…but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles… (1 Corinthians, 1-23)
Where [I] am going you know the way…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14: 4-6)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matt 16:24-25)
I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12: 1-2)
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church…(Col. 1:24)
I read an article on a recent Facebook post by chastity teachers Jason and Crystalina Evert called “Catholics Care About Gays: The Myth Debunked.” http://lifeteen.com/catholics-care-about-gays-the-myth-debunked/. It was extremely good article and explained well Church teaching on marriage and family. In fact, I’ve read several other articles suggesting how to respond to the recent Supreme Court rulings on the definition of marriage. I myself am well-versed in John Paul II’s teachings from the Theology of the Body, which helped to turn my own life around regarding sexuality and Church teaching. At one time, I thought this type of message was the way to reach our troubled world.
But not so much anymore.
My experience of late has taught me that addressing current issues with the specifics of Church teaching – in other words, by preaching – is not the most effective way to reach this world. (Maybe good from the pulpit, but not from me.)
The root causes of our culture’s errors go much deeper than a desire for “love” and sexual satisfaction with no restrictions. It goes as deep as recognizing the current philosophical understanding of “I’m OK, You’re OK.” “Anything Goes.” “Whatever…”
How do we address a culture that refuses to acknowledge the concept of sin? A culture that pushes the concept of our need for redemption and, yes, suffering, as far away from its consciousness as possible?
Testimony is the best. By the experience of daily life, lived well.
We all have or will have suffering in our lives. I had to learn this the hard way. I remember as a young person I dreamed of meeting that special someone and having that perfect life of “happily ever after.” Such expectations lead me to make some very bad choices.
The most difficult lesson I ever learned started at the dawn of the new millennium, when I discovered and joined the Regnum Christi movement. In one of the daily scripture meditations available on the RC website, I would read on June 19, 2006, on the eleventh Sunday of ordinary time (not far from the same time in the liturgical year we are currently in) the Legionary priest author wrote the following words that have stayed with me until this day: Never dream of an easy life, far from suffering and sacrifice.
In the US culture, which exclaims the goals of achieving the American dream of success and happiness and individuality, this is the hardest lesson to learn. But, as Catholics, we proclaim Christ crucified. We proclaim a gospel of taking up our cross and following Him, of offering our lives daily as a living sacrifice.
It’s definitely a hard sell. And we will convince no one of this message unless we live it ourselves. And somehow, live it exuding joy and peace, with our eyes fixed on Heaven.
The scripture passage from June 30, 2013, makes me hold onto Christ, who was “resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,” toward his own suffering and death. (Luke 9:51) Those of us in our movement should know this truth well. “To whom much is given, much is expected.” (Luke 12:48)
In the readings to begin the new month of July, 2013, from Genesis 18:16-33, we hear the story of Abraham pleading with God to spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, if only 10 righteous people lived there. Considering the population expected to live in the cities at that time, I learned from a past homily (someone apparently did the math on this) that the ratio of one’s person’s good actions (the sacrifice of following God’s will and not our own) could save 30,000 people.
That is a very encouraging thought…
