ATC 19 Being a Christian Today

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Hola and welcome to another edition of All Things Catholic. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic. If you have a question that you’d like me to address, send it to me. You may use the comment form on the website or by email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org. I invite you to share this podcast with everyone you know!

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about being a Christian today. I think being a Christian today, or more specifically, being a Catholic today, can be rather tricky. There are so many voices out there all vying for our attention. Some of those voices tell us frightful things like how wrong Vatican II was, or how the “signs of the times” should reshape our entire understanding of the faith and the Church’s teachings.

As an ordained clergy with a graduate degree in theology and currently working on a doctorate in ministry, I’ve got to tell you that it’s often challenging for me to determine which voices are authentic and which are not. I realize that I too am one of those voices, but, paraphrasing Horace Slughorn, myself, I always try to walk within the light of faith in Christ shining through His church on earth.

Friends, adding to the tension, are the painful things I’ve witnessed so far during this election cycle on social media. I’ve seen Catholics using social media to tell other Catholics that they’re not Catholic if they vote a particular way or if they hold to certain beliefs. I’ve even seen and heard priests say similar things, which is shocking, to say the very least.

Painful as it is to admit, I think we need to acknowledge that we live in a post-Christian world, and to my way of thinking, that changes many things (Dreher, 4, et al). First and foremost, we cannot assume the people around us are believers, nor can we believe they are tolerant of believers. We can’t even accept that the people standing beside us in the pews at mass, at an appropriate distance, of course, are true believers. But that doesn’t mean we need to adopt a defensive posture, nor does it mean that we need to insult or berate them.

No, I think the task of the Christian in the world today needs to be that of a missionary disciple. I say missionary because the task of evangelization needs to begin much closer to home. To do that, we need to get back to the fundamentals.

Ok, what does it mean to be a disciple? At a minimum, discipleship means three things: accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, deepening our relationship with Jesus through prayer and study, and sharing the Good News with other people.

First, when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, that means we not only accept Jesus, but we believe in all of it: that God created this world and created us in His image and likeness; that He sent His only son born of the Virgin Mary, to suffer and to die for us; that Jesus rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father; that the Holy Spirit animates Christ’s church on earth, in the one, holy, universal church founded on Peter and the apostles; that we are forgiven, that the dead shall rise again and that the saved will have eternal life. Sound familiar? When we accept Jesus, then the Creed becomes the foundation of our lives.

Second, what does it mean to grow our relationship with Jesus through prayer and study? Well, have you ever fallen in love with someone? If you never tried to learn more about them and their life story, then you might be in for quite a surprise one day. Right? So, we try to get to know the people we love. The same is true with Jesus. We approach Him in prayer, and we try to learn more about Him through study. Between you and me, I think we overcomplicate the study part. Look, the key to understanding the Ten Commandments and the 613 Jewish commandments is this: they are not merely a list of things to do or to avoid. At their core, the commandments teach us about loving God (Hahn, 235). Once we understand that love is the key, then all the technical stuff is so much easier to understand.

What is love? Well, that’s an uber topic that we can’t possibly address today, but I know this: love has to be shared. If you don’t share love, if you never tell someone you love them, then your relationships will be stunted. That’s the third aspect of discipleship. We are called to share the love of Jesus Christ – the love that is God – with everyone around us. How do I know that? Because Jesus gave us the rubric of judgment.

Read Matthew 25:31-46. I think the sainted Mother Teresa sums it up quite nicely: At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by “I was hungry, and you gave me to eat. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.”

It’s quite clear that the proof of our conversion is our willingness to dedicate ourselves in service to others. That’s what being a missionary is all about – going out and in love, serve those around us. And by our service, they will know we are Christians, and they will be drawn to the source of our joy. They will be drawn to Christ Jesus.

Being a Christian in the world today means that we need to return to the fundamentals. We need to dedicate ourselves to prayer, study, and service to others, all through the lens of love. That means that if we don’t understand the Church’s teachings, or even if we disagree with the Church’s teachings, we are called to prayer and study so that one day – perhaps years from now – we come to understand. We don’t beat up our fellow Christians on social media. We journey with them. And while we journey, we share Christ’s love in humble service to a world that desperately needs a message of hope.

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to All Things Catholic. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment – I’d love to consider what you’re thinking. If you’re on the webpage, just click the title of the podcast, then scroll to the bottom and you should be able to post a comment. Do you have a question that you’d like me to address? Please send it to me using the comment form on the website, or send me an email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org.

This episode was produced by deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal. All Things Catholic will be back next month, and don’t forget to tune in for the weekend edition where we break open the Word. Peace!

References:
1. Dreher, Rod. The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation. New York, NY: Penguin Random House, 2017. Kindle.
2. Hahn, Scott W. and Curtis Mitch. Romans. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2017. Kindle.

Second Sunday of Lent 2020

Mass Readings

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First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4A
Responsorial: Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8B-10
Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030820.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

My brothers and sisters, I have good news! Today we heard about the Transfiguration of Jesus. This is a glimpse of Jesus coming into his kingdom (Matthew 16:28), and the anticipated vindication of the crucifixion. <1>

From the promise he made to Abraham that he would be father of a host of nations, to raising up Moses in honor of this promise, to the promise of an everlasting kingdom to David’s son, in today’s Gospel Jesus is revealed as the One through whom God fulfills His divine plan. <2>

It is literally such an awe-inspiring moment that Peter doesn’t want to leave. That’s why he offers to build tents for them. Can you blame him?

Have you ever had such an amazing spiritual experience, maybe at mass, or on retreat or a pilgrimage, and you never wanted it to end? Maybe you wished you could live in a bubble of time forever basking in the experience of God’s presence you encountered.

But most of us are called to be in the world, not of it, and certainly not hiding from it. So, like Peter who had to go down off the mountain and follow Jesus to the cross, so too we must return to the world in service to the Good News. <3>

Jesus calls us to these experiences – to mass every Sunday, to daily mass if possible, to adoration, to retreats and on pilgrimages, and especially now through our Lenten observances of praying, fasting and almsgiving. Why? He calls us to these mountaintop experiences to strengthen us. Indeed, like Peter, James and John who heard the voice of God proclaim, “This my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him,” (Matthew 17:5), God speaks to us too, if only we would listen. Every time we go to mass and we hear, “Behold the Lamb of God”, or when we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, or when we hear, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,” we are strengthened so that we can come down off the mountain and go out into the world.

Just like experiencing the Transfiguration wasn’t some private revelation, but rather a powerful witness to be shared, so too are we reminded by the Transfiguration that we are called as disciples to go out into the world. Our mission is twofold: to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to everyone we encounter, especially those nones (those who claim “none” as their religious affiliation on surveys) – we are called to those wandering lost in the world who seem so anxious, so unsettled, and so lonely. But we don’t do this alone. We do this through our communities. So, the other part of our mission is be an active member of our communities. We need to intentionally support our leaders to form our Christian communities because those are the places that anchor us in the turbulent sea of this modern world.

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and by the Eucharist, I ask you to reflect on the following two questions this week.

  1. Jesus led Peter, James, and John high up a mountain by themselves. How often do I take time to be with the Lord like in prayer, mass, adoration, retreat or pilgrimage? What distracts me from time with the Lord?
  2. They came down from the mountain. How do I share the graces I receive from my mountaintop experiences like prayer, mass, adoration, retreat or pilgrimage? How do I help build up my spiritual community?

I think doing our homework this week will help all of us as disciples think about what God wants us to do with the blessings we receive on the mountaintop with our communities and with the people we encounter each and every day. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Notes:
<1> Montague, George T., Companion God: A Cross-Cultural Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, New York: Paulist Press, 1989, page 189.
<2> Hahn, Scott. Email, “Listen to Him: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Second Sunday of Lent,” 2 March 2020.
<3> “Mass Reading & Meditation for March 8, 2020,” Word Among Us, https://wau.org/meditations/ (accessed 2 March 2020).

References:

  1. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
  2. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
  3. Montague, George T. First and Second Timothy, Titus. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008.
  4. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

  1. Son of God, 444
  2. Transfiguration, 554-56, 568
  3. Predestination, 600, 2012
  4. God’s promise to Abraham fulfilled in Christ, 706
  5. Jesus conquered death, 1019
  6. The call to holiness, 2012-2114, 2028, 2813

Second Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 25
Mass Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030820.cfm

First Reading
Genesis 12:1-4A
The LORD said to Abram:
“Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk
and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.

“I will make of you a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you
and curse those who curse you.
All the communities of the earth
shall find blessing in you.”

Abram went as the LORD directed him.

Responsorial
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22.
R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Second Reading
2 Timothy 1:8B-10
Beloved:
Bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

He saved us and called us to a holy life,
not according to our works
but according to his own design
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel.

Verse Before the Gospel
Matthew 17:5
From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard:
This is my beloved Son, hear him.

Gospel
Matthew 17:1-9
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”