Word to the Wise
Sunday, March 20, 2011 - 2nd Sunday of Lent - A
[Gen 12:1-4a; 2 Tim 1:8b-10; Matt 17:1-9]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.....
"Called to a Holy Life" is the theme of a parish mission I am beginning this weekend at St. Martin of Tours Parish near Hollywood, CA! Although the words are taken from the second scripture for today's liturgy, the theme is one that the Second Vatican Council emphasized as an essential element of our baptismal calling. I suspect, however, that most of us don't think of ourselves in terms of "holiness," even if we are devout in our religious practice! We are aware of our sins and failings and see this as incompatible with any claim to holiness. It doesn't occur to us that all saints are also all sinners! Our "feel good" self-help high self-esteem culture argues against any such thing as sinfulness, but it also discourages any thoughts of holiness!
In the gospel scripture today, the apostles who accompany Jesus up the mountain and witness his "transfiguration" experience what could be called a manifestation of holiness! For them, holiness would have been something mostly associated with the temple or with rare individuals. (We're like that in many ways!) Yet, St. Paul assures us that we are all called to a life of holiness. One of my principal distinctions that I share with those who attend the mission is the one between an "accidental" Catholic and an "intentional" Catholic. The accidental Catholic is one simply because he or she was born into a Catholic family and simply does whatever Catholics do. An intentional Catholic is one who sees the faith as a major motivating reality and strives to live it in an "intentional" way. The accidental Catholic may indeed be a good person, even a holy person, but there is no energy directed toward a deliberate consciousness of their faith and baptismal calling. The intentional Catholic makes the effort to look at their day and ask questions like: How have I prayed? What have I learned? How was I loving? How did I serve?
I may or may not meet anyone famous at this parish (which serves a neighborhood where some Catholic media celebrities live) but I hope the message of the call to holiness will be heard and a heart or two convinced! AMEN
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