Christ Our Life
Christ Our Life
ONE
There’s an old Irish adage that goes like this:
Paddy Murphy went to Mass;
Never missed a Sunday.
But Paddy Murphy went to hell
For what he did on Monday.
This little rhyme illustrates a tragic point that is destroying our country and world because it is destroying individuals: the Catholic Faith is not to be lived as a simple way of life that brings freedom and joy. Rather it's viewed as a set of rules that oblige and, thus, destroys freedom and joy. Therefore, we must approach it minimally, following as few rules as possible to maintain our autonomy. As a result, the Church is viewed as needing to accommodate us so we can do as we want. This only leads to chaos. This is exactly the kind of sinister society promised by Satan. “Follow me; do what you want, have all the fun you want, and don’t worry about what comes next!”
But Christ did not come to limit our fun and take our freedom; that view is exactly the result of the original satanic lie sewn in Eden. Hence, when we do whatever we want and seek to fulfill our every urge, we become miserable and full of sorrow and hate. This is comparable to a ‘spoiled child,’ who only wants to get his way.
St. John Paul II wrote extensively to address what he called the “split between the faith which many profess and their daily lives” (n. 59 Christifidelis Laici #59). The oft-repeated response of some political leaders on the issue of abortion, “I am personally against abortion but. .. ,” is perhaps the most notorious example of the malicious dualism of faith and life.
Our faith needs to be integrated and lived as a way of life, which, when done so willingly and generously, becomes attractive, joyful, even salvific. Jesus says, “I come that they may have life and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10).
TWO
The Holy Spirit is forming in each of us the image of Jesus Christ—the whole Christ, not just Jesus who taught and healed, but also the Christ who worked with Joseph and lived with Mary for 30 years. Thus, not only does the Holy Spirit teach us to pray, but he also teaches us to work and to rest the way Jesus did. Look at Christ’s private life lived in very normal and unspectacular circumstances. There is divine value in these unspectacular circumstances, however, that make them spectacular because Christ did them! Things like work, friendships, conversations, meals, and celebrations are all means of discovering Jesus because Jesus enjoyed these with his relatives and neighbors. When we seek to both insert Him and discover Him in these typical situations, we discover a new, hidden meaning in the ordinary. We discover peace, happiness, and deep fulfillment because we discover Jesus.
THREE
St. John Paul II says; “The ‘world’ thus becomes the place and the means for the lay faithful to fulfill their Christian vocation, because the world itself is destined to glorify God the Father in Christ” (Christifideles Laici #15). So, the world and all the goods in it are destined to enter the glory of God, but only through our holy efforts. That’s why we are called to work to bring souls and human goods to this universal destination with God. (Centisimus Annus, #6). This gives a dignity to work itself. When I was in Graduate School at Franciscan University, I was involved with a movement called Opus Dei. They taught me that my work, even my homework and studies, could sanctify me, sanctify others, by working hard and finishing it off well for Jesus. It made my workstation an altar of sorts! All of the men I knew involved in Opus Dei were all tops in their fields, regardless of their profession. Their witness left a huge impression on me, and I have tried to emulate their Christian example in my work ever since.
FOUR
The Second Vatican Council offers this; “their (the laity’s) work, prayers, and apostolic endeavors, their ordinary married and family life… their relaxation, if carried out in the Spirit, and even the hardships of life, if patiently borne — all become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. . . . During the celebration of the Eucharist these sacrifices are most lovingly offered to the Father along with the Lord’s Body” (Lumen Gentium, n. 34) This beautiful text points out a connection between our experiences of lay life and the Mass. The offertory represents our own offerings of all of our problems, works, sufferings, joys, loving deeds, etc. to be joined to the Lord’s. Our everyday worries and sufferings are divinized at that moment with Jesus!
FIVE
We must strike a balance between the one extreme that says, ‘no rules, let us do as we want!’ with the other extreme, ‘follow the rules meticulously, or else!” To keep this balance, remember this maxim: rules without relationship equals rebellion! Our faith is not about rule following, but about a relationship of love with God. This demands avoiding offending Him, but rule-following is not the essence and can convince people that Catholicism is mere legalism. Rather, integrating Christ into our whole life means to follow His way of love, which demands righteousness, but also freedom! This is life to the full!