#catholic reflection

Yesterday we celebrated the Epiphany of the Lord, a celebration of the gift of revelation—the truth about who God is, who our Savior is, and the recognition of the magi of this truth. However, this celebration is not just for the magi, but also is to be shared by all of us believers. Just as the magi led others to this truth, we are reminded of our necessity as baptized to lead others to share this truth of salvation with all peoples—to the whole world.

How do we know and live this truth? Each day how much do we read sacred Scripture so we can come to know Jesus more intimately and thus share Him and His truth with others? The role of the magi is finished but our role as believers continues. During a general audience in May 2013, Pope Francis referred to this vision that God has for the human family: “to make of us all a human family of his children, in which each person feels that God is close and feels loved by him.” God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son. The magi struggled to find Jesus, yet they did. What is our response as we mark these days of Epiphany?

Pope John Paul II—now Saint John Paul II—was many times seen in public and in his private chapel absorbed in deep, sincere prayer. It was truly a picture of someone in real contact with God. What an inspiration for all followers of Christ. More than his example he gave us such help in his many teachings and writings. Here are some of his thoughts about prayer in his Apostolic Letter, January 6, 2001 entitled "At the Beginning of the New Millennium."

"Yes, dear brothers and sisters, our Christian communities must become genuine 'schools' of prayer, where the meeting with Christ is expressed not just in imploring help but also in thanksgiving, praise, adoration, contemplation, listening and ardent devotion, until the heart truly 'falls in love'" (# 33).

"But it would be wrong to think that ordinary Christians can be content with a shallow prayer that is unable to fill their whole life. Especially in the face of the many trials to which today’s world subjects faith, they would be not only mediocre Christians but 'Christians at risk.' They would run the insidious risk of seeing their faith progressively undermined…" (# 34).

This week’s meditation from Catholic Extension President Emeritus Bishop William R. Houck: This week we celebrate our freedom and independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence).

Our rights as Americans come to us from God. These and many blessings as a result have come to us today after long years of many devoted, committed, generous, patriotic Americans who have sacrificed their time, talents and in so many cases, even their lives. What are we willing to do today to preserve our freedom? Reflect on a few words of George Washington, the Father of our Country. In his Farewell Address, after tremendous sacrifices he had made as general and then as first president we find these very important words.

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them…Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle" (Farewell Address, paragraph 27).

Remember, too, the words of Pope John Paul II visiting our country in January 1999.

"True freedom is a wonderful gift from God, and it has been a cherished part of your country’s history. But when freedom is separated from truth, individuals lose their moral direction and the very fabric of society begins to unravel. Freedom is not the ability to do anything we want, whenever we want. Rather, freedom is the ability to live responsibly the truth of our relationship with God and with one another."

This week’s meditation from Catholic Extension President Emeritus Bishop William R. Houck:

During Lent we who are baptized along with the elect preparing for baptism and candidates preparing for full initiation in the church do our best to bring Jesus into our lives more vividly. We all have the call to holiness, a call to "be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect." Our prayer, fasting and penance help us make progress in the sense of "finding God" during Lent. As we make such efforts we can better experience the sentiments and face the challenge of Fr. Pedro Aruppe, S.J.

"Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imaginations, will affect everything.

It will decide what will get you out of bed in the mornings, what you will do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything." -Fr. Pedro Aruppe, S.J. as quoted in Living With Christ

Lent calls us to deepen our prayer, give more attention to penance and fasting as well as to finally be aware of almsgiving, caring for the needs of others as Jesus himself did. The season of Lent in some ways tries to get us into the attitude that while we claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to get a deeper understanding and firmer commitment to being a genuine disciple. Pope Francis in his great work "The Joy of the Gospel" reminds us: “being a disciple means being constantly ready to bring the love of Jesus to others, and this can happen unexpectedly and at any place: on the street, in a city square, during work, on a journey.” (127)

We need to take advantage of these days of Lent that move by rather quickly to see how we are becoming a more genuine disciple of Jesus Christ. This means a deeper prayer life particularly understanding the Eucharist, a better attention to sacred scripture especially the words of Jesus in the gospel, and an awareness of people around us and those we influence by the way we live.

A genuine disciple is one who keeps in mind the fundamental message of the Gospels and of Jesus’ way and example. Keep in mind the message that the personal love of God who became man, who gave himself up for us, who is living and offers us his salvation and friendship is indeed our way to "The Joy of the Gospel." This can help us to know, live, love, enjoy and bring this reality to others as a missionary disciple. May we be a more genuine disciple when we renew our baptism and commitment on Easter Sunday.