Word to the Wise
Thursday, September 2, 2021 - Thursday in the 22th Week in Ordinary Time
[Col 1:9-14 and Luke 5:1-11]Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing......When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man...." Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." [Luke]
The late Pope St. John Paul II wrote an encyclical entitled, DUC IN ALTUM. These words are the Latin for "Put out into the deep water...." In that encyclical he challenged the members of the church to go deeper into their faith and then practice it in accord with the depths of that faith. In doing this, he uncovers a very important question we can all ask ourselves, "How 'deep' IS my faith?" What does it mean to go "deep" into one's faith?
I often hear people say, "I wish I had more faith." My challenge to them is to discover the faith they have. In some cases, it is not a question of faith per se but rather of becoming better acquainted. This would include not simply the contents of the catechism but rather examining the depth of our relationship to God and what this could possibly mean to our lives. In preaching parish missions, I use the distinction between an "accidental Catholic" and an "intentional Catholic."
The accidental Catholic is one who is born into a family where all the traditional Catholic customs are observed both sacramentally and devotionally. These are taught and ingested so that they become habitual and cultural. The relationship with God is "mediated" through the relationship with the Church.
The intentional Catholic asks a simple but profound question, "What is my relationship to God and how do I express it?" The first part of that question is the hard part because it means "putting out into the deep." A Catholic faith that is born from an intentional relationship with God gives a meaning to sacramental as well as apostolic/evangelical life. Our relationship with our neighbor is transformed by this. When we become aware of the depth of God's mercy and love for ourselves, we are compelled to share it with others. For some, spiritual direction is a help to going deeper. A retreat is another good way. But "going deeper" means an intentional effort on a daily basis. Jesus says, "Do not be afraid!" to Simon. He says it to us as well. AMEN