As Catholic
Christians, we have the rock, we have the truth, we have power. Jesus has told us that he is the way, the
truth, and the life and that he is the way to the Father. Jesus told us that he has already won victory
over the evil one. We cannot keep this
message to ourselves. Our broken world
needs Jesus now more than ever.
For most of us, spreading
the good news of Jesus Christ isn't in our comfort zone. We'd probably rather just keep quiet and not
get involved. But, as baptized Christians, our mission is to lead everyone to
Christ by our loving, joyful, and hopeful, words and actions. We often sing: "They'll know we are Christians by our
love." Do people we meet really
know that we are Christians by our love or are we just the same as everyone
else?
After the priest
was killed in France, I decided that I needed to do something to show that I'm
a Christian and a deacon in the Catholic Church. Deacons in this Archdiocese cannot wear
clerics, like priests can. So that
option is out. But, I can wear a deacon
cross on my collar whenever I go out.
The cross indicates that I am a Christian and the red stole over the
cross indicates that I am a deacon. Now,
I realize that this is a little thing.
But, I hope that this will be a small witness to my faith and my
vocation. I would suggest that all of us
wear a cross. This would provide a great
example of who we serve, Jesus Christ.
It also encourages us to act as Christians wherever we are.
As Catholic Christians and members of
Jesus' church, why are so many of us afraid to bless ourselves and say grace in
public? When the person at the checkout
counter greets us with “happy holidays,” why are we afraid to respond, “Merry
Christmas to you”? And why do we think
that Jesus came to bring us a false peace where nobody is offended, no one is
called to task? And, why do we think we
have come to hear an easy Gospel, be lulled into a false security, and belong
to a religion that costs us nothing?
The Gospel today calls all of us to a
faith that is not cheap, not wimpy, not politically correct. Which is why only fire can describe it so
well! Am I fully committed to being a
disciple of Jesus? What am I willing to
sacrifice for Him?
