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February 3, 2021This week, we will take a brief pause from our ongoing discussion of the Our Father for me to share a few thoughts on what I believe is a needed paradigm shift. This post is meant as a reflection more for those involved in the catechetical work of the Church. To be clear, nothing in this is meant as a slight or to be disparaging in any way. Honestly, it is something I have been reflecting on quite a bit myself. My intentions are purely positive, and I hope some may find it helpful.
In the life of the parish, it is easy to fall into what I consider the trap of, "Ten Steps for This Marvelous Thing," and "This Program is the Greatest..." But I would caution that we must guard against seeing everything as a list of action steps, silver bullet programs, or catch all fixes. The apostolate to which we are all called, first and foremost, is rooted in the life of prayer. We must maintain that truth as primary. The person that knows best how to bring about the renewal of our parishes and our diocese is already here! He has been here the whole time. His name is the Holy Spirit. We must consult with him ever more. In ministry efforts, we can become so busy doing the works of God, that we neglect the God of works. This must change. Sometimes the answers we need can only be won through the battle of prayer and fasting; in sacrifice. It is often not easy. Many demands tug on us. At times prayer can seem as though it wars against our usual pragmatic and utilitarian tendencies. Many crosses we must bear and struggles we must offer up. However, that is the key. Embracing the cross, like Christ, for the joy that is set before us. What is that joy? The salvation of souls. In all sincerity, I believe one of the biggest obstacles to the renewal of the Church is one that I seldom hear anyone talking about: an unwillingness to suffer. Be it wounds to our pride, concern for what others think of us, unwillingness to change, fear of stepping out into the unknown, or whatever it may be; to approach things differently is for us, at least in some ways, suffering. This is hard to accept. I am guilty of this; more than anyone I know. The remedy for this is and only ever will be, prayer.
We also have to recognize that sometimes the most fruitful ministry cannot be measured quantitatively. It is time spent in the coffee shop. More than a new program, video series, or book by this publisher or that one, the world needs more coffee shop missionaries open to the work of grace, open to life’s interruptions, willing to pray with and pray for others in the moment, willing to see as primary the salvation of souls; and more specifically, the making of disciples. The call to make disciples is one we all share. This is much more than simply saying, "Jesus loves you." It is much more than saying, “I will pray for you.” Making disciples is saying by our lives, "Jesus loves you. And I am so compelled by his great love for you, and for me, that I will be here by your side on our shared journey toward eternity with him." For every individual believer, every program, if a lifetime of effort only leads to one person enjoying eternal intimacy with God in heaven, it is worth it. What price can we put on a soul? How much value is salvation and eternal union with Christ? St. Augustine declared, “God loves each one of us as if we were the only one to love.” Indeed, were you dear reader, the only one who would have come to salvation through Christ’s Passion and Death, he would have done it anyway! This is the kind of paradigm shift that is needed in every diocese, in every parish, in the heart of every believer. How can we refocus our efforts to reflect this reality more accurately?
With that, we all need people in our lives to help us live out this life of missionary discipleship well. So, we have to ask, "Who am I discipling?" "Who is discipling me?" “Who is walking with me?”