Dear Friends,
We are nearing the end of our Lenten journey along the S. T. E. P. S, and this week we are focused on the last and hardest word: share. We are invited to share the faith. Perhaps it is valuable to return to the moment when only a handful of people believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and that Jesus had risen from the dead, and to arrive at this moment two thousand years hence when we speak of a Christian or even post-Christian society. Indeed, we have moved from a fringe movement to the dominant religion in western culture and now we are becoming less influential, less significant. More people forget or leave Jesus and our faith each year than are introduced to Him. We are losing. And part of the story of why we are losing is because we are not sharing the treasure we carry in earthen vessels.
Rebuilt Faith makes the point that sharing the faith is all about “introducing people into a relationship with Christ” which consequently, “deepens our faith” (209). Relationship is the operative word because it is all about Jesus. “We introduce people not into a religion but into a relationship with the one person who knows and understands life” (210). So, we might ask ourselves: “How do you think sharing your faith would help you grow deeper in faith?” (212).
Or you ponder, “How has a relationship with Jesus healed you? Do you know someone who needs that same healing?” (217). This question is paramount because in a way, it calls us to admit that we were once lost, or even that sometimes now we find ourselves lost along the way and struggling to find direction and meaning in life.
The authors note, “when we are saved by the Good Shepherd, we in turn are given the responsibility for those others who are far from God. We join Jesus in his mission to seek and save the lost,” (224). Our vision statement here at OLPH goes “we strive eagerly as members of one body, to follow the Lord, make disciples, seek out the lost, share fellowship, love our neighbor and above all worship God.” There is that word again: lost. Who might be a bit lost in your life? “Who is one person disconnected from Christ that you feel responsible for reaching and would rejoice if they came to know Jesus?” (225)
If you do one thing this Lent, please - invite someone to join in Church for Easter Sunday. Invite someone to come and share in the joy of the Resurrection. Identify one person right now and begin to pray for them. Reach out and touch base with them. Listen to their concerns; accept them deeply as Christ has accepted you. And when the time is right, extend that invitation. This is called the “invest and invite” strategy (227). Really care for and pray for the person who you are inviting to join in this beautiful treasure of our faith. “Who is someone God is putting on your heart right now to invest in?” (229). Remember the words of St. Paul VI: “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than teachers,” (231). We need first to show the world our love and faith by the manner of our lives than by merely stating the facts of faith.
May God bless your courage to share our faith!
FJW
QUOTES
“You don’t know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God and say, ‘Lord, I don’t know how to pray!” and you have already begun.”
- St. Josemaria Escriva (p. 168)
“The worst moment for an atheist is when he is really thankful and realizes he has no one to thank.”
- GK Chesterton (p. 186)
“A humble soul does not trust in itself, but places all its confidence in God.”
- St. Faustina (p. 192)
“The desire of your heart is itself your prayer.”
- St. Augustine (p. 202)
Chapter 4 Reflection Questions:
1) “How do you define prayer?” (p. 173)
2) What is a struggle you are currently facing? What might God want to grow in your character through this struggle? (p. 191)
3) “What can you specifically pray for today?” (p. 196)
4) “When in your day can you cultivate silence so that you can hear from God?” (p. 201)
