Radiate Christ

“We ask only one thing: that you reach out! And that you go and seek out and encounter the most needy.  But not alone, no.  With Jesus and San Cayetano. Does this mean going to convince someone to become Catholic, no no no.  You are just reaching out to meet him, he is your brother.  That is enough.  You reach out to help them, the rest is done by Jesus, but the Holy Spirit.”-Pope Francis from a video talk to Argentines on the feast of St. Cajetan

It’s tempting to become a Catholic salesman.  We have a rich, storied and fantastic faith and in our zeal we want others to have this.  We are called to share our faith, but we don’t have to sell it.  The church isn’t a commodity, we don’t have a corner on the power of God.  I was struck by this address because I have been hearing this reality from people I have had the privilege to talk to this past week.  People aren’t drawn to a church, or faith by the remarkable system we have set up.  They are brought by the joy and zeal they see in others.  They are brought by an encounter not just with a person, but with a person that radiates Christ.

The urge to learn more about the Church, or how Catholics tick is not something we can give, that is from God.  How do we radiate Christ?  Well I would say three things.  The first is to ask Him.  When you are experiencing the adventure of discipleship there comes that moment when you don’t know what to say or do.  Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, sometimes we may be called to shut our mouths and let our actions speak.  Second you have to practice.  You have to practice giving, you have to practice gratitude, these things just don’t magically happen in your life.  It’s a concerted effort.  Finally, we have to see as Christ sees.  The majority of people that are disgruntled at the church, or with God aren’t really mad at God, they are mad at someone or something that happened in their life.  It’s not something that we can just fix, and when Christ looks at them He sees the wound not the anger.  He doesn’t put up walls or excuses, He waits for them to let Him heal.  He looks at them with incredible love.  The remarkable thing is that when we look at someone as Christ would He is looking at us through them with the same love.  Inviting us to step out of our comfort zone.

“When you meet those most in need, your heart will begin to grow bigger, bigger and bigger.  Because reaching out multiplies our capacity to love.  An encounter with others makes our heart bigger.  Take courage!  “I don’t know what to do on my own” no, no, no.  With Jesus and San Cayetano.” -Pope Francis

-Fr. Benjamin F. Green