Wednesday, 24 September 2014

The Good, The Bad and The......Suspicious


The early Catholic communities stood out in the ancient world as different. We are fast approaching a time when we shall stick out, if we are truly living out our Catholic call to bring people to Christ and His Church.

I am amazed at the good people I meet in my travels and the saints I have met. God is raising up a remnant of holy people. The only problem is that there are so few.

But, I am hopeful that more and more will respond to God's call to become saints. Daily, I meet people who have made that decision. Today, I met two.

Sometimes one is surprised where one meets real Christians-in the store, in the beauty salon, in the doctor's waiting room.

Sometimes God encourages us by having us bump into people who pray daily, read Scripture daily and, most importantly, repent daily.

I am so, as the Protestants say, "edified" by these chance meetings. It is as if the light of God shines out and calls people to each other.

Someone know is terrified of strangers. He cannot believe that there are good people out there. He has fallen into cynicism. Cynicism is the new main sin of the young. They are so jaded by the news, by dysfunctional families, by scandals in the Church that they have become doubtful of good.

I call them the New Suspicious Ones. God bless them. I pray that they will become open to light and life in their worlds.

My son and I say that the Church is our home. This is so true. To have the Church as your primary home is to believe that God is calling people daily into His Sheepfold.

Do not pass up opportunities for grace in even chance relationships.

God is good.

The Bad do not trust anyone, neither God nor people. I am not saying, of course, that we do not need prudence or discernment. We do, as satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

But, the Bad cannot see any good. Some despair. Please pray for those who fall into cynicism and despair.

They need to look towards the Loving God for assurance.

My readers are good people, very good people, and I am grateful for all of you. We become good by conforming our minds and hearts to the Mind of Christ. There is no other way.

The early Catholic community became a world-wide Churchs because of one thing-Love. This love is only found in Christ and in His Church in the fullness of grace, through the beauty of the sacraments.

Let us love one another.