Be The Church
GO OUT INTO THE DEEP AND BRING THE CHURCH WITH YOU – HE IS COUNTING ON IT
For many people, the thought of evangelizing or just talking about religion in public is a “taboo” and, as a result, their knowledge of the mercy of God and eternal life is hidden like a precious jewel inside of them.
In the Missionaries of Our Lady of Divine Mercy we are called to share this precious treasure with the least of God’s creatures. To be a missionary in our ministry means that when we minister to the poor, we provide not only their material assistance, but open our hearts to share the message of God’s love and care for them.
It’s hard to believe that in America, as well developed as we are, people still don’t know about God. For some who have passed through the doors of our ministry, God is only a theory. And if He does exist, He certainly is not interested in the lives of the poor. We see these people everyday and the effect of poverty and despair. Many of them have expressed the desire to end their life or turn to alcohol or drugs to alleviate the loneliness, anxiety or pain.
As a witness to God’s mercy, we as missionaries talk openly about God. We tell these people that God has not forgotten them and that each one of them was created with a destiny. I often use the example of the branches outside the windows of my office. Sometimes when I gaze out the window I can see the branches moving in the wind. I don’t see the wind, but its effect on the branches. I tell these people that God works through people in much the same way. God is everywhere and uses people as instruments of His mercy. When someone opens their heart to donate food, clothes, or money to our ministry, I tell our families it was the goodness of God that inspired these actions. In the same way, when we feel called to share the message of Christ with our neighbor, it is the Holy Spirit inviting us to share in the salvation of the human race.
Our works of mercy are abundant. From providing funeral assistance, emergency relief, food and clothing, we strive to alleviate the suffering of people and assure them that they are not alone. But none of that will matter in the end, if we have not given them a reason to believe. We must share the message that God exists and that he has a special plan for each person, unique and treasured.
Boundaries Give You Freedom
In addition to sharing the message of hope, we also preach “boundaries.” What are these boundaries? Simple: The Ten Commandments. I tell my families, “The reason you are in the situation you are today is because of the decisions you have made. It’s time to take responsibility for your actions and we’re here to help you get back on track.” An example of boundaries we try to share with our families is living temperately. Often times people will come into our ministry seeking aid for their children (food, new shoes, etc.) because they have no money. Reviewing their paystubs and other financial data confirms their plight. However, when asked what steps they are taking to create a budget or live with in limitations, families often reply, “I don’t know where to begin.”
If Today You See the Lord, Harden Not Your Heart
We try to personalize the aid that we offer each family realizing the dignity that God gives each person. These people are not just numbers; they are children of God and our brothers and sisters. For some families the need is for funeral assistance, while others it is for eye glasses for their children. Whatever the need, helping families live within boundaries and sharing the message that God loves them is our most important mission.
The saddest thing for me to witness is someone who is lonely, homeless or in obvious suffering and to watch people walk past him. “How does it feel not to exist?” That is what I see when I look into the face of a homeless person or a poor child. I see Jesus Christ himself waiting for someone to recognize Him.
All too often the excuses keep us from spreading the message of hope. Here are just a few examples (I have even used them myself): I am too busy. I won’t know what to say. What if I get rejected? I don’t want to look like a fool. Am I a Jesus freak? And then there is my personal favorite excuse – “Isn’t it somebody else’s job?”
Christianity is Under Attack – The Enemy: APATHY
The truth is, we are all called to “Go out into the deep and cast our nets” because of our baptism in Christ. Christianity is being assaulted today, not by other religions, but by apathy. Getting people to have passion for the faith, charity towards neighbor and hope for eternal life has been replaced with the main stream media touting the panacea for all our ailments. Christian was not meant to be a title, but a way of life. How can we call ourselves Christians if we ignore our neighbor in need?
Sometimes the hardest step to take is the first one. God has given everyone a unique gift in the body of Christ. Sharing your gift, whether it be prayer, teaching, volunteering or evangelizing will refresh the wounds of Christ and allow the grace of God to touch lives all over the world.
If you want people to be Catholic, we must act like Catholics. We must have the courage to say “yes” in the face of fear. We must have the fortitude to persevere when trials seem overwhelming and we must open our hearts to charity when we see someone in need.
The greatest poverty is despair. As Missionaries of Our Lady of Divine Mercy we are called to bring hope to people everywhere around the world – First through prayer, then by word and then by deed.
Unlocking the Door to Evangelization
Prayer is the key to evangelization because we develop a closer relationship with Christ. Reading the Bible and mediating on scripture as well as praying the rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy are excellent ways to nourish the soul and kindle the fire of the Holy Spirit within you. You see, mercy and love are not the same. Love is the seed, mercy is the flower. The greater we love, the more merciful we will be in our works.
If you knew (and I mean without a doubt), that Jesus existed in every soul you met, would there be anything that you would not do for your neighbor? If you knew that the Holy Spirit, God Himself dwelled within you without a shadow of a doubt, would there be any fear or anxiety about problems that you are having in life? Don’t let the materialism of this world blind you from seeing Jesus in the hidden disguise of your neighbor. As Saint Augustine said, “We love our enemies not for who they are now, but for who God created them to be.”
The Invitation
I invite you to join me and my missionaries as we light the candle of faith and hope to the farthest corners of the world. It begins in our family, overflows in our work and is carried like a ripple across the world by our actions.
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