Starting Evangelization

Last week, the men’s group listened to a video of Dr. Sri speaking to the Seek 25 Conference of young people.  And this morning we listened to a priest speaking to that same gathering.  Both were inspiring talks focused on evangelization of the Catholic faith.  Dr.  Sri’s talk ended with him speaking of Jesus’ last words to Peter: “Do you love Me?”  And three times Peter responded yes, but indicating how hard he found it to love as Jesus did, with a total “forgetting myself” love, or “agape” in Greek.  Peter knew that regardless of what he wanted to do, three times he had recently betrayed Jesus; he couldn’t love and totally forget himself.  This morning’s talk seemed to more focus on evangelizing as being like talking to a dear friend (which was the limit of Peter’s love, a “filia” love).  The video spoke of finding someone who has a private worry, like ours --- and we all have a private worry.  This was a way, the priest noted, to begin a friendship, and evangelization.  After we get to know each other, we can speak of how God is with us in our tough times.

In the men’s group discussion, after the video, we spoke about our own difficult times, but nothing private was spoken, until I spoke of caring for my mom who had dementia, and my reluctantly joining a caregiver’s group --- which I didn’t feel I needed.  And then I was a member and leader of that group for 15 years and still meet with some of those dear friends.  Then, one in the men’s group spoke of his caregiving stress --- which he had mentioned to no one.  And then one spoke of evangelization groups he was helping form.  The men this morning saw the benefit of growing with others, as needy friends, and evangelizing the faith.  It was a good men’s meeting.  And then …

I read my morning prayers at church.  In the Office of Readings was a talk by St. Augustine on St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians, and “letting Christ be formed in you.”  In Augustine’s words: “John says: He who remains in Christ should walk as He did” --- and love as He did, I wrote in the margin.  And then suddenly I recalled the men’s group videos and discussions on evangelization.  I gave a witness to how I had participated in a caregiver’s group, formed friends with a common interest, and then “walked as He did, with a love as He did.”  It made me wonder:  Did Jesus spread faith, religion ---- or love?  His one command was to “love as I have loved;” that is walking with Christ, not just talking about Him.  And THAT is evangelization.      

This morning the men’s group spoke positively about forming some groups, within our Catholic parish, but the support group I had mentioned was an example of the gathering of people with a common need --- period.  We didn’t limit the group to a parish or religion any more than Jesus didn’t limit His followers.  He loved those Gentiles, too.  That is a God Who loves all, with His all, His “agape” love.

Okay, like Peter we may find “agape” love beyond what we can do (up to now), but we can love others as friends, as Peter did (up to that point, before the Holy Spirit came upon him at Pentecost).  And we can begin to love that way by finding people who would want to talk to us, in private, on serious sufferings we share.  People in need, regardless of race, creed, or even age.  That is a way to start evangelization, of beginning to walk as He did.

 

Thank You

 Google apparantly no longer likes me as it used to, and so when I tried to reply to the comment on the below note it said I can't do that.  So, with this new posting I say thank you for taking the time to positively comment.  I'll continue to publish thoughts as God opens my heart.  I pray He uses them as He wishes.

Your Life Matters

 

I was about to leave the men’s rest room when I noticed the young man at the sink, and I told him that I felt compelled to say: “Your life matters.”  He said thank you with a slight smile, and I walked out.

Earlier, as I was driving around doing my Thursday afternoon grocery deliveries, I had recalled some of the nice notes I had received with Christmas cards, people reminding me that they fondly recalled events that had happened in their lives, because God had made us cross paths.  For some, it was a little event (and still is), and for others it was embedded in their hearts.  One wrote “I am grateful I met you 20 years ago when …” and then described the time and place we had met. 

I’ve reflected before about how our lives matter.  We are not in outer space, living alone with no one near us.  Whether we want to or not, we impact people around us.  We’re part of God’s master plan, and because we’ve impacted some people, God can now use them in ways that were not possible, if we had not planted a seed for His grace to water.  I think we’d all like to see the results of any seeds we planted, especially if the results are what we wanted.  But … then in our pride we might think “I made that happen.”  But as I and you know only too well, much of what we want to make happen in this world is not what happens.  We are not in control.  (And, often we think “it’s their fault things didn’t happen the way I wanted.”}  It’s kind of funny to think:  our lives matter, and yet we are not in control.  But we are in control of our actions, just not the outcomes; because yes, they may be impacted by someone else, or God.  Which begs the question:  How can I influence God or someone else to help bring about the outcome I desire?

Now, that’s a question that’s easy to answer: “I give you a new commandment: love one another.  As I have loved you, so you should also love one another!” (Jn 13,34).  Will that get the outcome we want?  No, because while “our lives matter, we are not in control”.  The one commandment Jesus gave us, the new commandment, was to love as He loved.  Then, God’s plans will be brought about.  And by our loving actions we help bring about HIS plan, not ours.  Like the Christmas notes I received, people long remember how our lives had intersected, with love.  And when we die, memories like those will remain, for love never dies,  We join God; and God IS love.    

He is Alive!!

Perhaps because of my aging, I am more aware than ever of my pending earthly death.  Perhaps for the same reason, Jesus is opening my eyes ever so clearly that an earthly death is not my end.

In recent days, I have become aware of something I probably once knew but forgot.  I’ve prayed daily for the blood of Jesus on our country and its leaders.  I spend time in a nearby adoration chapel talking to Jesus, present in the Eucharistic Host, which has icons of Mary and St. Joseph on either side, and a large crucifix behind.  And I pray the Divine Mercy prayer to Our Father, and sometimes stare at a picture of the crucified Jesus, with blood pouring out of his hands, feet, and side.  But, I’ve suddenly noticed that Jesus on the crucifix in the chapel and in the church --- and in other nearby Catholic churches have over their altars is different than the pictures of the crucified Jesus I was looking at.  The Jesus on the cross above the altars has no wound in his side, the wound which happened when the soldier pierced Him to ensure He was dead.  So, the Jesus on the cross in all these churches is Jesus depicted as alive on the cross!  He is alive!

And with that awareness, I have become aware of so many other things that I didn’t fully understand.  I now better appreciate this most humbling thing a God could do for us, for you, for me.

During the mass, the priest (acting in persona Christi) raises the host and says: “This is my Body,” and raising the cup says: “This is my blood which will be given up for you.”  With those words and actions he is saying what Jesus would say, as alive on the cross, and as alive in that consecrated host.  Then, as we each receive communion the priest elevates the host in front of us, one by one, and says: The Body of Christ,” and the one about to receive says: “Amen! --- which means “I believe.”

At the church where I attend weekday masses, I now see alive Jesus everywhere.  The stained glass window of St. Joseph has him holding the child Jesus, and the statue of St. Joseph has him holding a child Jesus.  Over the altar is the alive Jesus being crucified, and next to that is a statue of Mary.  Her statue has a bow on her chest, which signifies she is pregnant with Jesus.  And then there is a stained glass image of Mary, holding the child Jesus, as is the wooden statue of Mary at the back of the church.  Finally, there is a full-sized image of the mantle of Our Lady of Guadelupe, with her bow indicating she is pregnant with Jesus.  Jesus is alive!  And He is everywhere!!  I have so much more to meditate upon, and in the silence, listen.