Fire!

 

The recent Eucharistic Congress has lit a fire in most attendees.  They want to evangelize, spread the belief in the truth that God is here, present in the Eucharist. They are like fires looking for kindling.  A local parish will begin study and discussions of the Wild Goose videos on The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.  They are extremely well-done explanations of Christ’s life which will create a kindling of hearts, and more people will, I’m sure, want to pray and live out their faith, to witness.  But at my men’s group meeting this morning, we were discussing a book on the Eucharist, and the table leader spoke of how he believes what the Church teaches, but he never really “felt” any presence of Jesus in that host.  And he looked around the table for assurance from the other men.  He had no consolations, so he has a weak faith.

Thoughts immediately poured into my heart, and I spoke.  Love, forgiveness and faith are things we WILL TO do.  No senses trigger them, nor result from them.  That person we commit to love, we may not “like”, and that thing we have faith in we may never have seen “proof” of, we love and have faith anyway.  That is how Jesus taught us to live --- as He did.  St. Teresa of Calcutta willed to love the smelly people she cared for and to do many other difficult things, and she had no consolations from God for over 30 years, but she continued to do as He taught.  Her life was no parties, no happy meals of great food and music --- but she did have one thing:  joy.  Her committed actions made her become what they represented, another Christ, as she continued to grow in love, and forgiveness, and in faith.  And with her growth came a joy which others say she “just radiated.”  THAT was not something she willed; It was a gift.

I enjoyed the Gloria Purvis speech at the Eucharistic Congress on Saturday.  She spoke of a focus on unity, as children of God, which is a form of loving our neighbor --- all of them, but she never spoke the word love, nor witness, which is how we best evangelize.  “Hey, look at them!  See how they love one another!” is how the Romans identified Christians for persecution, even as their witness of faith triggered others to become Christian.

I think the rosary study groups at the local parish will deepen the faith --- and commitment to love --- in many lukewarm Catholics, which is good.  But a broader, more noticeable witness is needed, like that of the apostles who fell on their faces in awe of God at the Transfiguration of Jesus.  As my men’s group gave witness, many Catholics are far from in awe of the Real Presence they commit to believe.  A real question to be pondered is how we can witness in such a way that others will say “Hey.  Look at them! …”

They need to look at us and yell: Fire!