Monday, September 25, 2017

Caught Between

Friends of Faith:

When I hear: “I can’t bring myself to go to Church – Christians are such hypocrites.” I think of the two readings I heard this week.

The first was the proverbial “damned if I do, damned if I don’t” reading from Luke 7: 34-35 where John the Baptist is said to be possessed by a demon because he fasted. And Jesus was called a glutton and drunkard because he ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners.

The second is yesterday’s reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: “Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.  And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.”  Phil 1: 21-24

Just as Jesus was called to eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners, so are we called to minister to each other. And as the Gospel yesterday proclaimed: to not remain idle, but to get to work! Mt 20: 1-16

Jesus left us the Church and the Eucharist so that we could receive the grace of being fed by His Body and Blood (Communion) and be energized by His Word on at least a weekly basis.

Personally, I need to “eat” and be fed more often, so I choose to pray and read Scripture daily and go to Mass more often than just once a week.

And I enjoy giving “stuff” away and speaking the truth using Jesus’ name. I want to see others succeed with Him, and to show others that being with Him is better than against/without Him.

Likewise, I have an occasional tendency to want to do things entirely for my own pleasure and it’s likely that someone is calling me a hypocrite. And at other times I know someone is saying – “stay away from her, she’s a “Jesus” freak, “over the top” holy.”

So as Christians we can be frustrated because we are often caught in the middle, struggling to balance our own wants and desires with being what God wants us to be: His messengers trying to bring others closer to Him. And I struggle to ignore those who judge me (and with judging others) for being both secular and Christian.

The fine line is not to despair and not to give up. This is exactly the hope we know and receive from God’s love and God’s Church!

Because Church isn’t for the holy and perfect: The Holy are the Saints already in heaven. And they no longer need the Church.

Pope Francis says the Church is a “field hospital.” Church is for sinners because I am (we are) the one who needs to hear His message of healing, forgiveness and hope.  Whether we believe or don’t believe; whether we’ve professed our faith or not; we are still the people who need to be within the walls of His Church on a regular basis.

And as the baptized who are called to be evangelists, we are the ones chosen to labor, to remain here on this earth not just for the benefit of becoming holy ourselves, but for sharing His Gospel message to help bring others to holiness – in whatever manner we are called.

Be diligent, be hopeful, be aware – God is calling you to be with Him and for Him while you are In His Church.
Blessings,
Charlotte

Monday, September 18, 2017

Being Good is Not Enough

Friends of Faith:

As I heard yesterday in the homily, “to be able to say I am a good or a kind person may not be enough because God is calling us to be great and to be holy.” God is calling us to love. Love is an action and greatness usually flows from an action.

It’s like saying “I’m trying” to diet, exercise or write a Monday morning reflection. Or I’ve thought of you. Until I actually do what I’m trying, or called you or said a prayer for you, simply thinking was probably not enough. Quite honestly I’ve done nothing until I take some action because until I do no one (myself or another) has become greater or better off by my action or known my thought.

Take my example about writing – until I put it on paper (and share it) I’ve done nothing for anyone else. And while my internal thoughts may be good, unless I share those thoughts with someone then I am not held accountable. I have not shared my faith or helped anyone grow closer to God. It’s like lighting a lamp and putting it under a bushel basket where no one can see it. (Mt 5:15)

This is the same for me as is that list of things in my head that I want or hope to get done today – they are probably not going to get finished unless they are written on a “sticky note” or a “to do” list of goals.

I may be a good or kind person that does nothing “evil.” But if I never do anything for another person, if I never serve another person and if I put my own wants and desires before the real needs of those around me, then I might just be a very selfish person with no regard for what Jesus did on the cross when He suffered and died for me.

It’s like saying I thought about sending a card to someone who lost a family member; it’s like saying I thought about making my husband’s favorite meal; it’s like saying I thought about going to church. If all I did was think about it, I really did nothing. It doesn’t necessarily make me bad, it just doesn’t make me great. And it doesn’t make a memory or anything that will last (no card to look at again, no meal to say thank you for and to tell someone else about, no shared relationship or conversation that makes me smile well after the action is gone.) “Do this in memory of me.”

God calls us to be great, to love and to find joy. So to say “we’re a good person or a kind person or a happy person” may simply not be enough. God deserves our very best, not just what is comfortable, easy or happens to happen. Greatness is about deliberately choosing our actions to be the best we can be.

I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. Jn 13: 34

God didn’t send Jesus here JUST to teach us, to pray, to fast or even to perform miracles. God sent Jesus  here so that He could teach us to live through love AND to die unselfishly for that same great love. And without dying Jesus could not rise which in turn shows us the ultimate glory of God, the holiness which abounds with the Resurrection to eternal life.

Each of these choices were deliberate. Each of these choices helped us to see Jesus’ greatness. Just living a good and kind life wasn’t enough for him. He chose to do much more – he chose to give His entire self for us.

Jesus showed us what we are to become. Jesus showed us what was great and holy. And He showed us this by not taking the easy way out and taking himself down off the cross. Jesus did nothing wrong, so He was good. It was His choice to do more in his goodness – to let us see and know greatness.

And if we think about the lives of the saints (those who the Church has proclaimed holy and great) they too drastically changed their lives through their faith, they sacrificed their time and their opportunities for their faith. And many have died (become martyrs) rather than deny Jesus’ presence in their lives and on earth.

Can I become a better person? Am I willing to change to become great, to do something that has a greater purpose? Am I willing to sacrifice by giving to others when it would be easier to sit back and let someone else do it for me? Am I proclaiming the truth even when the truth is countercultural (or may even be opposite what a government says is “legal”)?

How did I help someone else and do what is right? What more could I be doing to show love to others who are in need—physically, emotionally or spiritually? Am I doing my best to become great and holy?  It’s probably not enough to just say I believe or that I’m a good and kind person – there may be more that I am being called to do with the gifts and talents that God has blessed me with.

BE GREAT, Love!! BE HOLY, sacrifice!! BE MEMORABLE, In truth!!
Blessings,
Charlotte