Something big, exciting and important is happening in the Catholic Church this week and the next few weeks…it is somethings that goes beyond the scandals and yet, at the same time, speak towards the basic solution to all scandal in the Church and in the world. The big thing is the Synod on the Youth being held in Rome. This follows the recent “V Encuentro” which our Spanish speaking brothers and sisters participated in where they also talked about how to invite the participation of the young in the life of the Church. I won’t go through the numbers but we all know from our own life experience the number of young Catholics is dwindling rapidly as they flow out of the Church and into other faith traditions or become the “nones” with only remnants of faith from childhood. I have spoken with hundreds of distraught parents, brothers and sisters and friends who seek answers to how we can call back these children of God into an active and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.
Thomas á Kempis wrote in “The Imitation of Christ” “Nature is crafty and attracts many, ensnaring and deceiving them all ever seeking itself. But grace walks in simplicity, turns away from all the appearance of evil, offers no deceits, and does all purely for God in whom she rests as her last end.” (#54)
I reflect on the quote above because even though this spiritual master piece was written in the early 15th century, the call to discipleship and the choice to follow Jesus Christ remain the same today. Thomas á Kempis reminds us to beware of the easy answers that the physical pleasures and pains give to us: the quick satisfactions and solutions, the slippery ways and the compromised goals that focus our hearts downward are often viewed today as how we should live our lives. To call others to Jesus is a time consuming, arduous and painful journey. It doesn’t sound fun but for countless Christians we know that this pathway is the only one to true freedom.
How do we pass on this faith? If I had the answer I would be rich beyond measure…not just in the material way but also in the joy of living close to God. I know we must begin with Jesus because any other starting point is fruitless. I also know that because the bad actions of many Christians, especially our bishops and priests, Jesus isn’t always a great place to begin as too many of our brothers and sisters close their hearts to the message when they “sniff” God in the conversation.
I believe this is where the Christian culture of life must become transparent and lived out in our daily actions. In her book, “Immersed in the Sacred” Kathy Coffey offers us this short piece of advice, “Initiation into Christ is a life long process which can occur on a city street with an unknown sponsor. Words like “commitment” may never enter the conversation, and the sacramental link isn’t explicit. No one cites the passage, ”Where two or three are gathered in my name…” But how can we ever understand the capital S sacraments if we don’t live out these surprising lowercase ones? (p 80-81) The conversations becomes infused with the lived faith that is proclaimed in who we are and seen by others as a desirable way to live life. As Jesus reminds us “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 13:35) a truth lived out by countless saints throughout history.
Our challenge in proclaiming God’s mercy, love and compassion aren’t better programs but lives lived committed to the Gospel message. We are to keep our eyes focused on Jesus because if we do then we will truly see our brothers and sisters as treasures to be cared for in love. Being immersed in God’s grace is not a departure from the world but entering into the blessings of creation where nature isn’t crafty and ensnaring but becomes the invitation to a deeper more appreciative relationship in Jesus Christ.
To many of us have bought into the lie where faith becomes something to suppress who we are…but true faith is recognizing who we are and how much more God desires us to be in our life and relationships of love.
Kathy Coffey shares with us this piece of wisdom, “In God’s dream, nothing is ever lost. The Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins in ”The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo” encourages us to ”give beauty back to God” who will preserve it better than we can… When God starts dreaming for you, look out. You pour out your youth and affect the lives of children.” (p 125-126)
Let us in prayer allow God to dream in us and may we then truly live the life of love.
Please continue to pray for the sanctification, purification and healing of our Catholic Church.
God bless,
Fr. Mark
The Poem… “The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo”
https://www.bartleby.com/122/36.html