The Light of Christ

As the election season draws close the Church continues to encourage voters to carefully contemplate the candidates of their choice, and to discern, whether of not their candidates stand up to the standards of life, justice, and peace, which the Church advocates.  Of course we understand that candidates will make wide and sometimes broad promises so as to make themselves appealing to voters.  A candidate could state that they, "Stand for good things and want people to be happy."  Well, that is nice but what does it mean?

To be sure the Church has taken many hits in these last several years; some of its own making, and others because of its stance on life issues.  The latter is an area that is a non-negotiable for the Church.  I remember well a young girl in my freshman religion class who asked why the Church just cannot believe like everyone else.  Well that would make things a lot easier.  But the Church is called and sent to proclaim the values of the Gospel.  There are certain values and teachings that will always be part of the Church. 

The Health and Human Services Mandate is one of several obstacles that the Church faces in the future in effecting it's ministry.  The government is in a very real way insist that the Church deny its own teachings so as to provide a government service.  Already we have seen in the area of adoptions that the Church has had to cease in providing a service.  As a Church do we now need to stop in believing and professing the essentials of our faith?  In infringing on religious liberty the culture around us seems to be trying to make religion insignificant in the lives of people.

Early in John's Gospel the author states that as Christ came as light to the nations, men and women preferred the darkness.  The darkness that we see is not only an inclination to evil, but to ignorance as well.  It is absolutely amazing that in a time when there is so much information available about the teachings of the Church, so many persons are so uninformed, relying instead on half-truths and blatant misinformation about the Catholic Church.

The prophetic nature of the Church insists that it's teaching authority, as well as all men and women, continue to be advocates of life, justice, and peace.  We have to continue remind  men and women that all peoples share in the dignity and integrity of God.  To be catholic means to believe in and to stand forward for all issues about life and the incredible need to strive for holiness in life. 

at baptism we receive a candle, lit from the paschal candle, and are told to keep the flame of faith alive in our hearts.  We have to make it clear that we are children of light.  It is important to en flame our hearts, minds, and soul, and to be bright for the Kingdom of God.