Deacon
Tom Writes,
“Called to Be Courageous”
Courageous may indeed accurately describe the person who “walks by faith, not by sight.” But,
first it is helpful to describe what we mean by “faith.” By professing that we
are Catholics we take on the obligation to live according to the standards
Jesus demonstrated in the Gospels. In the simplest of terms it means that we put
our heart and soul into living each day mindful of the calling that we have
received; our trust is in God and His will for us. Sure, we do the best we can;
we make our plans; we put our best foot forward; we navigate the day with a
particular vision that keep us mindful of the inherent dignity of the other
person; we are immersed in the belief that “everyone”
is our “neighbor”; we don’t ignore that we have done some things that we are
not proud of and have hurt others and so we are aware of our sinful nature that
is much in need of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Walking by faith means we put forth
our best effort and then depend upon God for the outcome. This is courageous
living as St. Paul explains to the Corinthians but it is not without its reward
that awaits us when we “appear before the
judgment seat of Christ”.
It takes courage to give witness to the gospel of Christ by living each
day in accordance with the values Christ taught us. Being a follower of Christ
is easier said than done. It’s easier to preach ten sermons than to live one,
as the saying goes!
St. Paul was on to something when he spoke of the courage it takes to
live a life of faith. It takes courage to have one foot planted firmly here in
this world, in terra firma as they say, and the other foot planted in that
spiritual realm, the kingdom of God, that Christ preached to help govern and
direct our lives. People of faith face much difficulty trying to manage their
responsibilities, in attempting to balance the realities of this world…the need
to provide for family, to pay the mortgage, to save for college for the kids,
and taking care of ageing parents all while living virtuous lives that reflect
the gospel values.
It takes courage to face our own struggles and at the same time to
reach out and help others who face their own set of challenges and
difficulties. It takes courage to visit the soup kitchen each week and not feel
helpless in the face of the endless need. It takes courage to work for peace
and justice with all that we see happening in our communities and in the world.
It takes courage to seek the “Truth” of the gospel and to live according to, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” It
takes courage “love neighbor as ourself” and
to stand by and up for the immigrant, the marginalized, the outcast. It takes
courage to recall that Jesus’ table fellowship with these very people was the
reason He was put to death. Yet, our faith constantly encourages us to be
courageous and not lose heart in the face of the obstacles we encounter even
when we find ourselves at odds with the world. For Jesus was politically savvy
enough to warn His disciples, “If the world hates you, realize that it
hated me first”. (John 15:18)
It is so important as Catholics to be constantly aware of God’s love
and to remember that God’s grace is always at work in us, giving us the courage
to persevere in our faith. Aware of God’s love and presence in our lives, we
are then better able to love and serve Him by loving one another.
A Happy Father’s day to all the fathers, grandfathers, and soon to be
fathers!
Enjoy the moment!
Deacon Tom
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