Evangelization Begins with Friendship

29 Monday May 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

Tags

Acts 2:2-3, Commencement, Disciple-Maker, Discipleship, Evangelization, Friendship, Friendship Deficit Syndrome, Holy Spirit, Mt 28:19, Pentecost

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 of fire (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)

©2013-2023 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

Don’t Just Stand There, Do Something!

23 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Acts 1:10-11, Acts 1:4-5, Acts 1:8, Angels, Ascension, Discipleship, Mt 28:19-20

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 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (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)

Believe and be Rewarded

18 Saturday Feb 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization, Faith

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Catholic Spiritual Mentorship, Discipleship, Evangelization, Faith, Friendship, Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:6, School of Faith, Seek God

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 want to 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)

Five Words

05 Thursday Jan 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Charity, Disciple-Maker, Discipleship, Evangelizing, John 1:35-37, John the Baptist

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)

Getting Caught in the NET

19 Saturday Nov 2022

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Christian Community, Discipleship, Evangelization

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Disciple-makers, Discipleship, Faith, Joy, Laboring for the Harvest, Luke 10:1-12, NET Ministries, Peace

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.

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)

©2013-2022 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

Feed Your Flock

23 Wednesday Feb 2022

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Discipleship

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

1 Pt 5:1-4, Discipleship, Faith, Feed my lambs, Feed my sheep, Jesus, Jn 21:15-17, Lk 9:13, Tend my sheep

(A reflection on 1 Pt 5:1-4)

Christ’s Charge to Peter, Raphael, c. 1515

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)

No Chance Encounters

16 Sunday Jan 2022

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Discipleship

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

1 Samuel 9, Calling of Matthew, Discipleship, Friendship, God-moments, Mark 2:13-17

The Calling of St. Matthew, Matthias Stomer, 1629

In yesterday’s first reading from 1 Samuel 9, we heard about Saul the Benjaminite who, while out looking for his lost donkeys, just happened to run into Samuel the prophet. Samuel had been told by God the day before that he would meet the man whom he would name as the new king of Israel at that specific time the next day. From Saul’s perspective, It was a chance encounter. From Samuel’s, though, it was God’s plan.

In yesterday’s Gospel, Mark 2:13-17, we read about Jesus calling Matthew, son of Alphaeus, to follow him. Matthew certainly wasn’t expecting to be called, but it was in Jesus’ plan to pass by his tax collection booth that day and invite him to be His disciple.

Jesus meets us in unexpected, memorable and life changing ways, also. Unfortunately, when He does, we can be quick to write them off as mere coincidences. I’ve learned, though, that most anything very far removed from the ordinary is God working in my life and not just a result of dumb luck. He’s calling my attention to Himself and His will. Sometimes it may only be a reminder that He is here with me, sometimes a reminder to be grateful for His providence, and sometimes He’s telling me I need to make a course correction. Sometimes it’s all of the above.

I had a little God-moment yesterday. An old friend, Joe, called me out of the blue. I hadn’t talked to him in many months, and only a couple times since he moved away five years or so ago. Joe and I first met ten years ago this coming April on a Christ Renews His Parish weekend, a retreat in which neither of us ever expected to participate. Joe was a lukewarm Catholic with little desire to grow deeper in his faith but attended to placate the man who kept pestering him. Me, I had never had any faith to allow to grow cold. I was simply at a low point and attended to get away from the stress of life for two days.

From the get-go, Joe and I hit it off. We became instant friends, both satiated with the Holy Spirit by the end of the retreat, and wondering where we would go from there. I chose to join the Catholic Church and learn more about Jesus, and Joe chose to begin living out his faith with renewed zeal. We were both on fire and our friendship kept each other stoked like a blacksmith’s furnace. Together, we went onto the next Christ Renews team. We met for lunch once a week and shared how God was working in our lives. We participated in a men’s small group at which we discussed the Gospel and learned more about our faith from other friends.

And then Joe changed jobs and moved a couple hours away. We lost touch, yet we kept moving forward in our own ways. Joe got involved in the small parish which he attends and started making new friends. I retired and began studying to become a spiritual mentor. Our small group slowly dissolved and I found new friends with whom to share my faith.

We talked for over a half hour, catching up with each other, our families, our faith. He called me because he thought of me and our Christ Renews His Parish journey together. He was giving a pulpit talk this morning to ask men to attend a weekend retreat and he wanted my prayers.

I told him I have a couple groups with whom I meet regularly and just last week gathered together some of the old guys from our first group. It was a fun reunion and we talked about resuming regular get-togethers. Joe said he misses those group discussions and would like to get a small group of friends from his parish together to share their faith. We talked about our prayer lives, and about the spiritual mentoring that I do, and he sounded interested in getting his own spiritual mentor. It was almost like old-times. Before we ended the call we vowed to stay better in touch.

After our call, I thought back to how our friendship evolved. We were both called to be on that retreat together. We had our reasons, but God had His own. It was not a chance encounter. Yesterday’s phone call wasn’t a chance encounter, either. We needed each other during that time to grow deeper in our faith which ultimately made us better disciples for Christ. We needed each other yesterday. It was like God giving a couple pumps on the bellows of that old furnace.

The Holy Spirit is still urging us to continue being disciple makers. And, because of this, we have the grace to know and accept that He puts Sauls and Matthews in our lives by His plan and not by coincidence. But, they don’t know that….not yet.

PS: My wife and I arrived at mass this morning just moments before the opening procession. Not wanting to walk down the aisle to our preferred seat, we took a spot in the back pew on Mary’s side, at the far outside end of the pew. As I sat down I remembered that this was Joe’s seat. He would always get there early to make sure someone else didn’t get it. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

“Heavenly Father, thank you for the friendships we have developed with You as the Common Denominator. Through them You give us the extra help we need to be disciple makers and bring our brothers and sisters to You. Amen.”

(No Chance Encounters was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

A Worthy Resolution

10 Monday Jan 2022

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Discipleship, Fishers of Men, Friendship, Mark 1:14-20, New Year's Resolutions, Resolutions, Temptations

The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew, Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-1311, National Gallery of Art

Yesterday’s celebration of the Baptism of Jesus marked the end of Christmastide and initiated Ordinary Time which began today. Yesterday’s liturgy helped call to mind the gifts of fire and Spirit which we were given at our baptisms, those supernatural gifts bestowed upon us to help us give witness to the light and truth of Jesus in all that we say and do.

Today’s Gospel was from Mark 1:14-20. I love Mark. He doesn’t waste any time getting to the meat of things. No infancy narrative, no beating around the bush. In the very first chapter, he tells us of John the Baptist’s preaching in verses 1 to 8, about Jesus’ baptism in verses 9 to 11, the Lord’s temptation in the desert in verses 12 and 13, in verse 14 he goes straight into the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and in verse 16 He calls His first disciples. Bam! There it is! He’s off and running!

As I was meditating on today’s passage I wondered if there was an intended purpose in having the temptations in the desert back to back with Jesus’ calling of the first disciples. Probably not, but I thought of a plausible one that could be relevant to us today. We’re ten days into the new year and many of us look back at the last twelve months and wish we had done better at this or that. Many of our perceived faults and failures were direct results of one or more vices: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth. In a sense, these were the temptations we were faced with in a moment of choice, which we probably caved into, and which may have become habits, or else we wouldn’t be trying to correct ourselves.

Our inherent sense of right and wrong tells us we ought to do better during the next trip around the sun. So, we make resolutions to correct these vices with corresponding opposite virtues: humility, charity, chastity, gratitude, temperance, patience, and diligence. We want to improve our diets, get more exercise, enhance our relationships, change some negative behavior, and so on. And maybe, just maybe, that second sense is moving you to become better disciples of Christ and draw more people to Him. To be Fishers of Men and teach your catch to do the same.

Making changes, real and worthwhile changes, is never easy. It’s hard to break bad habits and come face to face with fears and discomforts. These days, one of the hardest habits to break is to pull away from one’s screens. But, we know inside that doing so will give us more time to enhance our relationships with those we love. That’s the first secret of improvement, seeing the good that will come. Similarly, we can see the good, the joy, the feeling of peace, the graces, that will come from living out our calling as disciples. It may not be easy but it will be worth it.

The second secret is to commit to making the change and eliminate the obstacles. To lose weight you stop buying a bucket of ice cream each day so you won’t eat it. So, determine what’s keeping you from approaching other people. Then commit to making a change and draft a plan. Ask yourself what you can do differently. Go to a different mass than you usually go to and meet someone new. Invite them to dinner. Build a friendship. Have good conversation and get to know each other. Invite them to pray a rosary with you. You don’t even have to approach people you don’t know. Just look within your family – people who you already know and love.

Maybe being a better disciple sounds difficult, almost scary. I know what you’re thinking – “You mean I have to talk to people, maybe even non-Christians, about God and my faith? I’ll have to invite them to go to church with me, or a bible study, or pray a rosary with me. What if they turn me down? What if they reject not just my offer but me!?” Just remember yesterday’s Gospel: you were given with your baptism the supernatural gifts to help you give witness to the truth and the light that is Jesus! And, then, if you were confirmed, you were given the virtue of fortitude to help overcome your fear.

I have a friend who begins each year with a resolution to bring three people closer to Christ. Not just any three people but three specific people. He writes down their names. He makes a plan that includes building friendships with them by inviting them into his life. Then, slowly, through their new and trusting relationship, he introduces them to Jesus. I’ve seen it work year after year. A win-win for both parties. Does he get a bite with each cast? No, but he’s fishing instead of just cutting bait and he puts more in the Lord’s creel than most people.

If you’ve already made new resolutions, or if you’re still kicking around ideas, consider what you can do to become a better disciple. Ask God to help you. Certainly resolve to change what needs to change, turn your vices into virtues, so that others can see you living the Christ life. Then commit to bringing someone else closer to Christ as well. It’s a worthy resolution.

“Dear Jesus, I love You, and I would love to bring more people to love You like I do. I can only do so much on my own and I need Your help. Help me, Lord, to realize the confidence, the faith, and the courage You have so graciously and generously infused into me through Your Spirit. Help me to help others desire the same. Amen.”

(A Worthy Resolution was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Are You a Full-Time or Part-Time Catholic?

10 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Faith

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Discipleship, Faith, Luke 14:25-33, Luke 16:9-15

There were two days during the last week where the daily Scripture passages really struck me – last Wednesday and then again on Saturday. Wednesday’s Gospel was from Luke 14:25-33, Sayings of Discipleship, and Saturday’s was from Luke 16:9-15, The Parable of the Dishonest Steward.

In the first, Jesus lays out the conditions of discipleship:

In all our relationships, including those with our family, friends, and neighbors, our relationship with Jesus must always come first.
We must carry our own cross and follow Him even when it hurts.
We must know the cost of following Him and plan and prepare accordingly. That cost will include being virtuous in the face of persecution and suffering, as well as requiring our effort to combat worldly indifference.
We must exercise prudence – do the right thing in any particular situation, choose our battles, and resist foolishness, impetuosity, thoughtlessness, inconstancy, and negligence.
We must turn loose of any disordered attachments which we desire more than Him.

In Luke 16:13, Jesus tells us, “No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Our Lord is saying we can’t be a devoted servant to Him if we are a slave to another.

Together these spoke to me about total commitment to Christ. Not just sometimes, not just when I feel like it, not just when I have time, but all the time, and especially when I’m suffering from something I don’t like, didn’t choose, can’t change or don’t understand.

As I meditated on these two passages, trying to understand the depth of their message and implications, my mind, as it all too often does, drifted in prayer. I recalled my 36 year career in corporate middle management, how I survived several buy-outs and mergers, each with a change of leadership, and with each change a “new and improved” corporate vision, mission and culture.

I recalled one particular newly promoted vice-president telling us that we needed to decide if we were going to be the “pig or the chicken” in the new company. He went on to tell a story of how a pig and a chicken joined together to create a new restaurant business. They discussed roles and responsibilities, and when they came to deciding what would be on the menu the chicken suggested they offer a variety of meals consisting of either ham, bacon or sausage with eggs. The pig thought about that a while and retorted that the arrangement seemed quite unfair. The chicken, thinking her idea made perfect sense asked the pig what he meant. The pig answered, “Well, it seems to me that I am committing to give up my life for this endeavor while your involvement is only dedicating the occasional egg.”

In essence, that new exec was asking us to decide if we were going to be fully committed to the company’s direction or would our dedication be intermittent, jumping on board only when that which was being asked of us was in line with our opinions, made us feel good and satisfied our own desires. As a manager I was expected to set an example for the employees who reported to me. But, truth be known, there were many times I felt like balking, procrastinating, going a different direction, and objecting because toeing the line was simply too demanding of me.

Coming back to the present moment in my prayer, I thought I had been distracted with that crazy memory. But, then, I realized that the Holy Spirit had led me to exactly the place He wanted me to go: to examine and understand my level of commitment to being a disciple of Jesus. Am I a full-time or part-time Catholic? He asks that question of each of us.

A good place to start answering Him is to consider the depth of your love for God. Do you envision Him with loving eyes looking down upon you, His beloved son or daughter? Do you realize that His great love has provided everything you have, including your family and friends? Do you express your love by being grateful for all He has given you?

Do you love Him by simply loving those around you, even your enemies, by doing what is right and just, by loving them as you should love yourself?

Do you love Him in the sacraments, especially the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation? During the liturgy of the Mass do you focus on trying to understand His will for you that day? Is your attention completely captured during the epiclesis when the Holy Spirit is called down to sanctify the bread and wine making real the body and blood of Christ? Do you frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation out of love for God because you have offended Him, or is your motive to selfishly rid yourself of guilt?

Do you love Him in your suffering, by accepting your cross as an opportunity to grow closer to Him, to grow in virtue, and to aid Him in His redemptive mission to save souls?

Do you demonstrate commitment by defending your faith in the face of persecution from those who ridicule you for your belief? Do you practice integrity when you are faced with tough choices by doing the right thing?

Do you love God by looking within yourself and identifying those things to which you are attached, those ingrained bad habits and vices which unnecessarily draw you away from Him, and resolve to change for the good by resisting their temptations?

Being fully-committed means living one life for God rather than giving only a part to God while reserving a second part for yourself. Our commitment has to be more than giving an hour a week to Him when, out of habit, we attend Mass, or when we say grace before meals. We have to live it every day, all day, in our relationships, our work, and our play for the mere glory of God.

A good way to begin moving towards living a life fully committed is to begin each day with gratitude, giving thanks for one more day to live and love Him, and for all that He provides. Then, in prayer, offer to Him out of love all that you will do and experience that day – your work, prayer, joy and suffering – to aid in Christ’s salvific mission of saving souls. Then, spend time with Jesus in prayer, asking Him to show you what His will is for you that day and resolve to do what He tells you. And, finally, carry out your resolution.

Truthfully, none of us are perfect, we are all sinners to some degree. We are all on an elevator somewhere between the basement of minimum involvement and the penthouse of full commitment. Each day we move up and down in that elevator, yet the goal of our lives is to ascend more floors than we descend and ultimately reach the top floor, heaven. The important thing to remember is that, while God keeps the elevator running, we are the ones pushing the buttons.

“Loving Father, I give You thanks for Your eternal love, and for the opportunity to love You each and every day. As I operate this elevator of daily life, help me, Lord, to resist pushing the down buttons that move me away from You. Amen.”

(Are You a Full-Time or Part-Time Catholic? was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

©2013-2021 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

Bring a Friend to Christ

23 Saturday Jan 2021

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Discipleship, Faith, Friendship, Mark 3:13-19, Mark 3:8

Jesus Sends the Apostles – Duccio di Buoninsegna, c.1300

Yesterday, as I read the Gospel from Mark 3:13-19, I zeroed in on Jesus’ summoning of the twelve whom he appointed as His Apostles. I tried to imagine what they felt when they realized they were being chosen to stand out from the hundreds of other disciples who were following Jesus at the time. Were they overcome with joy? Probably. Did their chests swell with pride for being chosen? I’m sure they did. Later, in Mark 10:35-45, we discover James’ and John’s ambition to be placed above the others.

And what about the hundreds of other people who had flocked to Him, followed Him, and became His disciples? How did they feel? Did they feel left out? Or did the joy they had discovered from following Jesus infuse new life into their vocations as spouses and parents, and into their occupations?

Two thousand years later, not much has changed. The Holy Spirit is still calling men to be apostles by calling them into the priesthood, and women into religious life. Their love for Jesus prompts them to embrace lives of poverty, chastity and obedience and live by divine providence as the first Apostles learned to do. I am grateful for their sacrifices that, through them, the rest of us are brought closer to Jesus.

The rest of us. What about the rest of us? Because we have not been summoned, does it mean that we can’t or shouldn’t help bring others to Jesus as well? Absolutely not. Those disciples not chosen for the Twelve didn’t just throw up their hands and say, “Okay, that’s it, I’m not on the A-team so I can go home now.” No, they remained faithful followers. And, so should we.

But, our job is not just to follow Jesus. It’s to tell others about Him, to introduce them to Him. In, Thursday’s Gospel we read in Mark 3:8, “Hearing what He was doing, a large number of people came to him….”. How did they “hear” what Jesus was doing? They heard because those following Jesus told them about His saving grace. And, then, they not only heard, but they saw with their own eyes the joy and excitement displayed by those who had seen the Messiah.

I know what you’re thinking: “The point Jerry’s trying to get across is that we need to evangelize, that we need to go out and tell others about Jesus.” You’re right. And, I know what you’re feeling: “That’s not easy to do. Anyhow, most of the people I know already go to church and those who don’t don’t care. What if people push back and don’t want to hear about Jesus? What if they ask me questions to which I don’t know the answers? It makes me uncomfortable!” I get it. Been there.

You might be thinking, too, “You know, I lead a good Christian life, I’ll let my example speak for itself.” Well, that’s all fine and good, but it’s too passive. That’s like seeing the guy or girl of your dreams and thinking you don’t need to speak to him or her because your good looks or your fancy clothes are enough of an attraction when, instead, it’s a vivacious, outgoing and charming personality that’s needed. No, you have to take action, you have to do something. But, where do you start?

I will assume you have friends. And, every one of those friends is in love with Christ, they look forward to going to Mass every Sunday (and during the week, if possible), and they consider receiving Communion the high point of their day, right? What, no? They aren’t all that way? You mean you have some friends who are perhaps a little lukewarm? Oh, and even a few who don’t profess any faith? Okay, good, you’re not alone, then.

The operative phrase in the above is that you have friends. We all have friends and family whom we love but whose faith is all across the board. And, since we are all sinners, every single one of us has room to grow in virtue that only Christ can bring through a close relationship with Him. Our mission is to help that happen.

What makes for good friendship? Usually, it begins with getting to know each other through good conversation. Good conversation brings with it a certain intimacy which, in turn, brings a level of trust. A deep and trusting friendship turns into a loving relationship that desires the best for each other. And, how can we love someone more than to wish for them a relationship with God that will bring them joy for all eternity?

I know, it sounds good, but how do you make it happen? Well, it usually won’t happen by itself, meaning you have to set it in motion. There are various ways to begin. And, it’s not by following a “friend” on social media.

An easy way is to sit in a different pew than you’re used to sitting in, or attend a different Mass, and meet someone new. Strike up a conversation after Mass. If that’s the Mass they usually attend, make it a point to go back and meet them again.

It may help to have a plan. I have a friend who, at the beginning of the year, spends time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to put on his heart three men whom he should try to bring closer to Christ. Then, he makes it his mission for the year to help them get there.

You might think of a friend who is struggling in some way. Perhaps someone who hasn’t been to Mass in a while due to the pandemic. Give them a call to check up on them and see how they’re doing. See if you can stop by and chat with them for a while. If you can, follow up later and do it again.

Invite someone you’d like to know better out to dinner or for a drink at the local pub. Sit around a campfire and share stories about your lives. Get together at your house for dinner and an evening of playing cards. Then invite them to pray the Rosary with you. Make plans to do it again soon.

Once you’ve come to know the person better, and they you, interject more of your faith into the conversation. It can be done gently and unobtrusively. Let them see your love for Christ. Don’t worry if they don’t jump on board right away or reject your invitation, give it time. You’ve planted the seed. Keep watering and fertilizing that seed by following up. It will grow.

If you meet with other men or women in a small faith sharing group or attend a Bible study, invite that friend, after a while, to come join you. Perhaps invite someone to a Welcome, or Christ Renews His Parish weekend, or a Cursillo weekend. Talk to them about how uplifted you are when you attend your Adoration hour and suggest they consider taking on an hour themselves.

Above all else, PRAY. You must pray for your friends. Pray that they open their hearts fully to the Holy Spirit. And, pray for your own docility to the Holy Spirit so that you will follow His lead.

You might think this sounds like manipulation. It’s not. It’s love. Manipulation would be for the purpose of what you get out of it. Through your love, you are helping someone find the love of Christ, for their own good, not yours.

Does it work? Absolutely! It’s what brought me to Christ and the Catholic faith almost nine years ago. I was Agnostic, had no faith and didn’t care one way or the other. But, two men, both strong in their faith, befriended me and slowly and gently led me to Jesus through friendship and good conversation. They spent and invested time in me, invited me into their world, and in that world I found more love than I’d ever known. Out of gratitude, I want to do the same. Won’t you join me?

“Lord Jesus, thank You for placing friends in my life who, through their love of neighbor, took the time to patiently invest in me so that I would come to know You. Lord, please help me bring those who do not know Your love, and those who have let their relationship with You become stagnant, to a full and eternal loving relationship with You. Amen.”

(Bring a Friend to Christ was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)