March 23, 2004
Let your "Yes" be "Yes" . . .
Recently Bishop Thomas Olmsted penned a brilliant piece on making sure your professional life isn't destroying your spiritual life. I recommend you read the whole article here, but this is an excerpt:
“ I am a Catholic businessman but I don’t let the Church influence what I do at the office or in the boardroom;” but Jesus says (Mt 7:21), “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”“ I am a Catholic politician but I don’t let my Catholicism impact on how I vote or what legislation I promote;” but Jesus says (Mt 7:26-27), “Everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
“ I am a Catholic physician but I don’t let my faith mold my decisions regarding abortion, contraception, or other medical practices;” but Jesus says Mt 5:37), “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”
“ I am a Catholic talk show host but I don’t let the Church inhibit my right to say whatever I want on the air;” but in the Letter of James, God says (2:17) “Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
“ I am a Catholic priest but I don’t let Magisterial teaching keep me from dissenting from moral or doctrinal points nor let it limit my own ‘pastoral solutions’;” but at ordination each priest professes a solemn oath, “I believe everything contained in God’s Word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the Church… I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by the Church definitively regarding teaching on faith and morals.”
Lent is the time to kick the “Catholic but...” out of our own daily lives. It is the time to expunge rationalization from our minds and to root out compromise from our hearts. Lent is the time to say a determined “No” to the temptation to water down our faith for personal gain. It is the time to say a much larger “Yes” to Jesus and His Gospel of Life. Lent is the time for Totus Tuus, the time to renew our commitment to love God with all our mind and heart and strength.
Something to consider this Lenten season. Thanks to Times Against Humanity for the link. Again, read the whole article.
God bless,
Jay
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where did you guys go?
Posted by: larry at March 29, 2004 11:15 PMHi Larry - I've been out of town! I'm back now so I should have some new stuff up today.
God bless,
Jay
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Biggest problem with the Church today, is Christianity is viewed as a spectator sport. Most people would rather watch and cheer than be in the game. Ya know just because someone loves the Lord, keeps themselves holy and studies the word doesn't make them a candidate for bible college or seminary. Priesthood is a speacial calling and unique calling, not for everyone. What is for every Christian is the call to purity and devotion to Christ.
-----End Rant-------
