Come Follow Me

At one of his Wednesday audiences, Pope Francis challenged his listeners to be less self absorbed, and to take on the identity of Christ.  He went on to say that we are to proclaim the Gospel message with such a joy, which originates from God the Father.  Our exhilaration should be contagious.  In St. Paul's letter today, he reminds the Corinthians that the Gospel message is about Jesus Christ.  It does not center itself on personalities or egos or the like.

Some of the most holy people that I have ever met exude a prayerfulness and piety which always centers itself on the person of Jesus.  Perhaps this is why I like the martyrs.  They do not tend to their days hoping that they can die for their faith someday.  Rather these are men and women of faith and righteousness  who spend their days standing on their convictions, nurturing faith, and sharing what they have come to see and hear.  They do not back down to Sin and Evil, but challenge the vestiges of un-God-likeness.

Christians can make folks uncomfortable and uneasy.  When we live according to the values of the Gospel, and speak about 'Good News,'  our light shines in the dark and dank of the world.  Blessed John Paul II was so right on when he called our culture, a 'Culture of Death.'  I am quick to repeat the story of the young girl who wondered why the Church could not just believe like everyone else.  Mostly because our faith understands that we are created by the God of life, and the dignity and integrity of the human person are more important that the values of this life.

I am often reminded that on ordination day, during the Rite of Ordination, the Bishop hands the newly ordained the paten of bread, and the prepared chalice, instructing him to "Know what you are doing, and imitate the mystery you celebrate."  Some fifty years ago the Second Vatican Council, in its document, The Church in the Modern World, reminded all believers that we are firmly planted in the profession of faith of the apostles.  We have the responsibility of sharing Good News and continuing the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

When we go to Church on Sundays we bless ourselves with holy water.  To be sure we do so because we are entering a holy place, but more so as a reminder that we have been baptized into the Paschal Mystery.  We are children of the light.  May our light guide peoples out of the darkness of Sin and Evil, into the marvelous light of Christ Jesus.