Word to the Wise
Tuesday, April 18, 2017 - Octave of Easter - Tues
[Acts 2:36-41 and John 20:11-18]On the day of Pentecost, Peter said to the Jewish people, "Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other Apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?" Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit...." [Acts]
Although the celebration of Pentecost is not until June 4th, the first scriptures during the Octave of Easter (and after that as well for some time) will come from the Acts of the Apostles. These will give us a flavor of the enthusiasm and resolve of the early Christian preachers, especially Peter and Paul. There was no returning to everyday life after a big celebration as we are doing now. The daily task of preaching the good news of the resurrection of Jesus lay ahead. That task still lies ahead for us.
Surveys are showing that the largest Christian denomination after the Catholic Church in the U.S.A. would be ex-Catholics, if they were all counted together! Furthermore, the majority of those ex-Catholics left the church before their 24th birthday! This is a sobering reality. We who minister in university environments know the challenge well. What kind of church will our committed Catholic graduates find when they leave the protective bubble of university life? Will they find preaching that "cuts to the heart?" Will they find enthusiasm and opportunities for themselves and their children?
The "New Evangelization" that Popes John Paul, Benedict and Francis has summoned us to is not aimed at non-Catholics! It is aimed at the members of the Catholic fold, especially those who have become indifferent to their faith and practicing it only occasionally. The huge crowds at our university parish over this past weekend were ample testimony to that "occasional" practice. It is true that the RCIA programs around the country are adding more than 100,000 souls each year, but this is not making up for the losses. Most of the gains in church membership are due to the influx of immigrants (as happened in the 19th and early 20th centuries.)
The Acts of the Apostles challenge all of us to a new enthusiasm for our faith and a willingness to share it. Pope Francis is giving us a fresh start in his own preaching and zeal. Can we join him in the task? AMEN
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