hope, as well as having a new pope, made it a special trip. A particularly special occasion was being able to celebrate Mass inside St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul with Pope Leo XIV as celebrant.
St. Peter’s Basilica altar baldacchino, by Bernini.
This was my second pilgrimage to Rome, the first being in 2019. Of course, when you go to Rome, you have to visit the major cathedrals and basilicas in and around the Vatican. We visited St. Peter’s, St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Paul Outside the Walls, all marvelous examples of renaissance architecture and elaborate baroque sculpture and art. It truly is beautiful beyond words! However, this year, it was astoundingly beautiful because it is a jubilee year and a boat load of money was spent cleaning and polishing everything. The skill of the artists, sculptors, and craftsmen, men like Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, and so many others, is purely mind blowing!
Domed apse of St. Paul Outside the Walls
It is beautiful, no doubt, but unless you make notes in a journal, It’s almost impossible to remember where a photograph was taken. And after three or four days of gawking at the grandeur, it all started to run together. I began to wonder why I was there, what was God’s plan for me? Was it just to be impressed with the beauty? No, there had to be more. The underlying purpose of our pilgrimage was to go deeper in our faith so that we would be inspired to encourage people in our parishes to better evangelize. Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling any special inspiration. So, each day I prayed for an answer to my question, “Why am I here?”
St. Bartholomew holding a knife representing his martyrdom by being filleted alive, at St. John Lateran
One morning we visited the catacombs of St. Calixtus, where, in the 2nd through 4th centuries, nearly a half million Christians were buried, a majority of whom were martyred for opting to profess rather than deny their faith. It was their courageous faith that convinced so many Roman pagans to convert even knowing that they might be the next to be executed. As we meandered through a small portion of the 20 kilometers of underground corridors that were lined with now vacant graves stacked eight to ten high, it was easy to imagine the persecutions they endured and all the hideous and creative ways they were tortured.
Catacombs of St. Calixtus
On our last day in Rome we ventured into the city center and visited several minor basilicas within a couple block radius of Piazza Navona, an oval plaza that was once a center for Roman foot and chariot races, as well as for putting Christians to death. On the piazza sits the minor basilica of St. Agnes, a smaller church but still beautifully adorned with magnificent paintings and sculptures, but specifically of martyrs.
Altarpiece of St. Agnes in flames, by Ercole Ferrara, 1660.
The church is dedicated to St. Agnes, the 3rd century 12-year old virgin who refused to abandon her faith and succumb to the advances of prominent Roman men. She was martyred by beheading after attempts to burn her at the stake were unsuccessful. Also honored are St. Emerenziana, Agnes’ sister who was stoned to death for opposing the pagans who were trying to prevent Agnes’ body from being buried; St. Sebastian, a converted Roman soldier who was martyred by being shot through with arrows but not killed, and then thrown into the sewers where he died; and St. Cecilia, a young girl who was discovered to be a Christian and was beheaded.
Altarpiece of St. Sebastian, by Pietro Paolo Fields, 1719
There, before the statues and relics of St. Agnes and these other martyred saints, with tears running down my cheeks, my prayer was answered. With unbelievable awe and respect for these martyred faithful men, women, and children, the Holy Spirit convinced me that I was there to fully comprehend what it means to not be afraid to profess one’s faith, so that I could help others to not be afraid.
There, in the moment, I was struck by the relative comparison between these martyrs who risked and sacrificed their lives, and the average Catholic in our world today. How many Catholics refrain from saying grace before dinner at a restaurant because of what other people might think? Too many. How many will not say “God bless you!” to a stranger and mean it because they’re afraid of confrontation? Again, too many. How many are afraid of being questioned about their faith because they know they haven’t done what they should do to be properly catechized? Way too many. How many are willing to risk asking someone who is obviously hurting if they can pray for them? Not too many, but too few. I don’t mean to judge, but generally speaking, we are weak in our faith. So many have forgotten, if they ever actually knew, what it means to be Christian. Jesus said,
“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Mt 5:10-12)
Those early Christians – St. Agnes, St. Cecilia, St. Sebastian, St. Emerenziana, and all the martyrs in the catacombs of St. Calixtus – died with hope, hope in the glory of heaven. They understood it so well that they embraced the prospect of being persecuted and put to death by torturing far worse than a disapproving glance from the diners at the next table over.
Sadly, I get it. Been there, done that, and got the t-shirt. But thankfully it doesn’t fit me any more because I’ve learned it’s not hard to overcome that fear. In fact, the mere chance that I might cause another to ask me about my faith far outweighs the risk. So, just start. Start small and go from there. If someone sneers at you for thanking God for the food you are about to receive, just smile at them and thank the Lord for them, too. Trust in the Lord to be with you, and pray that you might be the one to inspire someone else to turn to Jesus.
Remember His words, “Do not fear!” And resolve to ask yourself every now and then, “Am I just an average Catholic?”, for, if you are to fear anything, it is just that.
“Loving Father, thank You for the gift of faith and for the fortitude to protect and defend that gift. Nevertheless, You and I know that I need constant strengthening. May I receive that grace every time I receive You in the Holy Eucharist, remembering the sacrifice You made for me. I ask You Lord, and all the holy martyrs in heaven, to help me and all Your faithful to demonstrate our faith with courage and zeal. Amen.”
“Are You an Average Catholic?”was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
In yesterday’s gospel, Mt 10:1-7, Jesus sent his apostles on mission to announce that the kingdom of heaven is near. He specifically told them to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel rather than to pagan territory and Samaritan towns. This is in contrast to his instructions in Mt 28:19 when, after his resurrection, he commands them to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…”. In both cases, Jesus is telling them, and us, to evangelize. But why the difference?
It seems as though Jesus is giving the twelve a chance to practice evangelizing to those, who, unlike the pagans, already knew the teachings of the law of Moses and the prophets and would be more receptive to their message. He knew that taking the Word to all nations would be much more difficult. They needed to start slow and hone their skills along the way.
There is a message here for all of us, too, who, through our baptism, are also obligated to be evangelists on mission. We need to continuously increase our knowledge and understanding of our faith, and become more skillful at professing it, before we can expect to be proficient at making disciples of all nations. We need to begin with baby steps.
The best way to do this is to spend time with our friends in conversation about our faith, discussing the message of the gospel and what it is saying to us. I’m sure the apostles spent time together out of earshot from Jesus discussing all that they were learning, and sharing what it meant to them. By sharing our thoughts and insights in small faith sharing groups, or faith-based conversations over a meal with friends, we strengthen our faith and grow in virtue, and are better prepared to articulate to others His message of salvation.
I’m sure your parish offers opportunities to gather with other men and women in small faith-sharing groups and Bible studies at which you can safely share what it is that you hear God saying to you, and listen to and learn from others about the graces they receive through prayer and service. But, you don’t have to depend on your parish to organize groups or meetings. You can simply start from scratch by inviting friends to your house for a meal, spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon getting to know each other better, and interjecting faith based conversation into the experience. Do this enough and it will become second nature. Whether you realize it or not, you will be evangelizing each other. And, you will eliminate the fear that accompanies the prospect of evangelizing to people you don’t know.
“Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me insight into how to become a more effective evangelist, and for Your patience while I learn. You know I can’t go from zero to sixty in three seconds, but need space and time to accelerate slowly. You gave Your Apostles three years and even then they hesitated. I pray for the grace to grab hold of the opportunities to evangelize when You place them before me. Amen.”
(Practice Makes Perfect was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
The Catholic Church’s liturgical seasons fall more or less the same time every year. Advent in December, and Christmas the last week of December through the middle of January. Lent usually starts in late February and runs into April. The 50 days of Easter takes us into late May or early June. Then, we also have months with special devotions: May to the Blessed Virgin Mary, October to the Rosary, and November to the Saints and the souls in purgatory.
In the U.S., every month is also set aside to promote awareness to various other worthy causes, e.g., Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January, and Suicide Prevention Month in September. Some months celebrate less serious interests such as National Ice Cream Month in July, and Zombie Awareness month in May.
The month of May is also devoted to Mental Health Awareness. Yesterday, as in each Sunday Mass this month, one of the petitions mentioned was for all those suffering from mental health issues. Certainly, this is something we should all pray for. Our collective prayers are a type of spiritual social outreach. But it occurred to me there is a petition that I’ve never heard mentioned at my parish church or any other church I’ve ever been to in all my travels – a petition for the faithful to evangelize.
Evangelization is the central mission of the Church. The proclamation of the Gospel – the saving message of who Jesus is and what He has done for us – is a responsibility we all have by virtue of our baptism and confirmation. Unfortunately, there are so few who actually take that responsibility seriously. If we believe our prayers will be heard for those with mental health issues, or for any special interest, then shouldn’t we believe that our prayers for the faithful to muster up the courage to evangelize will be efficacious, as well? A simple petition such as, “For all the faithful, that they evangelize by proclaiming the Gospel, let us pray…” will at least remind everyone of their role. Or, we can get bold, and amp it up a notch with, “For each and every baptized Catholic to honor their responsibility by evangelizing at least one person this month and bring them to Jesus, or deeper in their relationship with Him, let us pray…”
If we want to follow and obey our Lord, we have to spread the Good News. Every month of the year should be Catholic Evangelization Month! It is that important, not only for the salvation of the souls of those being evangelized, but our own, as well.
“Good and gracious Lord, thank You for loving me. Please help me and each and every one of the baptized faithful bring others to know Your amazing love, also. Help us to realize the grace of Fortitude that was bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit at our Confirmations so that we may be effective evangelizers. Amen.”
(What Month Is It, Anyway?was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
As I’m writing this, our parish school’s 8th grade class is having its graduation ceremony. I’m sure our gym is filled with proud parents hardly believing their “baby” boys and girls will soon be high school freshmen; and those same sons and daughters, while also proud and excited, may be having some separation anxiety knowing that they and their friends will disperse to either our public high school or one of four or five nearby Catholic high schools.
This has been a big year for these youths. Tonight’s graduation is only two months after they received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Unfortunately, many of them will consider their Confirmation to be synonymous with their “Catholic graduation”. Now that they’re confirmed, they see no need for any additional catechesis, scripture study, or even prayer. Many will begin to exhibit the onset of spiritual atrophy, and in four years, when they go on to college, many will cease practicing their faith.
Yesterday I attended a conference on evangelization at a nearby Catholic church which also has a school. During a break I ventured into the hallway outside the meeting room and saw that school’s trophy case. There were years of trophies representing championships and tournament wins for volleyball, basketball, soccer and other sports. There were photographs, autographed volleyballs, and plaques with player’s names. And as I admired this memorabilia, I wondered how many of those student athletes still practice their faith. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice if a school had a trophy case that celebrated the graduates who continued to practice their faith in the years to come? Perhaps they could display bronze medals or plaques for those who continued to be faithful for five years on, silver for ten years, and gold for twenty-five years.”
I was quick to tell myself, though, that the attrition in the faithful is not completely the fault of our Catholic schools or youth faith formation catechists. Sure, some could be better. They probably can improve at helping students build a loving and meaningful relationship with Jesus, a faith foundation upon which they will continue to build virtuous lives. But, of course, there are other factors, as well, such as the pressures of the predominant secular culture that easily leads youths and young adults down paths of vice.
And, then, there are the parents – what role have they played in instilling a strong faith in their children? While it’s not a parent’s job to get their kids to heaven, it is their job, and in their control, to give their kids holy parents. Have they provided an attractive example of how an adult lives a life of holiness? Again, I checked myself so as to not put too much blame on the parents. Many have good intentions. The problem may not be with a lack of desire to lead their children deeper in faith, but that they can’t lead them past the point at where they are themselves.
I couldn’t help but see the hand of God in these thoughts. There I was at a conference on how to evangelize adults, and because of a simple trophy case, I became fully aware that none of this is the kids fault, rather it is an adult problem. Somewhere along the line we’ve lost the connection that the only way our children will develop and maintain a healthy life of faith is if us adults teach, guide, mentor and reinforce what that life looks like. The teachers, the youth catechists, and the parents are all adults, and while youth faith formation is important, it is secondary to adult faith formation. And to form adults who will form our youths, we need adult evangelists who will step forward and fill this void. We need catechists for OCIA, competent leaders for Bible studies, willing facilitators to participate in adult faith formation programs, and spiritual mentors who will guide other adults to living lives of deeper prayer that will help them grow in holiness.
I went back into the conference after the break with a renewed sense of determination. I know I don’t have all the answers, but as our parish’s Director of Evangelization, there is an onus that goes with wearing that hat, a responsibility to put into place ways to lead people into a deeper relationship with Jesus that will move them along the pathway from minimal maintenance to missionary discipleship.
“Heavenly Father, I give You thanks for your trust in me, that my participation will bear fruit for Your Kingdom. Inspire me, Lord, to evangelize other men and women to be Your disciples who will lead others closer to You. And I pray that You will put in the lives of our children who have fallen away from the faith someone who will inspire them and bring them home. Amen.”
Jesus and Nicodemus, Crijn Hendricksz Volmarijn, c. early 1600s
The Gospels for yesterday and today (Jn 3:1-15), put us in the scene with Jesus and the renowned Pharisee, Nicodemus, who came to Jesus under the cover of darkness to ask questions about his ministry. We are led to believe that Nicodemus must have seen or heard of Jesus’ healing miracles and wanted to learn more about him. We know that Nicodemus eventually converted to be a secret follower of Jesus, so we can surmise that his curiosity was genuine and not a ploy to trap Jesus.
The fact that he came to meet Jesus at night may also give us a clue about his intentions. A nighttime rendezvous would be less conspicuous. If he was genuinely interested about Jesus, he may have feared being observed by other Pharisees that could result in his condemnation and rejection. In his position, he would have accumulated wealth that supported a luxurious lifestyle, which would have been jeopardized if his clandestine meeting had been discovered.
When I placed myself in this scene, I pondered Nicodemus’ motive and his dilemma. He had to satisfy his curiosity for truth, but the answer could result in his ruin. His fear of the environment and exterior influences would ultimately cause him to lead a secret and unfulfilled life.
There are millions of Nicodemuses in our world today – men, women, and teens, who are searching for truth, who are curious about Christianity, and who would like to know more but, because of negative social influences, balk at publicly asking questions for fear of what others will think or what they might lose. They are hiding out there in our workplaces, our schools, and our neighborhoods. We should be looking and waiting for them with intentionality, ready to answer their questions and allay their fears.
When a modern day Nicodemus does muster the courage to step out and seek answers, he may simply want to learn more about Jesus, or he’s aware that there’s possibly a different set of beliefs and a better way to live than he’s ever experienced. His curiosity may manifest itself by privately asking questions to a Christian friend or acquaintance. When he does, he is giving us an opportunity to evangelize, and we need to respond utilizing good listening skills. His questions may be phrased in ways that hide their real intent, and we may have to look behind the words. We should not make stuff up, nor answer questions with excess theology. He needs simple answers, and if we don’t know an answer, we should say so and endeavor to find the answer for him. We should try to avoid vocabulary that is foreign to non-Catholics.
Like Nicodemus, his questions may appear antagonistic but probably aren’t meant to be so. Instead, they are likely due to his personal cynicism and relativism that has developed over years. He’s not ready to reveal that he’s on any kind of spiritual quest. He is curious but cautious, and still needs to feel safe and unthreatened when asking questions. We should respond in a friendly manner to increase the trust that has allowed him to ask questions in the first place.
Our gentle evangelizing should have an eye towards bringing this person from a a place of curiosity to being open to exploring the idea that God is a personal God rather than a concept, and that we can have a relationship with Him. We can introduce him to Jesus and the story of His passion, death, and resurrection in atonement for our sins. And we should be patient and pray for him, being grateful that, while he may not yet be making a commitment to spiritual or personal change, he no longer rejects the idea.
“Heavenly Father, I thank You for the virtue of fortitude given to me with my Confirmation that has prepared me to proclaim the saving message of salvation of Your Son, Jesus. May I ever be vigilant and prepared to welcome anyone who is curious about our Christian faith. I pray that Your Spirit affords me the grace to respond to them lovingly with humility and gentleness. Amen.”
(Curious Like Nicodemuswas first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
In my morning meditation on today’s Gospel, John 1:35-42, I was thinking about how John the Baptist made pointing others to Jesus look so easy. All he said was, “Behold, the Lamb of God”, and two of his own disciples immediately began following Jesus. I thought, “What might I say to others that might lead them closer to our Lord?” And then, in a deja vu moment, I remembered I’d asked that question a couple years ago and posted a reflection entitled Five Words. After re-reading it, I thought it was worthy of posting again as a reminder that it is our mission as Christians to be like St. John and point the way to Jesus.
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St. John showing Christ to St. Andrew, Ottavio Vannini, c. 17th Century
Happy New Year everyone! I pray this finds you in good health and full of hope for a safe and prosperous new year.
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Or are you like me and know that you will break them at the first opportunity? Generally, I tend not to make them but prefer, instead, to make daily resolutions gleaned from what I hear God’s will for me is that day based on my morning prayer and meditation. However, one thing that’s been on my mind these last few days is understanding what I can do this year to help lead more people closer to Christ.
In yesterday’s Gospel passage, John 1: 35-42, I read, “John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’ The two heard what he said and followed Jesus.” (Jn 1:35-37, NAB) John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus brought Jesus his first two disciples. And all it took were five words: “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
Any good Jew would have understood “the Lamb of God” as indicating the Messiah, the One Who, according to Isaiah the Prophet (Is 53: 7, 10) would accomplish the Lord’s will and lead Israel out of slavery. These were the words they had longed to hear for generations. He was their hope, their salvation, the answer to their unhappiness. He was their rescuer.
Meditating on this passage, I wished it was that easy to convert people today, to help them recognize Christ as the answer to their problems, the One Who can bring peace in a stressed out world. All it took was for John the Baptist to say five words! Five words that hit home with people who were looking for peace, freedom, and a better life. I thought, millions of people today are searching for exactly those things and many of them are right here in my own community. I wondered, “What five words could I use to attract them to our Lord?”
As I pondered this question, I realized I would have to first work on getting my little ol’ self out of my introverted comfort zone. My first five words ought to be directed to Jesus Himself, “Lord, give me courage. Amen!”
I know that evangelizing can be more effective if a friendly relationship is first built with someone rather than shouting through a bullhorn from a street corner. What five words could be used to initiate a new friendship? A few that came to mind were:
“Hello, my name is __________.”
“Good morning, what’s your name?”
“Hello, are you new here?”
“Let’s get together for coffee!”
We all have friends we know very well, and we routinely meet people for the first time, who, if we are observant, we can tell are hurting in some way, either physically, emotionally or spiritually, and they need lifting up. What five words can be used to bring the love of Christ to them, to let them know we care?
“Can I pray for you?”
“How can I help you?”
“A penny for your thoughts.”
“You look lonely. Wanna talk?”
“What struggles are you having?”
And, then there are those who we see routinely at mass, who attend simply because they are supposed to or it’s what they’ve always done, yet are lukewarm in their faith. Many of these folks have let worldliness obscure their vision of Christ as the ultimate good. Their lives are out of balance and they know something is missing but they’re not quite sure what to do about it. What five words can we say to them to help them realize their situation, start them on the road back, and rekindle or strengthen their relationship with Jesus?
“How’s your prayer life, friend?”
“What graces have you had?”
“Where’s Jesus in your life?”
“Come, let’s go to confession!”
“Join me in Bible study?”
Five words for courage. Five words to make a new friend. Five words to show you love and care for someone. Five words to help someone who can’t see the forest for the trees. That might be all it takes. Of course, six, ten, or two dozen words might work even better. It’s really not that difficult if our hearts accept the mission given to us by Jesus to be disciple-makers.
“Dear Jesus, I love You because I know You love me. I want to share it with others who need to know Your love as well. Help me, Lord, to recognize the opportunities before me to evangelize, to summon up the courage to reach out, and to trust the Holy Spirit to give me the right words at the right time. Amen.”
(From the Archives: Five Words was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
In today’s Gospel, Mt 9:35 – 10:1, 5-8, Jesus shows his compassion for the many people who’ve come to him to hear his teaching and to be cured. As I imagine myself in that scene, I sense Jesus is overwhelmed because He knows there are so many more people who need to be cured, who need to be preached to, but He simply can’t get to them all. He needs help and he tells His disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then, rather than just wish for help, He commissions His twelve disciples, giving them authority to drive out unclean spirits and cure every disease and illness.
Whether you like it or not, Jesus is talking to us – to you and me. He’s asking us to not only be productive laborers but to increase the labor force. For most of us, that’s a scary thought, and a task that’s all too easy for us to turn from and walk away. We feel either incompetent or it’s inconvenient for us and low on our to-do list. But, it’s a condition of employment, so to speak. In a way, the compensation we receive will depend on how well we accept and perform that job requirement.
But Jesus is a fair and just employer. He doesn’t expect everyone to aspire to be upper level management. He just wants us to do the best job we can in the jobs we have – our particular vocations. We don’t have to be priests, religious, or parish Directors of Evangelization. He doesn’t expect us to quit our jobs as parents, siblings, friends and neighbors to be something we’re not. He just asks us to help Him in the roles we’ve chosen and the environment in which we work.
Often we get so wrapped up in our jobs that we forget that the mission of the company is to provide a service or product that is needed by others. It’s that way with our Christian faith, in which our mission is to serve others so that they will discover the saving grace of Jesus. Jesus trains us through Scripture and the Sacraments, through which He gives us the knowledge and tools to do our jobs well.
Where do we start? Well, Jesus asked his disciples to begin by asking “the master to send out laborers.” He’s telling us to pray, to pray to God for insight for whom we can reach out to join our labor force. This may be a new hire to our faith, or someone already on the payroll who’s not quite pulling their weight. If we pray, and if we pay attention, the Holy Spirit will put someone on our hearts.
But prayer is just the starting point. We have to use the knowledge and skills we’ve been taught through our faith formation, from what we’ve learned at our weekly meetings (Mass), and how we’ve seen other top producers (the Saints), do their jobs. By applying what we’ve learned, and with the support we will be given, we can add to our ranks and grow our business.
Many people, though, need some form of rehabilitation before they can become productive co-workers. Jesus has conferred on us degrees in Occupational Therapy. Like He gave His twelve disciples, He’s given us the authority and ability through the gift of charity and friendship to cure the sick– those who are spiritually ill, who are suffering from infectious diseases caught in the secular environment; and to raise the dead – those who were once alive but have succumbed to one of these fatal infectious diseases.
And, like the disciples, we can cleanse the lepers – by offering love and respecting the human dignity of those who aren’t exactly like us; who are rejected or who are outcasts from society because of decisions they’ve made or unfortunate circumstances that have occurred in their lives. And, we can drive out demons – by being good friends who, with compassion, help those who are controlled by vices such as pride, anger, envy, lust, gluttony, sloth, and greed, – all of the things the enemy uses to keep people from God; and help them through anxiety about worries and regrets over which they have no control.
Our Lord needs more good and able people to expand His kingdom. He’s depending on us to look within our own spheres of influence, to ask Him for guidance, and to employ all that he’s taught us to rehabilitate co-workers and new hires alike, so that the harvest will yield more fruit per acre.
“Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching me, for setting the example of how to grow Your kingdom. I feel pretty incompetent at times, but I know You are here with me and I only have to call upon You when I need help. Help me to never forget that I can’t do this alone, that You are always by my side. Amen.”
(Rehabilitating the Labor Force, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
In just over a week autumn will be here and summer will officially be over. With school starting, most parishes have wrapped up their festival season, had their parish picnics, and are beginning to prepare for the season of Advent.
Our parish family had its picnic in August. (Perhaps I need to explain what I mean by “parish family”. We have a priest shortage forcing our Archdiocese to combine parishes into parish families. Our “family” consists of two established churches whose boundaries abut each other.) To help transition from two parishes into one canonical parish with two campuses, we had one picnic for both churches.
I made it a point to wander around and meet people I didn’t know and to get reacquainted with folks I hadn’t seen in a while. I saw one couple whom I had not seen in four or five years sitting alone. They regularly attend the church that I don’t usually attend. They were eating their meal so I sat down with my plate of food and we reconnected. I asked them how long they had been parishioners and they replied they’d been there about nine years. I said, “You must know a lot of folks here, then.” They looked at each other and replied, “No, not really.” I responded, “That’s too bad, do you feel welcome here?” They again exchanged glances and replied, “No, not really.”
Sadly, this is not an uncommon sentiment by many parishioners. I’ve met too many people who feel the same. They’ve attended church for years but have made no real friends. People from the church I regularly attend have confided the same to me. My family has experienced this with our many relocations. And these days, because my wife and I travel often, we attend Mass at more than a dozen different churches each year and it’s rare that anyone takes the time to welcome our unfamiliar faces.
It’s easy for us to say that those who feel unwelcome are partly responsible due to their own introvertedness. But that doesn’t excuse the rest of us. We’re not all introverted, but even those who are can learn to be extroverted when called to be such.
By virtue of our faith we are all called to reach out to others and build up the body of Christ, the Church. In other words, we are called to evangelize. And evangelization happens at the pace of relationship. Relationships are begotten when we intentionally meet and get to know each other. Relationships build trust, and being trusted is essential when we are trying to proclaim the Gospel and bring others to, or closer to, Jesus.
Evangelization is often considered to be something we only do outside the church doors, to the un-churched. We need to change our thinking. We have to evangelize within our church family as well. At any moment, parishioners like those I met at the picnic may decide that if they don’t meet anyone this Sunday, they’re gone! Tragically, Catholics are leaving the faith in droves, partly because they do not feel welcome. It’s a problem our Catholic culture has to overcome if we want to survive. We have to get beyond the idea that our only responsibility is to attend mass each week and go to confession once a year. Our Creed says we are “One”. We need to start acting like we are all One family and loving the other as they deserve and need to be loved.
We are called to be merciful like Jesus was merciful. That includes practicing the Spiritual Work of Mercy of comforting the sorrowful. We can’t keep looking past people like they are invisible, rather we have to understand that many are struggling, and that not everything is copacetic in their lives. People going through a tough time need a listening ear. A friendly smile and welcoming conversation can turn a difficult day into one of joy and hope. The making of a new friend can end a life of loneliness. And personally, the next new person you intentionally meet might just be your next best friend, the someone you need but just don’t know it yet.
Make it a point to meet someone new this Sunday or at your next parish activity. Be intentional. Attend a different mass, sit in a different pew, look for that spot in a pew next to someone you don’t know. Then, after Mass, turn to them with an outreached hand and introduce yourself. When they respond, take the conversation from there, listening to learn more about them. It’s not that hard and you’ll be glad you gave it a try.
“Come Holy Spirit, rekindle in me and all those who have been Confirmed the virtue of fortitude to get out of our comfort zones and seek out those who need us. Help us to look beyond ourselves and commit to bringing the love of Christ to others. I thank You, Lord, for all those you have placed in my life who have reached out with a friendly hand and a comforting smile and made me feel a welcome member of our Catholic family. Amen.”
(Evangelization Happens at the Pace of Relationship, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
Be like St. Mary Magdalene. I don’t mean go and get possessed by seven demons. No, be like her after she met Jesus.
Today is the feast day for St. Mary Magdalene. Yes, her feast day, not just a memorial. Pope Francis recognized her important role as a witness to Christ’s resurrection and, in 2016, raised her celebration from a memorial to a feast day on the same level as the Apostles.
Today’s Gospel, John 20: 1-2, 11-18, recounts the event of the morning after Jesus was crucified and buried. Out of love for Jesus and a burning desire to be with Him, Mary of Magdala went to Jesus’ tomb at the break of dawn, only to discover that the stone had been rolled away and Jesus was no longer there. She ran to tell the news to Peter and John, who raced back to the tomb to see for themselves. Acknowledging that Jesus was gone, but not understanding why, they left and returned home.
Mary, however, stayed at the tomb and wept for her beloved Jesus. She entered the tomb and was approached by Jesus whom she mistakenly thought was the gardener. Jesus told her to stop holding on to Him, and sent her to tell His brothers that He had not yet ascended to the Father. She obeyed and returned to the disciples announcing that she had, “‘Seen the risen Lord,’ and what He told her.”
By returning to her friends, the disciples, Mary became the Apostle to the Apostles, and was the first to evangelize and proclaim Christ’s resurrection, thus earning her place in that select group.
What do I mean by saying “Be like St. Mary Magdalen”? Well, first, we need to develop a loving relationship with Jesus like she did. We need to allow Jesus to save us from our sins. Then, like Mary, we need to spend time with Jesus, building and strengthening that relationship through prayer, listening to Him, and living our lives as He would have us live them. And, finally, we need to heed Jesus’ words to her and tell others about His resurrection. Jesus is sending us on mission. We are all called to be apostles, called to evangelize.
But, you might argue, Mary was sent to the Apostles who already believed in Jesus, men who already had a relationship with Him. That’s right, and we are sent to do the same. We often think of evangelizing as proclaiming the gospel to those who don’t believe. It certainly is, but we can also evangelize those who come to mass every week or most of the time; those who might occasionally attend a study class because they are wanting to learn more; and those who secretly have their doubts about some aspect of our faith. We are called to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus. Like Mary, we can do that by showing our love and devotion to Jesus in prayer, in the Eucharist, and not keeping our faith private. We can reach out to friends and acquaintances, delighting in them and valuing their dignity by inviting them into conversation and offering friendship and hospitality.
Evangelizing in this way will move those who believe but who minimally live their faith, and those who are seeking and growing in their faith, towards being fully missionary disciples. If we are to live out the central mission of our Catholic faith, we are required to make disciples of all nations. We can only do that by building an army of missionary disciples who are willing to evangelize both externally and internally.
You can be like St. Mary Magdalene.
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the St. Marys of Magdala that You put into my life. I would not be the disciple that I am today if missionary disciples who had an intense love for You and a desire to proclaim Your Kingdom had not accompanied me on my faith journey. Lord, I pray for the grace to pay this forward and help others draw closer to You and Your Son, Jesus. Amen.”
(Be Like St. Mary Magdalene, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
Reflections of a Lay Catholic 