Word to the Wise
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
[Acts 16:22-34 and John16:5-11]"Sirs, what must I do to be save?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved." So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once.
An earthquake can be a very frightening experience! I know, because I was in Oakland, CA, in October 1989 when a big one struck! The one which destroyed the jail where Paul and Silas were confined after being flogged was apparently pretty big and it certainly frightened the jailor. The confidence of Paul and Silas apparently made a big impression on the jailor and moved him to faith! This is one time when an RCIA program was not necessary!!! To be fair, however, it should be noted that Paul and Silas did "speak the word of the Lord to him" which was certainly catechesis! Many of the stories in the Acts of the Apostles are quite dramatic. Yet, in pastoral life, I've seen some fairly dramatic conversions from time to time because of a terrifying incident in a person's life. It may be the loss of a friend or a recovery from an ordinarily lethal illness. Most conversions are a more quiet process and are not the result of an earthquake outside or inside. Sometimes it is just the simple good example of other Catholics or an inner search for truth. I don't counsel quick decisions in such a matter because faith is a living thing and needs time to grow. But it is a really profound experience to share with someone. I recommend to any "cradle" Catholic that they talk sometime to someone who has entered the Catholic Church later in life than the cradle and ask if that person would share the story of their journey. Many of us Catholics could use some re-evangelization and renewal. The example of someone new to the faith may help us to become new as well. AMEN
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