Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
The question that Jesus puts to his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”, is a question that Christians must honestly answer. To be clear, Jesus is not playing a game of Jeopardy! with us where we bang a buzzer, “Alex, I’d like ‘Jesus for $200’.” Knowing about Jesus is not enough. Knowing him personally and intimately is bedrock to our faith.
As Peter found out, knowing Jesus has consequences.
Jesus told his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Those who follow him could expect the same. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
Denying myself food (fasting, not dieting) is hard for me. I struggle to deny myself a brownie for dessert, let alone not eat for an entire day such as on Good Friday. Fasting is easier when I offer it up for someone who is sick or in trouble. Either way, self-denial for his sake is non-negotiable.
Following the Lord obligates us to nourish our relationship with him. They say that thirty minutes of sweaty exercise five days a week is the minimum for maintaining decent physical health. We might dutifully set aside time to walk energetically through the neighborhood each morning. How much more important to set aside time daily in prayer with the Lord for our spiritual health.
Knowing the Good Shepherd means that we are not free to wander where we please. What we choose to study, what kind of work we do, how we raise our kids, how we vote in the November 3 general election, and how we spend our money are not ours to do as we please. We must follow his voice and his voice alone.
In the first reading this Sunday, Jeremiah the prophet had a crisis of vocation. The Lord had called him to be a prophet and he had faithfully followed. When he spoke the word of the Lord, however, he was met with derision and reproach. “You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped” (Jeremiah 20:7). His calling came with a cross.
When it comes to politics, American Catholics are like Jeremiah the prophet.
Our bishops write that the threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it directly attacks so many lives. At the same time, we cannot dismiss or ignore other serious threats to human life and dignity such as racism, the environmental crisis, poverty, and the death penalty.
At our border, we must ensure that we receive refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrants in light of the teachings of Christ and the Church while assuring the security of our citizens. Within our borders, undocumented families face continued fear and anxiety as political solutions fail to materialize. We advocate religious liberty and strengthening the family based on marriage between a man and a woman. We must address gun violence, xenophobia, and the throw-away culture.
As with Jeremiah the prophet, such positions are met by some with derision and reproach. In short, American Catholics are not fully at home with either the Democratic or Republican political party.
Yet we must follow. In their statement Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the U.S. Catholic bishops remind Catholics, “Responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.” (Visit
www.faithfulcitizenship.org to access trusted Catholic reflection on the November elections.)
The consequences of knowing the Lord are clear—self-denial and the cross. The Blessed Virgin Mary, whose nativity we celebrate on September 8, knew Jesus better than anyone. She knew him as a mother knows her son. It cost her. She saw him suffer on the cross. Her heart was pierced as with a sword.
Yet she was a witness to the resurrection. She was in the room when the Spirit came upon the Apostles on Pentecost. When her time on earth had come to its end, she was assumed body and soul into eternal triumph with Christ and crowned Queen of heaven.
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Like Mary, we follow in hope of the resurrection to eternal life.
To take to prayer: How has your life changed because of your relationship with the Lord?
In Christ,
Father David