Fast forward to Monday when we went to Noon Mass at a local church. The priest there gives wonderful homilies and today he was on a role about how we must, as Catholics in today's crazy world, live like the Apostles and the first Christians did. He talked about how we have been commissioned like the Apostles to spread the Good News, not so much by what we say, but by how we act.
Are people drawn to us because of our peace and joy? Or do we radiate tension and unrest? Not, as he said, that we have to be skipping and singing all the time and acting as if nothing bad ever happens to us, but when bad things do happen, how do we handle them? Are we at peace or do we complain and take out our anger on those that we meet?
Father mentioned that this peaceful, joyful attitude is especially important for the religious. He related a story about how during his first assignment as a priest, he was at a parish with an elderly, grumpy priest. Having this experience made him realize that he did NOT want to end up like this grumpy old priest. Father said he told God that if he was going to end up like this priest in his old age that he wanted to die young!
I found it interesting that my thoughts from Sunday and the homily from Monday were so intimately related. I had been thinking about what I'd like people to "read" on my family's faces when they look at us. Do they see a family that looks unhappy or tense? Or do they see a bunch of faces that, for the most part, show contentment?
I know that not every day is a good day, or even close to that. I know that sometimes people go for quite a stretch where they struggle to retain (or regain) their peace and joy. But if overall we, as Catholic Christians, cannot exude those good qualities to others in the world, how are we to ever show the world the beauty of following so great a God? How will we ever attract people to the Lord, as the first Christians did, if we don't show people His love?
This has been on my heart a lot lately, especially since the devil has been working overtime to bring strife and division to our families and Catholic homeschooling communities. If we cannot even love each other and show forgiveness and compassion to those that are closest to us, how on earth are we going to show the goodness of the Lord to those in the world around us?
We have been commissioned to bring others to Christ. We have been commissioned to turn this world around and it must start within each one of us. If our hearts do not rest in the Lord, we will not be able to live out that peace and joy that Father was speaking of today. Instead, our faces will reflect tension and strife; something which will not attract others to us.
So as we begin this joyful Easter season, my prayer is that we can take up our mission with a heart bent on turning this world around by radiating the love that Our Lord has for each one of us to everyone we come in contact with; starting with those closest to us!
I agree that it is good to want to attract others and be a good example in order to lead others to Christ. However, I would like to caution others to be careful of
ReplyDelete"put on" joy, peace, or happiness. Inauthentic behavior will only make you repulsive to others. Be yourself, faults and all and try not to judge others who don't "look" like you think they should at Mass. You have no idea what they may be going through or thinking. If you fear for their weary, uninformed souls, silently pray for them. If you want to make a difference, with others, you must stop judging them.
I have met and become friends with more than 60 people since moving to Ca. I have been able to share my faith numerous times. I speak to all people, try to judge no one, and I can say I am always myself. Good, bad or ugly. Still, people are accepting. Just don't worry about how you appear to others. Be yourself. Ann
Although of course I agree that putting on a false "joyful" face is not the way to go, my main reaction to your post was "AMEN!" because I know what you mean about how Mass can become rote and impersonal. I am a convert with a Baptist background, and at first, something I loved about the Catholic church was its distance and silence, the room it gives me for my own relationship with God in the Eucharist. But now, sometimes, I miss how Baptists express the joy of knowing God. I used to think it was wrong to "try" to make people feel that by using music and oratory and encouraging fellowship...but sometimes I think I need that. I thought it was just because I was raised Baptist, but maybe other Catholics feel it too. NOT THAT I'M UNHAPPY! I adore being Catholic. But I know what you mean...and we have the EUCHARIST!! Christ is THERE! But it's uncomfortable to express the feelings behind that, in our church, in my experience. Not sure what the answer is...except to dance in our hearts, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI just wrote a big, long post that basically said "Amen!" to your original post, then I accidentally erased it and now I have to get off the internet! Basically what I said was that I'm a convert from the Southern Baptist tradition, and we did express our joy, sorrow, etc. all the time, and it was great. Catholics are great too...obviously I think so, I joined your church!...but I do miss that part. And the fellowship. (I've been Catholic for six years.)
ReplyDeleteAnn, I'm so glad CA is going so well. I think you're a great example of just what Fr. Lane was talking about!
ReplyDeleteDaisy, thanks for the "Amen". Sometimes I think we Catholics could learn a few things in the excitement department from our Protestant brethren.
God Bless.