Nov 23 Sat
Jesus has the solution to the problems in the Catholic Church!
Six Insights.
1 - Jesus had a plan to fix humanity’s big problem. His problem was that sin broke the relationship between God and humanity. We couldn’t get into heaven and had no chance of salvation, on our own.
What did he do? He deeply invested in a few and taught them to do the same with others, who could do the same with others - until the world was reached. This was his plan: to win new apostles.
2 - Jesus valued individuals over crowds.
Teaching is necessary. Preaching is great. Studying can help us learn. Community worship is part of Christian life. But, to be a transformative agent in someone’s life, you must spend plenty of time, effort, love, and prayer alongside someone, not merely in front of someone. One-on-one, and shoulder-to-shoulder: personal dealings are the model Jesus gave us for formation.
3 - When we think our culture is bad, we forget the context Jesus had to live in. Still, Jesus didn’t quickly give up on those far from God. Rather, he went to them. He talked to them. He listened to them. He challenged them to a better life. He called them to follow him.
We need to get out of our safe Christian bubbles and go to apostolic life. We need to ask God, in prayer, to give us his heart and eyes, so we can see how much He loves everyone around us. God wants salvation for the lost. Do we?
4 - Jesus asked many questions and listened, not necessarily agreeing.
Numerous conversions happen through relationships with others, asking them to seek answers to deep questions, like these.
Where do you come from?
What is the direction and meaning of your life?
Where can you find the source of your power?
What is success for you?
What do you hope to accomplish?
What is your destiny, the ‘afterward’?
How do you know what is right and what isn’t?
What are you willing to give your life for? What are your priorities?
Are there any universal human rights? What are they? How do we determine them?
Is there anything that is universally moral, and applicable to all?
Start asking such questions. Listen actively. Respond according to the promptings of the Spirit.
5 - Jesus knew that human power can’t solve the world’s problems alone. Thus, we need to tap into the power of God, through intimate dealings with the Holy Trinity - through prayer and the sacraments!
Basically - if you aren’t praying intimately every day, if the Eucharist is not the center of your day, your effectiveness is zero.
6 - Jesus preached the Good News and invited a response. This may be hard for many Catholics. Some think that evangelization will happen on its own, as long as we are decent people. Of course, we need to live holy lives. But we need to “enter” the life of the others. Imagine if Jesus or the Apostles never preached the Gospel or asked others to follow Him. We wouldn’t have a Church today!
We need to learn how to do the same.
God has a solution to what ails us and his Church.
With some excerpts from by Marcel LeJeune
Video;