The picture above shows Christ at Golgotha scorning the shame that was heeped on him, the derision, the ridicule, the pain, the fear, the death. He did not hesitate to suffer this on our behalf, and yet, as so often the case, Christians succomb to the shame imposed by the world. Why is this?
The next several days, I'd like to share some of my musings that I hope will inspire us when faced with evanglism opportunities, to do as Jesus did and scorn the shame and abuse heaped on us and take it up and wear it with pride. To do this will require some heart reformation.
One of the most important yet neglected ideas, and therefore, activities in the Church is the idea and calling of Mission. Somehow, modern Catholicism has made it possible for the Catholic to cross off evangelism as an option to pursue. In fact, ask the average Catholic what part they play in the New Evangelization, and you will more than likely get a "deer in the headlights"look.
This vocational amnesia has been an undiagnosed and untreated condition for several decades which had it's cure in a papal document of Pope Paul VI called Evangelii Nuntiandi, or "The Apostolate of the Laity." I'm going to be taking some time in the next few days to show how Catholic it is to spread the Gospel by using our lips.
Here's what the Holy Father says regarding our mission as Christians:
The Church was founded for the purpose of spreading the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth for the glory of God the Father, to enable all men to share in His saving redemption,(1) and that through them the whole world might enter into a relationship with Christ. All activity of the Mystical Body directed to the attainment of this goal is called the apostolate, which the Church carries on in various ways through all her members. For the Christian vocation by its very nature is also a vocation to the apostolate.
The Church's identity, its essence is mission. And because of this, we, who are baptized, share in this mission. The Holy Father continues in the importance of this mission to the Church's and individual Christian's identity:
Indeed, the organic union in this body and the structure of the members are so compact that the member who fails to make his proper contribution to the development of the Church must be said to be useful neither to the Church nor to himself.
The source of this idea is not the Holy Father himself, but Christ. Once again, Pope Paul VI:
The laity derive the right and duty to the apostolate from their union with Christ the head; incorporated into Christ's Mystical Body through Baptism and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit through Confirmation, they are assigned to the apostolate by the Lord Himself. They are consecrated for the royal priesthood and the holy people (cf. 1 Peter 2:4-10) not only that they may offer spiritual sacrifices in everything they do but also that they may witness to Christ throughout the world. The sacraments, however, especially the most holy Eucharist, communicate and nourish that charity which is the soul of the entire apostolate.
It is mission that is the glue for all the doctrines and teachings of the Church. When mission is skipped over, the pursuit of Christ in the devotional life or theological studies devolves into a pursuit of self-absorbed spirituality. The Eucharist is no longer the spiritual manna of Christ to aid us in the journey, it becomes a spiritual commodity that is sought and gained for personal growth and development. Yes, the vices can invade and infect our dispositions in receiving Christ.
Only in seeing the essence of mission in the Church and in our lives here on earth does all the sacraments and spiritual activity in the Church make sense and have continuity with each other. Once again, the Holy Father:
One engages in the apostolate through the faith, hope, and charity which the Holy Spirit diffuses in the hearts of all members of the Church. Indeed, by the precept of charity, which is the Lord's greatest commandment, all the faithful are impelled to promote the glory of God through the coming of His kingdom and to obtain eternal life for all men-that they may know the only true God and Him whom He sent, Jesus Christ (cf. John 17:3). On all Christians therefore is laid the preeminent responsibility of working to make the divine message of salvation known and accepted by all men throughout the world.
The true test of our love and faithfulness to God is if and how we are engaged in the New Evangelization. Do we shrink from sharing with others in word the life of Christ when the situation calls for it? Do we hide our affiliation to Jesus in order to avoid discussing Him with others? Fear not, loved ones, for the life of mission is built into the life that Christ gives us...the grace that he pours into us. Stayed tuned for more of the same tomorrow...
