To any of you that have had an addiction, especially to smoking you will understand how hard it is to quit. Even know what it does to you, coupled with the heart problem that I have had for the past 4 years- I could not quit. When I found out that many men go to the hospital after a Holiday- thus the slang name “holiday heart” for A-Fib I said no more alcohol- and quit- no problem. I tried to quit smoking but those cigars are so darn good. I like to smoke, don’t ask me why but I do. I started taking Chantax a while back- but still smoked. People at work stick their heads in and say “let’s go burn one” so I go. I did get to where the only time I smoked was on the drive to work and home- maybe one while playing golf on Saturday morning or two- and champing on flavored toothpicks in between. All the time thinking how stupid I am for doing it. Also thinking that I was hiding it from my lovely wife- like she don’t have a nose!
It has been over a week now- a very long time. I do not want a cigar, do not have the desire to smoke one would not smoke a Fat Cuban, as good as it would be, if you gave me one.
Two weeks ago if I got a good sniff of a smoker I would probably have run over to the Navy Exchange and gotten me a Swisher Sweet- lit it and sucked in all that tar and nicotine- exhaling in gratitude for the euphoric feeling it gives and wondering where those chest pains were coming from. Then brushing my teeth, washing my hands and face along with smacking gum in a futile attempt to hide it. But not now- no way, nada none- no smokes for me.
Know how I know this to be the truth? It’s a fact! Some dude just came by my office and stepped inside. I could smell him from 10 feet away- this guy must have just left a damn crowded bar where they all were smoking stale ass cigarettes and cigars. He smelled like hell. I wanted to kick his ass out of the office! It was such a relief when he did finally leave…. I can breath, I can breath!
Harry T is smoke free.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
I AM LOVE
We seek it here, we seek it there, we look for love everywhere! We expect it to come to us, usually through another person. Every thing we have been taught in life says it is something that happens to us.
All the old Fairy Tales, fables and even movies of today say it is something we 'fall into'.
And yet...and yet real love cannot be acquired, possessed or accumulated.. you cannot own love! It cannot be known when we think it comes from outside ourselves. You know......... I think we are it.
We are love.
Each one of us is a source of love that has forgotten that 'love is what I am'. Say it now "I am love". Don't feel right does it? Why does it not feel right? Because its been so long since we have known and experienced ourselves in a true way. And yet we all know that the deepest trust and the purest love can be known and experienced only when we give it, not take it.
As we give love in own way, we are the ones to feel it first, on the way out.
Falling in love is impossible. It is only infatuation, obsession with an external object that we think fills a void in our lives. As soon as the object or person is remembered when they are not present and when they do not need to be remembered, it is becomes an attachment which, if we keep it we will become addicted to.
Attachment and dependency are not love.
But you already know that...don't you?
This has to be my favorite definition of love and one day.... one darn day I will attain it.
1 Corinthians 13
The Excellence of Love
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails;
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
WAKE UP AMERICA!
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure,
the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy,
its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.."
-- Winston Churchill
These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read: Unfortunately, most voters don't know this.
1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.
2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them; and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.
"Socialism in general has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it."
Thomas Sowell
Just thought I would share that. Wake to hell up America!
Wake up America before it is to late!
They make it so easy for folks to sit on their ass and not work- yet make as much or more than working folk get.
Buying votes.
Hey you intellectuals wake up! What are you going to do with all that education and knowledge when the bum on his front porch drinking Colt 45 is in the same financial shape as you are. But it will never get that far- unless the hard working people of America stand up in this election cycle and kick the socialists out of office the United States of America will cease to exist as a nation.
The middle class will cease to exist- there will be two classes of people. First, the people in Washington, the ruling class. Second- the rest of us.
Sentence 5 above is not far off!
Wake up America!
Harry T.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
WHAT TO DO?
Back in 1991 I went on a Church Retreat weekend called Cursillo that changed my life in a tremendous way. Since that time I have gone back and worked many times either giving one of the talks for the weekend or to work what is called the “Palanca Crew” which is the group that cooks and cleans but also have the most important duty of praying for the men that are attending the weekend as well as the team giving the talks.
What has me thinking of this now is that I received a phone call asking me to work team for a weekend that is in May. While I have never said no when I got this call I am not sure that I can do it now. There are long team preparations that take place, late nights in Biloxi. With recent heart problems and having another heart surgery scheduled in April I just am not sure I could take it. My attitude towards things and other people has not been, in recent months, what is stressed on the weekend, I don’t think that I am living the life and as a result am not worthy to go and do God’s work. God’s work must be a 24-7 job and I have not been doing that. Then again I have slid before and going to work a weekend always seems to pump me up and send me down the proper path for a bit.
I really don’t know what to do just now, pray and talk with my wife is about all and I guess I will get an answer soon.
This did get me to thinking and I pulled up one of the old talks that I wrote and gave for a weekend. Following are some excerpts from it. This talk is about the lay person’s role in the Church. When Church is mentioned here it is the Catholic Church but the roles of the members of the any Church should be the same.
Forgive the all caps but that is the way I type talks for better viewing. For those that want to know there are personal things from my life that did not make the cut here.
It is long, If I had cut to much the message might have gotten lost. Sorry.
TODAY OUR SOCIETY IS TROUBLED BY GRAVE PROBLEMS: WAR, HUNGER, VIOLENCE IN THE HOME AND IN THE STREETS. THERE IS DISCRIMINATION, SOCIAL INJUSTICE... GOVERNMENTS SPEND MORE MONEY THAN THEY HAVE...PEOPLE CANNOT FIND JOBS.....WHILE ALL AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE THESE GREAT ASPIRATIONS FOR PEACE, FREEDOM, JUSTICE---- BROTHERHOOD AND UNITY— WE HAVE PROGRAMS AND SHELTERS FOR THE POOR AND HOMELESS, YET WE CONTINUE TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE STREETS. WE HAVE ALL THESE PROGRAMS TO FIGHT POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT ...... YET THEY CONTINUE TO GROW. THE GOVERNMENT IN THIS COUNTRY PASSES LAWS TO ‘FIX” THE PROBLEMS AND THE LAW ONLY CREATES MORE PROBLEMS AND DIVISIONS AMONG THE PEOPLE . WE HAVE A PRISON SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO REHABILITATE THE OFFENDERS YET THE PRISONS ARE SO VIOLENT AND OVERCROWDED THAT MANY TIMES INMATES LEAVE PRISON WITH MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY HAD WHEN THEY WENT IN. IF WE WERE TO CONCENTRATE ON ALL THESE PROBLEMS WE COULD BECOME VERY DEPRESSED..... BUT THESE PROBLEMS ARE ONLY SYMPTOMS..... HUMAN SOLUTIONS ARE FAILING MISERABLY IN SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD. CHRISTIANITY ITSELF IS UNDER ATTACK ON ALL FRONTS.... THE ROOT OF THE WORLDS PROBLEMS LIES IN ITS SEPARATION FROM GOD. THE WORLD IS NOT LIVING IN GRACE.... THE WORLD LIVES WITH ITS BACK TURNED TO CHRIST....... THE RADICAL AND ONLY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD LIES IN JESUS CHRIST. ST PAUL IN THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS STATED: HE IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, THE FIRST BORN OF ALL CREATION. FOR IN HIM WERE CREATED ALL THINGS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, THE VISIBLE AND THE INVISIBLE, WHETHER THRONES OR DOMINIONS OR PRINCIPALITIES OR POWERS; ALL THINGS WERE CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM. HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER. HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH. HE IS THE BEGINNING , THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD, THAT IN ALL THINGS HE HIMSELF MIGHT BE PREEMINENT. FOR IN HIM ALL THE FULLNESS WAS PLEASED TO DWELL, AND THROUGH HIM TO RECONCILE ALL THINGS FOR HIM, MAKING PEACE BY THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS, (THROUGH HIM) WHETHER THOSE ON EARTH OR THOSE IN HEAVEN.
CHRIST CONTINUES TO BE PRESENT IN THE WORLD TODAY, YES CHRIST IS HERE NOW IN THE YEAR 2010... THIS LIFE IN GRACE, THE IDEAL OF GRACE ...CANNOT BE LIVED IN ISOLATION BUT IT CAN BE LIVED WITH CHRIST..... IN AND THROUGH HIS BODY...... THE CHURCH.
THE CHURCH IS NOT JUST BUILDINGS OF STONE, BUT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALIVE..... IT IS THE PEOPLE. NOW WHEN WE LOOK AT A CHURCH WE SEE A BUILDING MADE OF STONE AND BRICKS, MAYBE WITH STAINED GLASS WINDOWS AND A STEEPLE OR A CROSS ON THE ROOF. THAT WOULD BE A VISIBLE SIGN THAT THE BUILDING HAS SOME RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE. SORTA LIKE WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT EACH OTHER, WE SEE BODIES AND FACES. THE SHELL THAT HOLDS US TOGETHER. THE VISIBLE SIGN THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. BUT INSIDE OUR BODIES WE FIND OUR HEARTS AND BRAINS ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER ORGANS AND TISSUE THAT ENABLE US TO LIVE EACH DAY. WITHOUT THESE PARTS WE WOULD NOT BE ALIVE. IT IS THE SAME WITH THE CHURCH. IT IS WHAT IS INSIDE THE BUILDINGS OF STONE AND BRICK THAT MAKES THE CHURCH COME ALIVE. IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO PRAY AND WORSHIP THERE THAT MAKES UP THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST.
TO ACCOMPLISH MAKING THE WORLD BETTER THE CHURCH MUST GO AT IT FROM TWO ANGLES. THE TRANSFORMATION OF PEOPLE BY GOD’S GRACE AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD BY THOSE LIVING IN GRACE. THE FIRST ONE BELONGS TO THE CLERGY, THE SECOND IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LAITY. THE CHURCH IS FORMED BY BOTH THE CLERGY AND THE LAITY AND ONE CANNOT ADVANCE WITHOUT THE OTHER. BOTH ARE SEEKING THE SAME END BUT FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES ACCORDING TO THE PLACE IN WHICH GOD HAS PLACED HIM. SINCE MOST OF US AT THIS CURSILLO ARE LAYPERSONS, WE WILL LOOK AT THE ROLE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CHURCH.
A LAYPERSON IS A PERSON WHO IMAGINES AND LIVES HIS LIFE IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO CHRIST. HE LIVES THE GOSPEL DESPITE THE UPS AND DOWNS OF HIS LIFE.... HIS CHRISTIAN IDEALS DON’T REMAIN THEORIES.... THE PERMEATE LIFE ITSELF....... HE MUST CONSTANTLY CONFRONT THE RISK OF FREEDOM OF DECISION IN HIS FAITHFULNESS TO THE GOSPEL... THIS FAITHFULNESS SHOULD BE WHAT GUIDES HIS DECISIONS. HE SHOULD BE A PERSON WHO LEARNS TO NAVIGATE WITH THE ESSENTIALS OF HIS FAITH, TRUSTING THAT THIS SAME FAITH WILL ENABLE HIM WITH ALL THE RESOURCES TO OVERCOME ALL THE OBSTACLES OF DAILY LIFE BY EXERCISING HIS FREEDOM WITH HUMILITY.
THE MISSION OF EACH LAYPERSON IS DERIVED FROM OUR BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, AND FROM THE COMMANDMENT AND VIRTUE OF LOVE. ST. PAUL, IN HIS LETTER TO THE GALATIANS, CHAPTER 3 SAYS: "YOU WERE BAPTIZED IN UNION WITH CHRIST AND NOW YOU ARE CLOTHED SO TO SPEAK WITH THE LIFE OF CHRIST HIMSELF"
THE MISSION, THIS ROLE OF THE LAYPERSON IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH, IS TO BE EXERCISED IN THE WORLD AND FOR THE WORLD. WE CANNOT AVOID THE WORLD AND PERFORM OUR DUTIES ONLY WITH THOSE WITH WHOM WE FEEL COMFORTABLE. IT IS NOT SOLELY A ROLE PERFORMED WITHIN THE CHURCH OR ITS ASSOCIATIONS AND PAROCHIAL COMMUNITIES. THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF JESUS EXTENDS TO EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE. IT EXTENDS TO OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDSHIPS, WORK SITUATIONS, THE GOLF COURSE, THE FISHING BOAT, THE HUNTING CAMP.... IN SHORT WHERE EVER WE FIND OBSERVES . IT IS NECESSARY FOR US TO BRING THE "GOOD NEWS" THROUGH OUR WITNESS. REMEMBER, THERE IS NO OTHER SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD. THERE IS NO OTHER SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD. EXCEPT JESUS CHRIST.
POPE JOHN PAUL II STATED THAT "THE LORD HAS ENTRUSTED A GREAT PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH'S MISSION TO THE LAY FAITHFUL, IN COMMUNION WITH ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD."
HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A ROLE TO BE REALIZED ONLY IN THE ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF THE PARISH.
ALSO PAUL VI REMINDED US THAT "THEIR PRIMARY AND IMMEDIATE TASK IS NOT TO ESTABLISH AND DEVELOP THE ECCLESIAL COMMUNITY—THIS IS THE SPECIFIC ROLE OF THE PASTORS—BUT TO PUT TO USE EVERY CHRISTIAN AND EVANGELICAL POSSIBILITY LATENT BUT ALREADY PRESENT AND ACTIVE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE WORLD. THEIR OWN FIELD OF EVANGELIZING ACTIVITY IS THE VAST AND COMPLICATED WORLD OF POLITICS, SOCIETY AND ECONOMICS, BUT ALSO THE WORLD OF CULTURE, OF THE SCIENCES AND THE ARTS, OF INTERNATIONAL LIFE, OF THE MASS MEDIA."
GENTLEMEN THE WORLD IS SEARCHING FOR HAPPINESS AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING IT TO THEM, A HAPPINESS THAT ONLY CHRIST CAN GIVE. THE LAYPERSON IS CALLED TO LIVE CHRISTIANITY IN THE WORLD. TO LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN SIGNIFIES TO LIVE IN GRACE IN A CONSCIOUS MANNER. HIS WITNESS SHOULD BE VITAL AND DIRECT: COMMITTING HIS WHOLE BEING WITH THE MESSAGE HE IS PROCLAIMING.
POPE PAUL VI, WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE CURSILLISTAS MEETING IN ROME, SKETCHED A FOUR_PART PROGRAM THAT IS VALID FOR ALL OF THE LAITY:
FIRST, THE PERMANENT TASK OF THE LAYPERSON WILL EVER BE THE INSERTION OF THE GOSPEL IN LIFE, BY MEANS OF A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER AND FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD, AND IN COMMUNION WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. IN ADDITION, POPE JOHN PAUL II,, STATED: IN THE CONTEXT OF CHURCH MISSION, THEN, "THE LORD ENTRUSTS A GREAT PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LAY FAITHFUL, IN COMMUNION WITH ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD."
SECOND, THE LAYPERSON, IN MAKING HIMSELF OVER INTO A CHRISTIAN, REFORMS HIS ATTITUDES. BEING CONVERTED, HE BELIEVES THE GOOD NEWS AND MAKES IT COME ALIVE.
THIRD, THE LAYPERSON TRANSFORMS THE TEMPORAL ORDER IN WHICH HE IS IMMERSED BY TAKING HIS OWN RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY, AND
FOURTH, THE LAYPERSON REALIZES HIS HUMAN AND CHRISTIAN IDEAL IN THE WORLD AND IN THE CHURCH BY CONFORMING HIS LIFE TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST AND BY BRINGING THIS LIFE TO HIS TEMPORAL COMMITMENTS AT ALL LEVELS: PERSONAL, FAMILY, PROFESSIONAL, CIVIC, SOCIO ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND SO ON.
SIMPLY STATED, POPE PAUL VI REMINDED US THAT WE, AS LAITY, HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. THE LAITY MAKES UP THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. WE ARE OBLIGED TO ACCEPT OUR TASK TO BE THE MESSENGERS OF THE GOSPEL, AND TO BRING THAT MESSAGE INTO THE WORLD AS INDIVIDUALS AND TOGETHER WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. WE BECOME NOT ONLY BEARERS OF THE GOSPEL, BUT PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE ITS MESSAGE. WE MUST TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY. WE BRING THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST TO EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES—WITHOUT EXCEPTION. IT IS A MESSAGE TO BE LIVED EVERYWHERE AND WITH EVERYONE. WE NEED ONLY REMEMBER THAT I AM THE CHURCH, YOU ARE THE CHURCH, AND TOGETHER WE ARE THE CHURCH, ...............THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
THE CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE OF GOD..... THE LIGHT SALT AND LEAVEN OF THE WORLD. IT IS BORN OF THE EVANGELIZING ACTIVITY OF JESUS AND THE TWELVE.....IT IS THE SAME CHRIST AS THE ONE IN HISTORY...... THE BODY OF CHRIST.... ALIVE... AND.... REAL. ----THE CHURCH THEN ... IS THE RESERVOIR OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE, HOPE, AND LOVE. IT IS THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS UNITED IN THE SPREADING OF HOPE AND REALIZING THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE LOVE OF OTHER PEOPLE. JESUS SAID TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER... JESUS SAID TO LOVE EVEN YOUR ENEMY..... ST. PAUL, IN THE FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS DESCRIBED LOVE IN THIS WAY. . LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND. IT IS NOT JEALOUS, LOVE IS NOT POMPOUS, IT IS NOT INFLATED, IT IS NOT RUDE, IT DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN INTERESTS, IT IS NOT QUICK TEMPERED, IT DOES NOT BROOD OVER INJURY, IT DOES NOT REJOICE OVER WRONG DOING BUT REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH, IT BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS. ........LOVE NEVER FAILS. ......THINK ABOUT IT.... IF..... IF WE, AS HUMANS COULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER LIKE THAT ALWAYS.......I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THE WORLD WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE. THAT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL.... AN IDEAL TO STRIVE FOR.. LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
GENTLEMEN THE WORLD IS SEARCHING FOR HAPPINESS AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING IT TO THEM, A HAPPINESS THAT ONLY CHRIST CAN GIVE. THE LAYPERSON IS CALLED TO LIVE CHRISTIANITY IN THE WORLD. TO LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN SIGNIFIES TO LIVE IN GRACE IN A CONSCIOUS MANNER. HIS WITNESS SHOULD BE VITAL AND DIRECT: COMMITTING HIS WHOLE BEING WITH THE MESSAGE HE IS PROCLAIMING.
POPE PAUL VI, WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE CURSILLISTAS MEETING IN ROME, SKETCHED A FOUR_PART PROGRAM THAT IS VALID FOR ALL OF THE LAITY:
FIRST, THE PERMANENT TASK OF THE LAYPERSON WILL EVER BE THE INSERTION OF THE GOSPEL IN LIFE, BY MEANS OF A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER AND FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD, AND IN COMMUNION WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. IN ADDITION, POPE JOHN PAUL II,, STATED: IN THE CONTEXT OF CHURCH MISSION, THEN, "THE LORD ENTRUSTS A GREAT PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LAY FAITHFUL, IN COMMUNION WITH ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD."
SECOND, THE LAYPERSON, IN MAKING HIMSELF OVER INTO A CHRISTIAN, REFORMS HIS ATTITUDES. BEING CONVERTED, HE BELIEVES THE GOOD NEWS AND MAKES IT COME ALIVE.
THIRD, THE LAYPERSON TRANSFORMS THE TEMPORAL ORDER IN WHICH HE IS IMMERSED BY TAKING HIS OWN RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY, AND
FOURTH, THE LAYPERSON REALIZES HIS HUMAN AND CHRISTIAN IDEAL IN THE WORLD AND IN THE CHURCH BY CONFORMING HIS LIFE TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST AND BY BRINGING THIS LIFE TO HIS TEMPORAL COMMITMENTS AT ALL LEVELS: PERSONAL, FAMILY, PROFESSIONAL, CIVIC, SOCIO ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND SO ON.
SIMPLY STATED, POPE PAUL VI REMINDED US THAT WE, AS LAITY, HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. THE LAITY MAKES UP THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. WE ARE OBLIGED TO ACCEPT OUR TASK TO BE THE MESSENGERS OF THE GOSPEL, AND TO BRING THAT MESSAGE INTO THE WORLD AS INDIVIDUALS AND TOGETHER WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. WE BECOME NOT ONLY BEARERS OF THE GOSPEL, BUT PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE ITS MESSAGE. WE MUST TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY. WE BRING THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST TO EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES—WITHOUT EXCEPTION. IT IS A MESSAGE TO BE LIVED EVERYWHERE AND WITH EVERYONE. WE NEED ONLY REMEMBER THAT I AM THE CHURCH, YOU ARE THE CHURCH, AND TOGETHER WE ARE THE CHURCH, ...............THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
WE SHOULD BECOME NOT ONLY BEARERS OF THE GOSPEL, BUT PERSONS THAT TRULY LIVE ITS MESSAGE. WHEN A CHRISTIAN DOES NOT SPEAK OF CHRIST AND OF HIS MESSAGE, IT IS A SURE SIGN THAT THE PERSON IS NOT CONVINCED OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY. IT IS NOT A MATTER OF ALWAYS SPEAKING ABOUT CHRIST, BUT RATHER BEING FILLED WITH HIS GRACE IN A WAY THAT IT FLOWS THROUGH OUR PORES ..........PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IT IN US.
WE, THE LAITY HAVE A SPECIFIC MISSION WITHIN THE MISSION IF THE CHURCH. THE MISSION HAS CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS, THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE HUMAN, SUPERNATURAL, ECCLESIAL AND APOSTOLIC.
AS HUMAN EACH OF US HAVE A DIFFERENT ROLE TO PLAY. WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT GIFTS AND TALENTS GIVEN TO US BY GOD AND WE MUST PUT THEM INTO THE SERVICE OF CHRIST TO REACH THE MIRACLE OF EVERYDAY NORMAL LIFE. WE DO THE SAME AS THE REST OF THE WORLD BUT WE DO IT WELL. BE HEROES OF THE MOMENT. STRIVE TO BE SAINTS IN THE 21 CENTURY WHETHER AT THE WORKPLACE... IN THE HOME, AT THE BALL GAME... WHERE EVER YOU FIND YOURSELF. WE SHOULD BE PROJECTING CHRIST IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE.
TO BE SUPERNATURAL IS A WORK OF GRACE..... OUR MISSION IS A GIFT FROM GOD. HIS HELP, ENCOURAGEMENT, LOVE AND SPIRIT SHOWS THE WAY. THE SUPERNATURAL IS NOT LIFE AFTER DEATH.. BUT... LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST DURING OUR LIFETIME. OUR KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD BUT IT SHOULD GIVE FULLNESS AND VALUE TO THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD. WHAT SHOULD INTEREST US IS THE SAVING OF SOULS. THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR LIVES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PEOPLE AROUND US.
THE ECCLESIAL PART OF THE MISSION SIMPLY MEANS THAT IT IS A WORK OF THE WHOLE CHURCH. NO ONE SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE MISSION. DON’T WAIT FOR THE PRIEST TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO AND WHEN TO DO IT. THE MISSION IS PERFORMED AND ACCOMPLISHED IN COMMUNION WITH THOSE WHO BELIEVE AS WE DO, HAND TO HAND WITH THE HIERARCHY. IT IS TRULY THE WORK OF GOD AND HIS PEOPLE.
THE LAST CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MISSION IS THAT IT IS APOSTOLIC OR THE MISSION FOR THE SPIRITUAL SALVATION OF THOSE AROUND US. WE CAN’T SHUT OURSELVES UP IN THE CHURCHES WHEN THE WORLD NEEDS US TO LIVE IN IT. THIS APOSTOLATE OF BEING THE BEARERS OF THE GOOD NEWS DOES NOT CONSIST OF WORD ALONE... ABOVE ALL.... IT CONSISTS IN BEING A LIVING WITNESS OF ONE WHO IS LIVING OUT HIS CHRISTIANITY WITH ALL ITS CONSEQUENCES..
IT IS ALSO BEING A LIVING INSTRUMENT. WE ARE CALLED TO PUT ON THE MIND AND HEART OF JESUS CHRIST WHERE EVER WE ARE.
Since names and places are given I will paraphrase here. There is a true story of a statue of Jesus that the owner found after Hurricane Katrina missing its hands and feet. The hands and feet were never found, just the body. The statue has been kept and memorialized with the notation. ‘He has no hands and feet but yours”
WE ARE ALL TO BE THE BODY OF CHRIST. WE ARE TO BE HIS HANDS AND FEET ON EARTH. WE ARE ALL TO BE JESUS’ HANDS AND FEET TO OTHERS IN NEED. AND TO ALWAYS PAY IT FORWARD.
EACH PERSON HAS THE CAPACITY TO DISCOVER AND ACCOMPLISH A BIT OF THE TRUTH AND GOODNESS IN THE WORLD, IF HE DOESN'T DISCOVER IT, HE DOESN'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING. EACH ONE OF US, IN OUR LIVES, DEPENDING ON OUR PERSONALITY AND OUR CIRCUMSTANCES MUST GIVE THE WORLD A BIT OF THE TRUTH AND GOODNESS SINCE WE ARE LAYPERSONS.
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN, A LAYPERSON, LIVING IN THE WORLD TODAY. IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR LIFE A LIVING TRANSLATION OF THE GOSPEL BY WHAT WE DO, NOTHING MORE THAN THAT. WE BRING CHRIST WITH US WHEREVER WE GO AND IN WHATEVER WE DO IN OUR NORMAL EVERYDAY LIVES. WE LIVE IN GRACE TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD TO CHRIST.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BEING SAINTS TODAY, PEOPLE WHO, CAPTIVATED BY THE SPIRIT, MOVE OUT INTO THEIR EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENTS COURAGEOUSLY. WE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE CAPABLE OF TAKING THE MARVELOUS REALITIES OF GRACE SERIOUSLY. WE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN LIVE FULLY AS GOD'S CHILDREN, AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF CHRIST, AND AS TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THEN, WE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO REALIZE THE BEAUTIFUL DEFINITION OF A CHRISTIAN AS STATED BY POPE JOHN XXIII: "THE CHRISTIAN IS A JOY—A JOY TO HIMSELF, TO GOD AND A JOY FOR OTHER PEOPLE."
...... SO... GO OUT...... LOVE YOUR FELLOW MAN ACCORDING TO ST PAUL’S DEFINITION OF LOVE AND YOU WILL BE A MESSENGER OF JOY... AND............ YOU WILL BE THE HANDS AND FEET OF CHRIST.
What has me thinking of this now is that I received a phone call asking me to work team for a weekend that is in May. While I have never said no when I got this call I am not sure that I can do it now. There are long team preparations that take place, late nights in Biloxi. With recent heart problems and having another heart surgery scheduled in April I just am not sure I could take it. My attitude towards things and other people has not been, in recent months, what is stressed on the weekend, I don’t think that I am living the life and as a result am not worthy to go and do God’s work. God’s work must be a 24-7 job and I have not been doing that. Then again I have slid before and going to work a weekend always seems to pump me up and send me down the proper path for a bit.
I really don’t know what to do just now, pray and talk with my wife is about all and I guess I will get an answer soon.
This did get me to thinking and I pulled up one of the old talks that I wrote and gave for a weekend. Following are some excerpts from it. This talk is about the lay person’s role in the Church. When Church is mentioned here it is the Catholic Church but the roles of the members of the any Church should be the same.
Forgive the all caps but that is the way I type talks for better viewing. For those that want to know there are personal things from my life that did not make the cut here.
It is long, If I had cut to much the message might have gotten lost. Sorry.
TODAY OUR SOCIETY IS TROUBLED BY GRAVE PROBLEMS: WAR, HUNGER, VIOLENCE IN THE HOME AND IN THE STREETS. THERE IS DISCRIMINATION, SOCIAL INJUSTICE... GOVERNMENTS SPEND MORE MONEY THAN THEY HAVE...PEOPLE CANNOT FIND JOBS.....WHILE ALL AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE THESE GREAT ASPIRATIONS FOR PEACE, FREEDOM, JUSTICE---- BROTHERHOOD AND UNITY— WE HAVE PROGRAMS AND SHELTERS FOR THE POOR AND HOMELESS, YET WE CONTINUE TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE STREETS. WE HAVE ALL THESE PROGRAMS TO FIGHT POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT ...... YET THEY CONTINUE TO GROW. THE GOVERNMENT IN THIS COUNTRY PASSES LAWS TO ‘FIX” THE PROBLEMS AND THE LAW ONLY CREATES MORE PROBLEMS AND DIVISIONS AMONG THE PEOPLE . WE HAVE A PRISON SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO REHABILITATE THE OFFENDERS YET THE PRISONS ARE SO VIOLENT AND OVERCROWDED THAT MANY TIMES INMATES LEAVE PRISON WITH MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY HAD WHEN THEY WENT IN. IF WE WERE TO CONCENTRATE ON ALL THESE PROBLEMS WE COULD BECOME VERY DEPRESSED..... BUT THESE PROBLEMS ARE ONLY SYMPTOMS..... HUMAN SOLUTIONS ARE FAILING MISERABLY IN SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD. CHRISTIANITY ITSELF IS UNDER ATTACK ON ALL FRONTS.... THE ROOT OF THE WORLDS PROBLEMS LIES IN ITS SEPARATION FROM GOD. THE WORLD IS NOT LIVING IN GRACE.... THE WORLD LIVES WITH ITS BACK TURNED TO CHRIST....... THE RADICAL AND ONLY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD LIES IN JESUS CHRIST. ST PAUL IN THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS STATED: HE IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, THE FIRST BORN OF ALL CREATION. FOR IN HIM WERE CREATED ALL THINGS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, THE VISIBLE AND THE INVISIBLE, WHETHER THRONES OR DOMINIONS OR PRINCIPALITIES OR POWERS; ALL THINGS WERE CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM. HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER. HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH. HE IS THE BEGINNING , THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD, THAT IN ALL THINGS HE HIMSELF MIGHT BE PREEMINENT. FOR IN HIM ALL THE FULLNESS WAS PLEASED TO DWELL, AND THROUGH HIM TO RECONCILE ALL THINGS FOR HIM, MAKING PEACE BY THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS, (THROUGH HIM) WHETHER THOSE ON EARTH OR THOSE IN HEAVEN.
CHRIST CONTINUES TO BE PRESENT IN THE WORLD TODAY, YES CHRIST IS HERE NOW IN THE YEAR 2010... THIS LIFE IN GRACE, THE IDEAL OF GRACE ...CANNOT BE LIVED IN ISOLATION BUT IT CAN BE LIVED WITH CHRIST..... IN AND THROUGH HIS BODY...... THE CHURCH.
THE CHURCH IS NOT JUST BUILDINGS OF STONE, BUT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALIVE..... IT IS THE PEOPLE. NOW WHEN WE LOOK AT A CHURCH WE SEE A BUILDING MADE OF STONE AND BRICKS, MAYBE WITH STAINED GLASS WINDOWS AND A STEEPLE OR A CROSS ON THE ROOF. THAT WOULD BE A VISIBLE SIGN THAT THE BUILDING HAS SOME RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE. SORTA LIKE WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT EACH OTHER, WE SEE BODIES AND FACES. THE SHELL THAT HOLDS US TOGETHER. THE VISIBLE SIGN THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. BUT INSIDE OUR BODIES WE FIND OUR HEARTS AND BRAINS ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER ORGANS AND TISSUE THAT ENABLE US TO LIVE EACH DAY. WITHOUT THESE PARTS WE WOULD NOT BE ALIVE. IT IS THE SAME WITH THE CHURCH. IT IS WHAT IS INSIDE THE BUILDINGS OF STONE AND BRICK THAT MAKES THE CHURCH COME ALIVE. IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO PRAY AND WORSHIP THERE THAT MAKES UP THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST.
TO ACCOMPLISH MAKING THE WORLD BETTER THE CHURCH MUST GO AT IT FROM TWO ANGLES. THE TRANSFORMATION OF PEOPLE BY GOD’S GRACE AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD BY THOSE LIVING IN GRACE. THE FIRST ONE BELONGS TO THE CLERGY, THE SECOND IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LAITY. THE CHURCH IS FORMED BY BOTH THE CLERGY AND THE LAITY AND ONE CANNOT ADVANCE WITHOUT THE OTHER. BOTH ARE SEEKING THE SAME END BUT FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES ACCORDING TO THE PLACE IN WHICH GOD HAS PLACED HIM. SINCE MOST OF US AT THIS CURSILLO ARE LAYPERSONS, WE WILL LOOK AT THE ROLE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CHURCH.
A LAYPERSON IS A PERSON WHO IMAGINES AND LIVES HIS LIFE IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO CHRIST. HE LIVES THE GOSPEL DESPITE THE UPS AND DOWNS OF HIS LIFE.... HIS CHRISTIAN IDEALS DON’T REMAIN THEORIES.... THE PERMEATE LIFE ITSELF....... HE MUST CONSTANTLY CONFRONT THE RISK OF FREEDOM OF DECISION IN HIS FAITHFULNESS TO THE GOSPEL... THIS FAITHFULNESS SHOULD BE WHAT GUIDES HIS DECISIONS. HE SHOULD BE A PERSON WHO LEARNS TO NAVIGATE WITH THE ESSENTIALS OF HIS FAITH, TRUSTING THAT THIS SAME FAITH WILL ENABLE HIM WITH ALL THE RESOURCES TO OVERCOME ALL THE OBSTACLES OF DAILY LIFE BY EXERCISING HIS FREEDOM WITH HUMILITY.
THE MISSION OF EACH LAYPERSON IS DERIVED FROM OUR BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, AND FROM THE COMMANDMENT AND VIRTUE OF LOVE. ST. PAUL, IN HIS LETTER TO THE GALATIANS, CHAPTER 3 SAYS: "YOU WERE BAPTIZED IN UNION WITH CHRIST AND NOW YOU ARE CLOTHED SO TO SPEAK WITH THE LIFE OF CHRIST HIMSELF"
THE MISSION, THIS ROLE OF THE LAYPERSON IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH, IS TO BE EXERCISED IN THE WORLD AND FOR THE WORLD. WE CANNOT AVOID THE WORLD AND PERFORM OUR DUTIES ONLY WITH THOSE WITH WHOM WE FEEL COMFORTABLE. IT IS NOT SOLELY A ROLE PERFORMED WITHIN THE CHURCH OR ITS ASSOCIATIONS AND PAROCHIAL COMMUNITIES. THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF JESUS EXTENDS TO EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE. IT EXTENDS TO OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDSHIPS, WORK SITUATIONS, THE GOLF COURSE, THE FISHING BOAT, THE HUNTING CAMP.... IN SHORT WHERE EVER WE FIND OBSERVES . IT IS NECESSARY FOR US TO BRING THE "GOOD NEWS" THROUGH OUR WITNESS. REMEMBER, THERE IS NO OTHER SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD. THERE IS NO OTHER SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD. EXCEPT JESUS CHRIST.
POPE JOHN PAUL II STATED THAT "THE LORD HAS ENTRUSTED A GREAT PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH'S MISSION TO THE LAY FAITHFUL, IN COMMUNION WITH ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD."
HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A ROLE TO BE REALIZED ONLY IN THE ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF THE PARISH.
ALSO PAUL VI REMINDED US THAT "THEIR PRIMARY AND IMMEDIATE TASK IS NOT TO ESTABLISH AND DEVELOP THE ECCLESIAL COMMUNITY—THIS IS THE SPECIFIC ROLE OF THE PASTORS—BUT TO PUT TO USE EVERY CHRISTIAN AND EVANGELICAL POSSIBILITY LATENT BUT ALREADY PRESENT AND ACTIVE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE WORLD. THEIR OWN FIELD OF EVANGELIZING ACTIVITY IS THE VAST AND COMPLICATED WORLD OF POLITICS, SOCIETY AND ECONOMICS, BUT ALSO THE WORLD OF CULTURE, OF THE SCIENCES AND THE ARTS, OF INTERNATIONAL LIFE, OF THE MASS MEDIA."
GENTLEMEN THE WORLD IS SEARCHING FOR HAPPINESS AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING IT TO THEM, A HAPPINESS THAT ONLY CHRIST CAN GIVE. THE LAYPERSON IS CALLED TO LIVE CHRISTIANITY IN THE WORLD. TO LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN SIGNIFIES TO LIVE IN GRACE IN A CONSCIOUS MANNER. HIS WITNESS SHOULD BE VITAL AND DIRECT: COMMITTING HIS WHOLE BEING WITH THE MESSAGE HE IS PROCLAIMING.
POPE PAUL VI, WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE CURSILLISTAS MEETING IN ROME, SKETCHED A FOUR_PART PROGRAM THAT IS VALID FOR ALL OF THE LAITY:
FIRST, THE PERMANENT TASK OF THE LAYPERSON WILL EVER BE THE INSERTION OF THE GOSPEL IN LIFE, BY MEANS OF A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER AND FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD, AND IN COMMUNION WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. IN ADDITION, POPE JOHN PAUL II,, STATED: IN THE CONTEXT OF CHURCH MISSION, THEN, "THE LORD ENTRUSTS A GREAT PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LAY FAITHFUL, IN COMMUNION WITH ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD."
SECOND, THE LAYPERSON, IN MAKING HIMSELF OVER INTO A CHRISTIAN, REFORMS HIS ATTITUDES. BEING CONVERTED, HE BELIEVES THE GOOD NEWS AND MAKES IT COME ALIVE.
THIRD, THE LAYPERSON TRANSFORMS THE TEMPORAL ORDER IN WHICH HE IS IMMERSED BY TAKING HIS OWN RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY, AND
FOURTH, THE LAYPERSON REALIZES HIS HUMAN AND CHRISTIAN IDEAL IN THE WORLD AND IN THE CHURCH BY CONFORMING HIS LIFE TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST AND BY BRINGING THIS LIFE TO HIS TEMPORAL COMMITMENTS AT ALL LEVELS: PERSONAL, FAMILY, PROFESSIONAL, CIVIC, SOCIO ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND SO ON.
SIMPLY STATED, POPE PAUL VI REMINDED US THAT WE, AS LAITY, HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. THE LAITY MAKES UP THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. WE ARE OBLIGED TO ACCEPT OUR TASK TO BE THE MESSENGERS OF THE GOSPEL, AND TO BRING THAT MESSAGE INTO THE WORLD AS INDIVIDUALS AND TOGETHER WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. WE BECOME NOT ONLY BEARERS OF THE GOSPEL, BUT PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE ITS MESSAGE. WE MUST TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY. WE BRING THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST TO EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES—WITHOUT EXCEPTION. IT IS A MESSAGE TO BE LIVED EVERYWHERE AND WITH EVERYONE. WE NEED ONLY REMEMBER THAT I AM THE CHURCH, YOU ARE THE CHURCH, AND TOGETHER WE ARE THE CHURCH, ...............THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
THE CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE OF GOD..... THE LIGHT SALT AND LEAVEN OF THE WORLD. IT IS BORN OF THE EVANGELIZING ACTIVITY OF JESUS AND THE TWELVE.....IT IS THE SAME CHRIST AS THE ONE IN HISTORY...... THE BODY OF CHRIST.... ALIVE... AND.... REAL. ----THE CHURCH THEN ... IS THE RESERVOIR OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE, HOPE, AND LOVE. IT IS THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS UNITED IN THE SPREADING OF HOPE AND REALIZING THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE LOVE OF OTHER PEOPLE. JESUS SAID TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER... JESUS SAID TO LOVE EVEN YOUR ENEMY..... ST. PAUL, IN THE FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS DESCRIBED LOVE IN THIS WAY. . LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND. IT IS NOT JEALOUS, LOVE IS NOT POMPOUS, IT IS NOT INFLATED, IT IS NOT RUDE, IT DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN INTERESTS, IT IS NOT QUICK TEMPERED, IT DOES NOT BROOD OVER INJURY, IT DOES NOT REJOICE OVER WRONG DOING BUT REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH, IT BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS. ........LOVE NEVER FAILS. ......THINK ABOUT IT.... IF..... IF WE, AS HUMANS COULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER LIKE THAT ALWAYS.......I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THE WORLD WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE. THAT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL.... AN IDEAL TO STRIVE FOR.. LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
GENTLEMEN THE WORLD IS SEARCHING FOR HAPPINESS AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING IT TO THEM, A HAPPINESS THAT ONLY CHRIST CAN GIVE. THE LAYPERSON IS CALLED TO LIVE CHRISTIANITY IN THE WORLD. TO LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN SIGNIFIES TO LIVE IN GRACE IN A CONSCIOUS MANNER. HIS WITNESS SHOULD BE VITAL AND DIRECT: COMMITTING HIS WHOLE BEING WITH THE MESSAGE HE IS PROCLAIMING.
POPE PAUL VI, WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE CURSILLISTAS MEETING IN ROME, SKETCHED A FOUR_PART PROGRAM THAT IS VALID FOR ALL OF THE LAITY:
FIRST, THE PERMANENT TASK OF THE LAYPERSON WILL EVER BE THE INSERTION OF THE GOSPEL IN LIFE, BY MEANS OF A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER AND FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD, AND IN COMMUNION WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. IN ADDITION, POPE JOHN PAUL II,, STATED: IN THE CONTEXT OF CHURCH MISSION, THEN, "THE LORD ENTRUSTS A GREAT PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LAY FAITHFUL, IN COMMUNION WITH ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD."
SECOND, THE LAYPERSON, IN MAKING HIMSELF OVER INTO A CHRISTIAN, REFORMS HIS ATTITUDES. BEING CONVERTED, HE BELIEVES THE GOOD NEWS AND MAKES IT COME ALIVE.
THIRD, THE LAYPERSON TRANSFORMS THE TEMPORAL ORDER IN WHICH HE IS IMMERSED BY TAKING HIS OWN RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY, AND
FOURTH, THE LAYPERSON REALIZES HIS HUMAN AND CHRISTIAN IDEAL IN THE WORLD AND IN THE CHURCH BY CONFORMING HIS LIFE TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST AND BY BRINGING THIS LIFE TO HIS TEMPORAL COMMITMENTS AT ALL LEVELS: PERSONAL, FAMILY, PROFESSIONAL, CIVIC, SOCIO ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND SO ON.
SIMPLY STATED, POPE PAUL VI REMINDED US THAT WE, AS LAITY, HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. THE LAITY MAKES UP THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. WE ARE OBLIGED TO ACCEPT OUR TASK TO BE THE MESSENGERS OF THE GOSPEL, AND TO BRING THAT MESSAGE INTO THE WORLD AS INDIVIDUALS AND TOGETHER WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. WE BECOME NOT ONLY BEARERS OF THE GOSPEL, BUT PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE ITS MESSAGE. WE MUST TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY. WE BRING THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST TO EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES—WITHOUT EXCEPTION. IT IS A MESSAGE TO BE LIVED EVERYWHERE AND WITH EVERYONE. WE NEED ONLY REMEMBER THAT I AM THE CHURCH, YOU ARE THE CHURCH, AND TOGETHER WE ARE THE CHURCH, ...............THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
WE SHOULD BECOME NOT ONLY BEARERS OF THE GOSPEL, BUT PERSONS THAT TRULY LIVE ITS MESSAGE. WHEN A CHRISTIAN DOES NOT SPEAK OF CHRIST AND OF HIS MESSAGE, IT IS A SURE SIGN THAT THE PERSON IS NOT CONVINCED OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY. IT IS NOT A MATTER OF ALWAYS SPEAKING ABOUT CHRIST, BUT RATHER BEING FILLED WITH HIS GRACE IN A WAY THAT IT FLOWS THROUGH OUR PORES ..........PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IT IN US.
WE, THE LAITY HAVE A SPECIFIC MISSION WITHIN THE MISSION IF THE CHURCH. THE MISSION HAS CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS, THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE HUMAN, SUPERNATURAL, ECCLESIAL AND APOSTOLIC.
AS HUMAN EACH OF US HAVE A DIFFERENT ROLE TO PLAY. WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT GIFTS AND TALENTS GIVEN TO US BY GOD AND WE MUST PUT THEM INTO THE SERVICE OF CHRIST TO REACH THE MIRACLE OF EVERYDAY NORMAL LIFE. WE DO THE SAME AS THE REST OF THE WORLD BUT WE DO IT WELL. BE HEROES OF THE MOMENT. STRIVE TO BE SAINTS IN THE 21 CENTURY WHETHER AT THE WORKPLACE... IN THE HOME, AT THE BALL GAME... WHERE EVER YOU FIND YOURSELF. WE SHOULD BE PROJECTING CHRIST IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE.
TO BE SUPERNATURAL IS A WORK OF GRACE..... OUR MISSION IS A GIFT FROM GOD. HIS HELP, ENCOURAGEMENT, LOVE AND SPIRIT SHOWS THE WAY. THE SUPERNATURAL IS NOT LIFE AFTER DEATH.. BUT... LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST DURING OUR LIFETIME. OUR KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD BUT IT SHOULD GIVE FULLNESS AND VALUE TO THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD. WHAT SHOULD INTEREST US IS THE SAVING OF SOULS. THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR LIVES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PEOPLE AROUND US.
THE ECCLESIAL PART OF THE MISSION SIMPLY MEANS THAT IT IS A WORK OF THE WHOLE CHURCH. NO ONE SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE MISSION. DON’T WAIT FOR THE PRIEST TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO AND WHEN TO DO IT. THE MISSION IS PERFORMED AND ACCOMPLISHED IN COMMUNION WITH THOSE WHO BELIEVE AS WE DO, HAND TO HAND WITH THE HIERARCHY. IT IS TRULY THE WORK OF GOD AND HIS PEOPLE.
THE LAST CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MISSION IS THAT IT IS APOSTOLIC OR THE MISSION FOR THE SPIRITUAL SALVATION OF THOSE AROUND US. WE CAN’T SHUT OURSELVES UP IN THE CHURCHES WHEN THE WORLD NEEDS US TO LIVE IN IT. THIS APOSTOLATE OF BEING THE BEARERS OF THE GOOD NEWS DOES NOT CONSIST OF WORD ALONE... ABOVE ALL.... IT CONSISTS IN BEING A LIVING WITNESS OF ONE WHO IS LIVING OUT HIS CHRISTIANITY WITH ALL ITS CONSEQUENCES..
IT IS ALSO BEING A LIVING INSTRUMENT. WE ARE CALLED TO PUT ON THE MIND AND HEART OF JESUS CHRIST WHERE EVER WE ARE.
Since names and places are given I will paraphrase here. There is a true story of a statue of Jesus that the owner found after Hurricane Katrina missing its hands and feet. The hands and feet were never found, just the body. The statue has been kept and memorialized with the notation. ‘He has no hands and feet but yours”
WE ARE ALL TO BE THE BODY OF CHRIST. WE ARE TO BE HIS HANDS AND FEET ON EARTH. WE ARE ALL TO BE JESUS’ HANDS AND FEET TO OTHERS IN NEED. AND TO ALWAYS PAY IT FORWARD.
EACH PERSON HAS THE CAPACITY TO DISCOVER AND ACCOMPLISH A BIT OF THE TRUTH AND GOODNESS IN THE WORLD, IF HE DOESN'T DISCOVER IT, HE DOESN'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING. EACH ONE OF US, IN OUR LIVES, DEPENDING ON OUR PERSONALITY AND OUR CIRCUMSTANCES MUST GIVE THE WORLD A BIT OF THE TRUTH AND GOODNESS SINCE WE ARE LAYPERSONS.
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN, A LAYPERSON, LIVING IN THE WORLD TODAY. IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR LIFE A LIVING TRANSLATION OF THE GOSPEL BY WHAT WE DO, NOTHING MORE THAN THAT. WE BRING CHRIST WITH US WHEREVER WE GO AND IN WHATEVER WE DO IN OUR NORMAL EVERYDAY LIVES. WE LIVE IN GRACE TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD TO CHRIST.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BEING SAINTS TODAY, PEOPLE WHO, CAPTIVATED BY THE SPIRIT, MOVE OUT INTO THEIR EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENTS COURAGEOUSLY. WE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE CAPABLE OF TAKING THE MARVELOUS REALITIES OF GRACE SERIOUSLY. WE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN LIVE FULLY AS GOD'S CHILDREN, AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF CHRIST, AND AS TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THEN, WE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO REALIZE THE BEAUTIFUL DEFINITION OF A CHRISTIAN AS STATED BY POPE JOHN XXIII: "THE CHRISTIAN IS A JOY—A JOY TO HIMSELF, TO GOD AND A JOY FOR OTHER PEOPLE."
...... SO... GO OUT...... LOVE YOUR FELLOW MAN ACCORDING TO ST PAUL’S DEFINITION OF LOVE AND YOU WILL BE A MESSENGER OF JOY... AND............ YOU WILL BE THE HANDS AND FEET OF CHRIST.
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