Why the World Doesn't Take Catholicism Seriously

The question we must answer is "if Catholicism offers a better way, why don't Catholics' lives seem any better?"

If we believe our faith and action in this life has eternal consequences, why don't we act like it? If our relationship with God is truly the most important relationship, why don't our daily schedules reflect that? If our marriages and families are our greatest blessings, why do we sacrifice them for our careers? Any honest outsider can surely tell that we can't possibly believe what we say we believe. Not only is our religion a fraud, but so are we Christians. That's what Catholics as a whole communicate about Catholicism.

If you are waiting for the institutional Church to stem the tide and fix this problem, you're missing the point.

What nobody else can do like the Catholic Church does: Create saints. Saints are beacons of Christ. They are the tangible fruits of the sacraments. How many saints is your parish creating? That is the ultimate metric.

A saint is a powerful weapon in this culture war. They are compelling from every angle. They need few words to be understood. They need no defense. They need no money, glory or fame. They have but to be themselves and the world can't help but change.

But we've gotten bad at making saints because we've gotten bad at teaching by example. The best teachers show. As children we learn more by what we see our parents do than any words they ever say. We've forgotten this when it comes to handing on the faith.

My parents' generation left the Church without leaving the pews. And now they wonder why their kids find it silly to stand in the pews of a church they never really understood professing creeds they never really believed. So we find ourselves scrambling for ways to teach the truth. To instruct the ignorant. Demanding orthodoxy, we attack all the symptoms without really getting to the heart.

Instead of lecturing people that they have to go to Sunday Mass, inspire them to want to go. Instead of telling them to dress more appropriately for Mass, give them something worth dressing up for. Instead of talking about how beautiful the faith is, show them its beauty.

If we want the world to take Catholicism seriously, we must first take it seriously ourselves. That means making radical changes to the ways we live our lives. We need saints. Not just saints of the past, but your sainthood. When the world sees you, they don't have to see a saint, but at least let them see a sinner set on sainthood. They should see Christ radiating authentically and naturally from every move we make. If they can't, we need to shut up and stop talking about what's wrong with everyone else and we need to start living a more compelling life.

Each of us have been called to live a radical life. To be a saint.

Who's In Charge Here?

Regardless of the evangelization effort or the action, I should not be the person calling the shots or making things happen.

When the chance to talk about Jesus to a friend, neighbor or co-worker arises I can act

like Jeremiah in today’s first Reading or St. Peter in today’s Gospel from Matthew 16; I will be the first to cross my arms, dig in my heels, defy God and pout like a five-year-old. “No, this is not how I want to witness to my faith; this is not the person I want to witness to! That’s not how it’s supposed to be! No, no, no!” It’s not mature and not helpful, but it’s the truth. When I am guilty of it I am failing in the skill of detachment. Paraphrasing Dr. Jeff Mirus, founder of CatholicCulture.org, all effective evangelists need to recognize sharp distinctions between, on the one hand, all that is definitely revealed by God as essential to Christ and, on the other hand, all of our favorite opinions on such things as politics, culture, entertainment, private devotions, music, and a hundred other things which prevent our interacting with others as the potential kindred spirits that they really are. St. Paul put it best: “I have become all things to all, to save at least some” (1 Cor 9:22). If we want to preach the Gospel, we cannot insist that our prescriptions on everything from politics to sacred music must also be received and accepted as oracles of God. How often I get in my own way, putting others off because I intrude so much of myself into every discussion! The goal in evangelization is for me to speak in a way that enables others to hear, not me, but Christ. For this to happen, detachment from my own prejudices, preferences and opinions is essential.

Beyond that, I have to recognize that it shouldn’t be me making an impact on the person I’m talking to, but Jesus. The moment I can extract my own preferences, prejudices and self-centered fear from the moment and let God take charge, I’m a better evangelist. Courage and confidence in speaking to others is only the beginning! Inviting God into the conversation – before, during and after – is vital.

When I get out of my own way and out of God’s way to let Him be the source and the focus of my words, thoughts and actions – my own evangelization, only then shall His will, not mine, be done.

Let God be in charge of all things.

Evangelizing Challenge This Week

Before speaking to others about matters of faith, let us pray in the words of Psalm 19:13-15.

“Cleanse me from my inadvertent sins…Let the words of my mouth be acceptable, the thoughts of my heart before you, Lord, my rock and redeemer.”

The Two Saint John

We draw your attention today to two saints. The first is John the Baptist, the Memorial of whose Passion is this week, on Friday the 29^th; and the second is St. John the Apostle, John the Evangelizer, who wrote a Gospel, three Epistles and the Book of Revelation. One could easily think of these two as human, historical “bookends” to Jesus’ earthly human existence.

John the Baptist, sometimes called John the Forerunner, was nothing if not an evangelist, a preacher and the last of the long line of Old Testament prophets. John the Baptist pulled no punches – Friday’s Gospel from Mark will attest to that since his condemnation of Herod for marrying Herodias ultimately led to his execution. But most famously he baptized our Lord. John knew who Jesus was even while still in the womb. Consider the 2^nd Joyful Mystery of the Rosary when Elizabeth said, “The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe in my womb leapt for joy.” Though without sin, Jesus wished to be baptized by John, as this was the final preparation for his mission as Messiah. St. John the Baptist played such a pivotal role in preparing the way for Jesus’ Messianic mission.

The youngest of the Apostles and sometimes portrayed in paintings (or in the stained glass image pictured here) as a very young man, St. John the Apostle and Evangelist (the Apostle John) lived to be a very old man and, alone among the Apostles, is thought to be the only one not to have been killed for his faith.  When he is referred to as the Evangelist, it is to honor his role as the author of Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation. As Jesus’ Apostle, he is one of the pillars of the Jerusalem church after Jesus’ death. Some scholars believe he lived his last years in Ephesus and was buried there. He is also usually identified as the “Beloved Apostle” in his own Gospel.

John the Baptist heralded Jesus as “the One,” unafraid and boldly. His faith, devotion and unswerving courage in the face of the unrepentant cost him his life. The Apostle John lived long enough to write more than the other Gospel writers, gave us a uniquely inspired and special Gospel message and penned the Book of Revelation.

Let’s pray for the intercession of both Johns to petition courage in our own telling of the beautiful, wonderful Truth.

EVANGELIZE YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY WITH CATHOLIC APPS

Always a popular feature of the Evangelization page, here are some great apps that have recently come to our attention.

the Catholic Children’s Bible

The most loved Bible stories come to life before your eyes through vibrant images, dynamic animation, realistic sounds, and engaging interactivity! Watch as your child interacts with each story and is empowered to read, live, and love the Word of God. This app is designed for elementary-age students, but will be a hit with the whole family! St. Mary’s Press. iOS; $3.99

 

JesuitPrayer

 JesuitPrayer is your one-stop shop for Ignatian Spirituality on the go. The founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, created the Spiritual Exercises to deepen our relationship with Christ and to move our contemplation into service. In collaboration with the Magis Center for Catholic Spirituality and  Loyola Press, JesuitPrayer offers daily scripture, Ignatian reflections, and prayer to anchor your day and strengthen your resolve to remember what truly matters. iOS and Android. FREE

Saint Names for your Baby

As you prepare to welcome your new infant sons and daughters into the world, one of your most exciting responsibilities as a parent is choosing a name that they'll carry with them throughout life. Some of the most meaningful and interesting names can be found in the cloud of saints and witnesses in Holy Scripture and the Catholic Church. The Saint Names for Your Baby app provides you with the names and information for over 1,000 saints, including meaning and origin of the name, feast date, place of origin, an image, details on what the saint presides over, a brief biography, and much more. Special functions allow you to search by gender, create a favorites list and circulate those names to loved ones who can help weigh in on this important decision. A perfect tool for expectant parents and grandparents. Our Sunday Visitor. iOS $0.99