Dear Friends,
If you have been paying attention to what is happening in the Archdiocese, then you know that Archbishop Lucas has given a challenge to each of the parishes to become a “missional community”. That means we are to do much more than simply maintain our buildings and programs. It means that we are to actively seek out and make new Christians. We are to accept the commission of Jesus to “Go and make disciples of all nations”. We are to deepen our own encounters with God and share those encounters with others.
There are archdiocesan meetings in October to help priests and parishioners examine how we are responding to the Archbishop’s challenge and to help parishes improve their missional outreach. I think, we are on the right path at St. Frances Cabrini and our present Alpha Course is a clear sign of being on the right path. We have 80+ people gathering in our Parish Center gym each Tuesday night this fall – some serving on team, some as guests. This is missional outreach, sharing the Good News of Jesus. However, we still have more to do in creating a clear path for the formation of disciples.
In this letter, I would like to raise a critical point. What do we mean when we use the word “Christian”?
One approach would be to say, as St. Paul does, that a Christian is defined by his or her citizenship. Unlike the national allegiances of this world, however, a Christian is someone whose citizenship is rooted in the person and kingdom of Christ. According to Jesus, such an allegiance requires nothing less than a total denial of self, the taking up of one’s cross, and a willingness to follow Jesus wherever the Spirit leads.
Sadly, in our present world, “Christian” more often invokes the ornaments of a subculture—a fluency in certain religious language, traditions, and terms—rather than a relationship with the Christ. For some, it has become associated with political parties or traditional lifestyles. Some will reject our overtures to have them meet Jesus simply because they want nothing to do with the “Christian” subculture. They see the subculture as judgmental and closed-minded.
Pope Benedict was good at reminding us that while, as a Church, we stress the importance of Scripture’s moral instruction, the heart of being a Christian is the relationship with Christ. To assume Scripture is first and primarily a moral guide is to mistake its purpose. For the story of Scripture has at its center the person of Jesus Christ. Do we become different because of the relationship? Of course! We strive to follow all that Jesus teaches us to do.
The thriving Christian life is an all-encompassing effort of the whole person, body and spirit. St. Irenaeus said that “the glory of God is man fully alive.” The lives of the saints who have gone before us testify that following one’s heart can be difficult. Indeed, their lives of holy perseverance reveal that sincere heart work and head work are hard work. But no struggle is more essential to human flourishing than this hard work of the people of God.
This past week, in our viewing of The Chosen (season 2, episode 1), there were several moments where Jesus loved people simply as they were, Jesus seeking out the lost sheep. They were powerful presentations of the way Jesus lived and the way he loves. If we can all accept the idea that God’s love is wholly separate from our actions, receive it, and give it to others, maybe then we’d have more Christians that look like Christ. Christians that don’t feel it’s important to beat people down with their interpretation of doctrine, but instead spend their lives walking with those in need. Christians who know they are loved even in their sinfulness who then share that love with others.
Peace,
Fr. Damian
Please join us for The Chosen on Wednesday, 6:30 pm when we will watch and discuss the second episode of season two. Here is the link to join us: