You just might be Catholic

 

 

If your doorbell plays “Ave Maria”

You just might be Catholic.

 

If your house burns down, your car gets totaled, you lose your job, and you end up in traction in the hospital and you say “Let’s Offer It Up”

You just might be Catholic.

 

If you have so many statues in your front yard that the UPS delivery person can’t get through to your door.

You just might be Catholic.

 

If your radio is permanently tuned to 1620 Catholic Radio

You just might be Catholic.

 

If at least one of your rosaries has turned gold.

You just might be Catholic.

 

If your well water has been blessed

You just might be Catholic.

 

If you go to bed at night and leave room on your pillow for your Guardian Angel

You just might be Catholic.

 

If you secretly put Scapulars and Holy Cards in the desk drawers of all your non-Catholic colleagues.

You just might be Catholic.

 

If you have so many medals, you jingle when you walk

You just might be Catholic.

 

Without a doubt, there are things that we do as Catholics that set us apart. These outward expressions of our faith point to our connection with God and conversion that goes on in our lives. 

 

Conversion is continual and the starting place is belief but this is only the beginning. We are called to take in and let Christ flow out of our life each and every day. It is like when we receive the Eucharist; it goes to that place that no one sees. But God transforms it, transforms us and we become Christ from the inside out.

 

Conversion prompts each one of us to open our hearts to God – then tremendous changes takes place. In accepting Jesus’ good news, we start a life long path. Conversion is no more than our human response to God. Jesus is the announcer and the message is God’s love.  As we develop in our faith and it becomes alive, the Holy Spirit will continually move us to be disciples.

 

Most things of this world cost something – and certainly discipleship has consequences, implications and a cost. We have to work out the practicalities of a changed life from our conversion. But most of all we have to recognize that the call to be a disciple comes to very ordinary people doing very ordinary things. We should expect God to reveal God’s self in the ordinary activities of our lives – not necessarily in the dramatic way that Moses encountered God with burning bushes, parting seas, thunder, and lightening. We can use the implements of our lives such as our gifts of time, talent and treasure in the way we respond to God’s call and as the springboard to a fully committed life.

 

The Old Testament reading about Elisha provides us an example of complete response to God’s call. Elisha completely renounced his former life, destroyed the tools of his trade and gave himself no fall-back-position if his new calling did not work out. Elisha even threw a huge barbecue for his friends, slaughtered all of his oxen and cooked the meat with the wood of his plow. Afterwards Elisha left everything behind to follow Elijah. 

 

The gospel reading provides us Jesus’ instruction to people that want to follow him. A follower will have no place to rest and has to move beyond the leisure of life.

 

What Elisha and Jesus tell us is to be ready to answer Christ’s call and then respond in a meaningful way. The call to discipleship is demanding and the need to proclaim the kingdom of God urgent. Nothing can be allowed to hinder or delay it.

 

There are many ways we can proclaim the Kingdom of God in the ordinary actions of our daily lives. All we have to do is to look carefully at whether God’s love is reflected in what we say and how we act. In the business world we have to question corporate ethics. In our dealings in the work place we have to question race and gender discrimination. In the world of Church we have to question if we practice what we preach. This is why the uncompromising stance of Jesus is essential for us to be open to the truth. Jesus asks us to give up our hidden agendas. Jesus makes it clear that nothing is more important than following him

 

Some respond to Jesus’ invitation without fully realizing what it entails. Jesus wants us to know up front what it means – after all it lead him to crucifixion. Discipleship is total commitment. Total conversion involves all of your energy, loyalty and devotion

 

A lived Catholic experience is being a steward of God’s gifts. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us; let us exercise them in proportion to our faith. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. This is an expression of what we believe. What we are called to do where we live like taking responsibility for our daily activities. A movement of heart that is reflected so simply by St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words. To be a disciple is an incredible challenge and one that we are called to in the daily conversion of our lives. 

 

 

Putting this challenge to the test is individually up to each one of us. But here’s a question that you can ask yourself might help: If you were arrested for being a Catholic, would there be enough evidence to convict you?