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)
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)
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)
It’s Wednesday, May 15th, but I know this won’t get posted until tomorrow. I’m writing this right after my morning meditation on today’s Gospel, John 17:11-19. After Jesus informed his disciples that he is going away (Jn 16) and they will have to take over from Him, He warns them of the trouble they will encounter from the world, but to have courage because He has conquered the world. Now (Jn 17), He prays to God before them to consecrate them to the truth, sends them forth into the world to continue His mission, and prays, “for those who will believe in me through their word”.
As I put myself in that scene as one of the disciples, I feel anxious. I am alarmed and sad that my Messiah, the One I love, is leaving me, and I am fearful because I now have a tremendous responsibility to carry on His mission even though I am hopelessly inadequate. At the same time, I think about all the good He has brought to the world – the miracles, the lessons about right living, the healing, the interior peace – lessons that simply cannot be set aside and forgotten. I have a decision to make: do I just remember Jesus as a friend, teacher, and miracle worker, or do I continue His work, sharing this beautiful life, and help others come to know Him?
I realize that it’s really a no-brainer. Up until now, I’ve just been tagging along on His robe-tail, letting Him do all the work. Now He’s asking me, and trusting in me, to step up and take command. He’s even asked God directly to help me…and I have no reason to believe His prayer won’t be answered no matter how afraid I am. I have never felt more loved than when I’ve been with Him. He has asked me to love others as He has loved me. How can I do otherwise?
My decision: I’m in. I know it won’t be easy but I trust that He will be with me. I’ll make mistakes. I’ll fall occasionally. He told me the world will work against me. I’ll accept that, but I’ll find ways to deal with it and evangelize nevertheless.
What’s your decision? Are you in or out?
“Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting me to adeep relationship with You, and Your trust in me to lead others to You. Thank You for the gifts You give when I receive You in Communion, the gifts of love for others, and of courage and strength to overcome my fear of evangelizing as I bring that love to them. Amen.
(Are You In or Out? was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
I went to a high school graduation party yesterday for a young friend of mine, Thomas, with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working side by side as a volunteer repairing people’s homes, and who has been a great help to me in maintaining my own property. After writing a note to him in the obligatory greeting card, I realized that my sentiments were not so much congratulatory as they were well wishes for the future and an affirmation that he will do well and go far. Thomas, is bright and hard working and I believe he will see his high school graduation not as the end of something, but as the beginning, or “commencement”, of a promising future; that his diploma is more than a confirmation of a job well done, but a conferring of responsibility to do something great.
While I was at the party, it occurred to me that it was my second event of the day to celebrate a “commencement”. The first was attending mass on Pentecost Sunday, the day on which the Apostles utilized the gifts of the Holy Spirit which had been conferred upon them in the upper room. It was the day they graduated from simply being disciples to becoming disciple-makers.
Unlike Thomas and other graduating seniors who will go on to college before they effectively utilize all that they’ve learned, the Apostles, didn’t waste any time. When the Holy Spirit descended on the Jews in Jerusalem, Peter became the first to accept the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). With fortitude, he proclaimed the Gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ. When he was done, three thousand Jews converted.
Pentecost serves as a reminder to all of us Catholics that, by virtue of our own Baptism and Confirmation, we have the right and duty to utilize the gifts which the Holy Spirit has conferred upon us to discover how to bring the message of salvation to other people.
It’s doubtful that we will experience a noise like a strong driving wind, or tongues as offire (Acts 2:2-3) that prompt us to take action, but we all do experience opportunities to begin the process of saving souls through Jesus. I’m not talking about evangelizing by standing on a street corner preaching through a bull horn. No, it’s much simpler than that. It begins with friendship and a love that desires good for the other person. And, there’s no greater good than to know Jesus Christ.
Our society today is starving for true friendship. We have what my friend, Dr. Mike Scherschligt of the Holy Family School of Faith, calls FDS – Friendship Deficit Syndrome. Virtual friendship through social media platforms isn’t working. Loneliness and depression caused by a lack of personal interaction and friendship are the leading causes of an alarming increase in suicides. People are lost. Many don’t know who they are or what they are. They don’t know what love is. They don’t know what brings happiness. And, they no longer know truth. They don’t know God. Souls are waiting to be saved through friendship.
Through friendship, meaningful conversation, and hospitality we build relationships. We get to know and understand each other and we build mutual trust. It takes time, but when a friendship develops to this level, the friend who is far away from our Lord is much more likely to accept an invitation from you to explore or go deeper in faith. The door is opened for you to arrange an encounter with Jesus. That encounter may come from inviting the person to a small group discussion, a bible study, to attend mass, spend an hour in Adoration, or pray a Rosary with you. As they get more comfortable, you walk as their companion on their journey while they establish their own relationship with Christ. It’s the ultimate win-win for everyone – they discover the love and mercy of our Lord, and you receive abundant graces for your effort.
It works. Two men, who, in honoring their duty, made it their mission to get to know me. They followed up by building a relationship with me based on trust. Then, they brought me to an encounter with Jesus. The rest is history.
“‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, enkindle in us the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit so that we may be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.’ Lord, open our hearts to Your Spirit so that we, like the Apostles at Pentecost, will boldly step out of our comfort zones and graduate from simply being disciples to being disciple-makers. Amen.”
(Evangelization Begins with Friendship was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
When I graduated from college in 1979 with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, my first job was working for a large contractor in central Missouri. Their specialty was earthwork, including building large earthen dams, municipal water and sewer systems, roads, etc. They used various types of large earthmoving equipment, and many of the projects involved drilling and blasting rock. All of this was new to me and I was fascinated by the equipment, the men who operated them, and how their movement seemed almost to be choreographed.
My boss, Ralph, was one of the owners of the company. He was a big man, kind and generous, with a good sense of humor. He treated me like his son. But, Ralph wouldn’t hesitate to speak his mind. He was a mover, he never stood still. He walked fast and drove faster. And if you didn’t keep up he’d let you know it. More than once he caught me standing idle watching the equipment work and he’d yell, “Hey, don’t just stand there, do something! You’re wasting time!” It didn’t take long for me to learn to keep on task and pay attention to my own work.
Ralph passed away about five years ago, I guess. I think about him from time to time. I thought about him this last Sunday as I meditated on the day’s Scripture passages.
Most dioceses celebrated the Solemnity of the Ascension on Sunday, although the actual forty days after Easter fell last Thursday. During those forty days, Jesus revealed Himself several times to His disciples. The first of those was in Galilee where the disciples were told to meet Him (Mt 28:7-10). In this first encounter, Jesus commissioned the Eleven to go andmake 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. (Mt 28:19-20)
In another encounter, the disciples were instructed to return to Jerusalem and stay there until they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). Then, while in Jerusalem, Jesus returned His final time and told the disciples that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Then, before the disciples’ eyes, Jesus was taken up into heaven.
Scripture tells us that the disciples were looking intently up at the sky. I imagine they were filled with awe and wonder, dumbstruck over what they were witnessing. Just then, two angels came, stood beside them, and interrupted their fascination with what they had just seen. One of them asked, why are you standing there looking at the sky? (Acts 1:10-11).
I’m sure the rest of what the angels said was left unrecorded but went something like this: “Didn’t Jesus just tell you that you would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, and throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth? Aren’t you supposed to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them? Then why are you standing there gawking? You have work to do! Don’t just stand there, do something! You’re wasting time!”
I think that angel’s name was Ralph. And, back at my job today as Director of Evangelization for our parish, I sensed this larger than life angel named Ralph sitting on my shoulder, shouting in my ear with a sense of urgency, “You have people to teach and disciples to make! Don’t just stand there, do something! You’re wasting time!”
“Come Holy Spirit, help me to discern Your will each and every day in my mission to teach and make disciples. Help me to overlook the superfluous distractions that keep me from growing Your Kingdom. And, Lord, I pray for more of Your faithful to accept the same Great Commission. Amen.”
(Don’t Just Stand There, Do Something! was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
When I cracked open my Bible this morning to today’s first Scripture passage I saw that it began with the familiar, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for, and evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 1:1, NAB). I immediately sensed I should pay attention because something profound was yet to come. Five verses later, there it was, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him [God], for anyone who approaches God must believe that He exists, and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Those words evoked a beautiful memory of a life-changing event….
Midnight, Saturday, April 14, 2012 – I had just spent one of the most uncomfortable days of my life – the first day of a two day Catholic spiritual retreat at which my attendance had nothing to do with my spiritual life. Rather, I was there to get away from the stress of life, from the loneliness of spending countless time away from home due to work, the loneliness of having made no real friends since I’d moved to town six years prior, and to think about how I was going to dig myself out of the mire of depression into which I was falling. After the first couple hours of the retreat, I felt like a fish out of water. I had seen more praying than I’d seen my entire life. Although I’d been married to my loving and devout Catholic wife for 30 years, I was a NONE, with no real convictions about God. Jesus was not part of my life.
I was getting ready to hit my bunk for the night when I fell into a conversation with a man that I had come to know fairly well. We were friends although we’d never actually shared our lives with each other as I now know that true friends do. Eric asked me how my day had been. I opened up to say that I honestly didn’t know what to think. I had never heard men talk like those whom I had heard that day, disclosing such personal and intimate experiences, and avowing how God had helped them through their struggles. I allowed that this was new territory for me, that I tried to live my life as morally as I could and with kindness to others, but that I’d never felt called to fully believe in God. Eric replied, “Brother, you’re doing the good things God wants you to do! Just open your heart to the Holy Spirit like you heard today, and God will give you the gift of faith.”
2:00 a.m., Sunday, April 15, 2012 – After two hours of insomnia, thinking about the experience of the day, and going over Eric’s advice in my head a million times, I asked myself, “What would I pray for if I was to pray for something?” Two things came to mind: first, that I would get some affirmation that my wife and daughters knew how much I loved them, and that I would receive some reinforcement of their love for me; and, second, that I might develop some friendships with these men on the retreat who seemed to be taking an interest in me.
Summoning up the courage to roll out of my cot, I found my way into the chapel. I took a pew near the back on Joseph’s side and looked forwards. Eric and a woman were up near the altar praying. On the altar was what I had heard them call a monstrance, a cross-looking thing in which a consecrated host was on display. Kneeling there, I wasn’t sure how to start my prayer so I said, “God, I don’t know how to pray. I don’t know for sure if I believe you are real or not. But, after what I’ve seen today, how these men can be so happy in spite of the difficult situations they’ve faced, I want to believe in you.” And then, for the first time in my life I prayed. I prayed for those two things: love and friendship.
11:45 a.m., Sunday, April 15, 2012 – After a few more testimonials that morning I was given a large envelope stuffed with dozens of other smaller envelopes. As I delved into them I found letters from the men who were giving the retreat thanking me for attending, praying for me, and offering to walk with me in faith. There were cards from people I didn’t even know saying they had been praying for me all weekend that I might experience Christ’s love. And, to my surprise, there were letters from my wife and daughters, parents, brother and sisters. Each and every one was a love letter letting me know how much they loved me and that they knew my love for them. That’s when I discovered I had what a friend later explained was the Gift of Tears.
I found more than the love of my family in those letters. And, I found more than new friendships that weekend. I found the love of Christ, a love deeper and more profound than any love I’d ever known. I realized all that i had been missing for fifty-five years. I started life anew that weekend when I cracked open the door of my heart. I found the source of happiness, and I wanted more of it. I was given the gift of faith through the realization of things I had hoped for, because I had been given evidence of something i couldn’t see. That weekend I became a Christian. One year later, I became Catholic.
The scripture says we must believe God exists before He rewards those who seek Him. But, I think He is a loving and merciful God, One Who bends His own rules, when He sees fit, and rewards those who seek Him because they wantto believe.
I imagine there are hundreds of people in every community, yours included, who fit that description, who want to believe, but have no one to show them the way; men, women and children who are waiting for someone to reach out to them in friendship and invest in them and encourage them to crack open the door of their heart to let the love of Jesus rush in. Won’t you let that someone be you?
Lent begins next Wednesday. Perhaps a Lenten resolution would be to meet and strike up a conversation with a neighbor whom you don’t know well; smile and introduce yourself to someone who looks sad, bewildered, or hurting; or honor the Sabbath by setting aside work and, instead, invite over for dinner someone who is alone. God gave you an imagination. I’m sure you can use it to come up with your own ideas of how you can be a disciple for Christ.
This week, almost eleven years after my conversion, I am helping a class of eighty men and women learn and grow in their faith, forming them to become Catholic Spiritual Mentors so that they may more effectively lead others closer to Jesus. On April 13th, 2012, I’d have said you were crazy if you had suggested I would be where I am today! I praise and thank God every day for this life to which he has brought me, for the men and women who have led me along the way, and for the desire to help others grow close to Jesus.
The Catholic Spiritual Mentor class of 2025 is forming now. If you are interested in learning how to become a guide to another in his or her quest for friendship with Jesus, you can visit the School of Faith website for more information, or if you are interested in having a Spiritual Mentor of your own, you can find more information here.
“Dear Jesus, thank You for placing those undesirable and uncomfortable situations in my life that drew me to an environment in which I learned to seek You and receive Your gift of faith. Thank You for loving me through good men who offered friendship to me, and thank You for a loving wife and children who supported me as I grew to love You more. Thank You for giving me the desire to be a disciple-maker for Your Kingdom. Amen.”
(Believe and be Rewarded was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
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.”
(Five Words was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
In Luke 10:1-12, Jesus sent the Seventy-two out on a mission to visit villages around the country with instructions of how to convert souls and expand the Kingdom by preaching the new Word of God. They were to enter a house, wish it peace, eat what is offered to them, and cure the sick. They were to take nothing with them, placing their trust in divine providence. He told them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” By this, He was asking his disciples to make disciple-makers.
When we read this passage we are naturally brought to reflect on our own efforts and success at being disciples and making disciple-makers – something at which most of us fail miserably. But, these last couple of days, my thoughts have been more about being on the receiving end of the efforts of these trusting and courageous missionary disciples. In other words, what was it like to welcome these disciples into your home and receive the peace of the Lord through them?
This week my wife and I experienced just that. On Wednesday, we welcomed five young women, ages 18 to 20, into our home for two days. They are part of a team of eight (three young men were hosted by another family) from NET Ministries, a Catholic organization whose mission is to reach out “and challenge young Catholics, through relational ministry, to follow Christ and embrace a life of community in the Church.”
We had never done anything like this before. But, with our four daughters out of the “nest”, we welcomed the opportunity to offer hospitality to these young adults who are laboring for the harvest.
This team, NET Team 3, is regional to the Cincinnati area. They cover a territory of Southwestern Ohio, Southern Indiana, and Northern Kentucky. They travel to a different location and minister to high school and junior high school youths every couple of days, staying with an equal number of different hosts. They are committed for a year to this life on the road, traveling with only what they can pack in their suitcase, and relying on the hospitality of those in the local Catholic communities.
NET Team 3
They arrived on Wednesday evening with only a suitcase and a backpack each, and two guitars. After showing them to their rooms and beds we gathered in our living room around a cozy fire in the fireplace and began getting to know each other, swapping stories about life and our personal faith journeys. Sharing came easily with no hesitation to go beyond superficialities. There was an aura of peacefulness about them. Their faith was evident without being in-your-face preachy. I’m sure they had had a long and arduous day but they gracefully stayed up with us to pray a Rosary before retiring for the evening.
Thursday morning we were blessed to prepare a good breakfast for them before they headed off to a local Catholic high school to hopefully save a few souls from succumbing to the ways of the world. They returned that evening and we enjoyed a fine home-cooked dinner (if I do say so myself!). I got the sense that they appreciated not having pizza because they came back for seconds! Throughout dinner and then, again, afterwards around another fire, we continued with good conversation and friendship. A guitar was uncased and we sang a few songs together.
On Friday morning we were all up early as the team had to head about an hour south to their next retreat. We prepared a breakfast for them to take with them. We exchanged hugs and blessings and wished each other well. Then they were gone. But, they left behind the memory of thirty-six hours of peacefulness well spent, and the hope that we might be able to do it again sometime soon.
Their mission is to grow the Kingdom of God with students and young adults. But, I wonder if they know the impact they have on us old folks? The joy they emanate by doing the Lord’s work brings hope to us all that some of the sickness in the world will be cured. Thank you NET Team 3 for bringing your joy and hope to this house!
“Dear Lord, thank You for inspiring these young women and men to be disciple-makers for Your Kingdom. Thank You for the opportunity to serve You by serving them. I pray You abundantly bless Mally, Maggie, Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Terese as they labor for Your harvest. Amen.”
(Getting Caught in the NET was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
One of the most significant moments in Simon Peter’s relationship with Jesus was the third time Jesus revealed Himself to them after His resurrection when He asked Peter three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter answered three times, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You!”. And three times Jesus asked Peter to take care of His flock. (Jn 21:15-17)
Peter obviously took that request to heart and remembered it for the rest of his life. In yesterday’s first scripture reading from 1 Pt 5:1-4, Peter writes to the Presbyters, the teachers of the faith, to tend to and be examples to the “flock of God”.
This passage struck me in a number of ways. First, I recalled the many sentiments that were offered from comments at our deanery’s recent Synod on Synodality meeting. Although those present were a mere microcosm of our Church, there seemed to be a general opinion that one of the problems in our Church today is that our bishops and priests are not adequately “feeding their sheep” or “tending their flock”.
Secondly, it brought to mind that we are all called to be teachers of the faith in one way or another – through our vocations as a parent or friend, through our occupations, and our volunteerism in various ministries. We only have to recall Jesus’ words to His disciples when He was faced with feeding the five thousand, “Give them some food yourselves” (Lk 9:13), to understand that He wants us to join with Him in His mission to save souls.
Today more than ever, our Lord needs us all, you and me, to help feed and tend His flock. Too many are not being fed and are straying to what looks like “greener” pasture in today’s world of materialism, idealism and relativism. Once they leap that fence they become easy prey for the wolves. We need to fertilize our “Catholic” pasture so that the grazing sates their appetites.
How do we tend to the flock? I think the first step is to set aside the idea that our faith is something that is done to us, that it’s someone else’s responsibility. With too few priests and deacons to go around, the laity needs to take some ownership in their personal faith formation and that of those in their “pasture”. We need to become better catechized, grow deeper in our relationships with Christ through prayer, and live virtuous lives that are examples of holiness to others.
Every person has an opportunity to be a witness to someone who is hungering for the Bread of Life and thirsting for the Living Water. We need to remember that Jesus gave us one mission, to make disciples of all nations, and we need to make that a priority in our lives. We don’t have to become missionaries or monks, we just need to live simply and find synergies in our everyday lives that will edify our families, friends and acquaintances.
We need to remember that the basic building block of our Church is not the parish, but rather our homes, the Domestic Church. If we want to rebuild our Church we need to recall how the Apostles and the first disciples lived after Christ’s death. Theirs was a two-pronged approach: to stick together and build and protect their community, and to draw others into it by teaching them the truth of the Gospel. We can do that with our families by practicing our faith with our children. We can live hospitality and invite people into our homes for friendship and good conversation which may lead to opportunities to pray together.
We need to look for opportunities to be charitable to those in need by practicing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
We need to not be afraid to practice our faith in our work places as employers and employees; at school as educators and students; in athletics as fellow athletes and coaches; and where we volunteer.
Our faith ought to be personal but it should never be private. We need to be bold and leave others with no doubt about our love for Jesus.
Put more succinctly, as laity, we need to step up our game, take ownership and not depend on just our clergy to feed the flock. We need to survey our “pasture” of influence and determine who is grazing mindlessly in that pasture and on the verge of wandering off. We need to provide them with “green grass” that will nourish and satisfy their souls.
What is your pasture? Who is in your flock? How can you feed and tend to them with the love of Christ?
“Dear Jesus, thank you for providing priests and friends who, through their gentle love and care, have shepherded me in my faith life. I pray for the grace to do the same for those whom I mentor and lead to you through spiritual friendship. Amen.”
(Feed Your Flock was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
Reflections of a Lay Catholic 