The Mission Field of America: Catholics Must Live Out The Language of Truth in Word and Deed

By F. K. Bartels
7/23/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Catholics need to be carefully taught that the fullness of truth transmitted by the Church is an essential element in achieving authentic human fulfillment in true freedom and perfect happiness as members of the divine family of God.

Perhaps the greatest tragedy of our age is that Catholics are becoming more and more unaware of the reality of who they are. God has given us the gift of participating in his life. It is clear that we should take an active part in that wondrous, sublime and unending reality. Others deserve to see, hear and experience our love for the truth of the Catholic Faith that they too may find the treasure buried in the field (Mt. 13:44 ff.).

Christ speaks God's truth to the people during his sermon on the mount.

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GLADE PARK, CO (Catholic Online) -- Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York recently wrote about the importance of viewing the U.S. as "mission" territory. He noted that Catholics in America must move from "keeping our faith to ourselves to letting it shine to others!" With those words, Cardinal Dolan kindly reminds Catholics that the Church has never advocated a Christian discipleship which is based solely on silent witness to the Gospel.

That message, one which calls Catholics to embrace and live their faith openly, zealous in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in both word and deed as it has been guarded and transmitted by the Church for twenty-centuries, is not new. In fact, it began with the example of St. Peter and the other apostles on Pentecost, that day on which the Church was made "manifest to the world" by "the outpouring of the Holy Spirit" (CCC 1076; see Acts 2). On that glorious day, the apostles began to speak openly and actively in favor of the way of Christ.

When we look at the apostles method of evangelization, we immediately notice that it energetically involved the whole person; i.e., it became their way of life -- even if that way of life meant martyrdom. And it indeed did for all of the apostles save St. John.

Today the context of evangelization is different -- thus it is called the "New Evangelization." While the apostles labored to water the seed of the Church planted by Christ, nourishing it with their very blood that it may become a vine whose tendrils of truth and light would reach across the fields of the earth, evangelization has been shaped in recent times by the affects of an increasingly post-Christian era. That is, nearly everyone knows of Christ, but few people truly and intimately know the Person who is Jesus the Christ. A vine overgrown with weeds is more often encountered than a land of weeds. As Pope Benedict XVI has emphatically stated more than once, men are living as if God does not exist. It would be a serious error to imagine the Holy Father is speaking only to those who openly reject God, however often as the case may be, for he is speaking primarily to reputed Christians.

This situation in which America has become imbued with the ambience of practical atheism, is due in large part to the "we're all fine" phenomenon. It goes like this: "God loves me and you the way we are, so not to worry. Sure, everybody has their faults, but Christ died for our sins. God will work it all out." As is evident, such a convenient religious philosophy is not entirely unrelated to the unbiblical doctrine of unconditional salvation, also known as "eternal security" or "once saved always saved." That people are on different paths is true, but the notion that all these paths invariably lead to the same glorious end regardless of how the individual person exercises free will, is one giant, diabolical lie.

There is little more harmful than sleepy Christians unfettered by the demands of the Gospel who, presuming on glory without merit, persist in yawning at the pressing commandment of Christ to "be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt. 5:48). As Christians, we are obliged to respond to the grace of the Holy Spirit, giving ourselves over in love to that Love who so graciously gave himself to us at our Baptism in virtue of the redemptive merits of Jesus Christ. Vatican II sought to remind Christians of just such a fact: "All the Church's children should remember that their exalted status is to be attributed not to their own merits but to the special grace of Christ. If they fail moreover to respond to that grace in thought, word and deed, not only shall they not be saved but they will be the more severely judged" (LG 14). The Spirit has re-created us in Christ. That immense gift demands a new way of living.

Clearly a serious outlook on the reality of life is in order. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him" (John 3:36). Given the shocking realities of a society gone awry, such as widespread relativism and moral indifference, the contraceptive mentality which has fueled the horrors of abortion, the recent secularist attacks on freedom of conscience and freedom of religion and so forth, it is time for Catholics everywhere to rise up and speak the language of truth in word and deed, living our lives in a credible and convincing way. Charity demands that we voice the truth.

"Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by his earthly life and especially by his death and resurrection," wrote Pope Benedict XVI, "is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and ...

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1 - 5 of 5 Comments

Theresa H
9 months ago
No doubt about it: we are living in a modern hedonistic and secularized world. It is unbelievable how so much has changed in the Church as well--in just two generations. Pope John XXIII saw how the culture was shifting, especially in Europe, and called the Second Vatican Council to fore-arm the Church. However, many of the "theologians" inserted their own “interpretation” into the “implementation” of the Council” and, subsequently, the Latin Mass was abrogated. (We thought we had to "understand" the words we were saying--as if we didn’t have English Missals to follow along…). Subsequently, in many Parishes we have ended up focusing more on ourselves and one-another than on the "Sacred Mysteries" being celebrated.... All the Masses in our Churches used to be packed; now, less than 30% of Catholics attend Sunday Mass on a weekly basis. Many Catholics don't know/believe that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ through "Transubstantiation." In fact, we have lost sight of the "Mystery of Faith,” par excellence, and God’s “House of Prayer” has become a “House of Chatter” in the Eucharistic Presence (if the tabernacle is still in the Church)! But, little by little, a "remnant" is growing once again, and some Anglicans are also turning to the Bark of Peter--while retaining their traditional liturgical "ambiance" in the communion of Faith with the Apostolic Church of Rome!
VGM
10 months ago
Inspiring call to action. Our love, our faith must be alive and active.
Joy
10 months ago
How can Catholics genuinely live according to God's precepts in America? We are oppressed by federal programs and injustice, yet we continue our attempts to make things right. The time has come for all Catholics to publicly denounce all that America has become. We are chosen by God; why are we not living up to our beliefs? I am willing to advocate for all our Catholic beliefs. Maybe a civil war will occur, but God will be victorious just as He always has been! I am on God's side, are you?
The Rose
10 months ago
7/20/12--Excellent article, spoken with life and truth, straight up. I agree with each thought. Stand up for Jesus and the faithful unite . A House divided will fall. Remember...The name of Jesus has substained the winds of Adversity for as long as time of salvation began with the death and rescurrection of Jesus Christ and the beginning the creation of the Church of Jesus Christ. History has proven truth prevails for man is aways looking for truth and freedom....Prophesy is in motion today. Putting aside any doctrinal differences, we who trully believe in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, must come together hand in hand across the land and around the world as One Church, one Spirit, one Mind, and one belief....Jesus Christ is the Way, The Truth and The Life, today and for eternity. Besides the name and belief In Jesus Christ substaining the winds of adversity over time is the Roman Catholic Church. Divisions, shakedowns, and restoration has occurred to the Roman Catholic Church over time yet, theology of the Holy Scriptures of Jesus Christ and the theology of the Roman Catholic Church continues on. That says alot. For the fires of unrighteousness dies out in time, yet, the fires of truth burn on and on and on because truth does prevail to the point people will lay down their lives rather than to accept a lie in Word and in Deed. This is trully the Crusades for Christ Jesus. Crusade means cross. Did not Jesus say for his followers "to pick up your own cross and follow me?" And that is the reality of this time in history, true believers, the faithful are called to pick up their own cross and follow The Way, The Truth and The Life Jesus Christ has called all to...Some hear yet cast aside the seed. Some hear and begin to walk The Way, yet the cares of life and the voice of deception draw the weak back into unholiness, impurity and unrighteousness. Then there are those who heard, and the heart changes and they stand firm against all adversities because they know deep within the heart Jesus trully is The Way, The Truth and The Life....The Holy Scriptures say, the strong is to help the weak. The Holy Scriptures say, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." The Holy Scriptures say, "speak truth to your neighbor." This is love to reach out and touch someones life with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ...God only asks each of us to do our part and, then, He will do the rest. The validity of a heart change is the rooting of self into Gods Word, walk on holding the hand of Jesus Christ as the winds of time blow and man may sway alittle to the left and alittle to the right, yet, the Rock keeps man standing firm on a solid foundation. Amen? Amen.
Be encouraged my brother in the Faith, There ARE many who believe the truth and support those who have the gift and the power to speak truth in whatever avenue that can be used. I will seek more of your articles at your website and look forward to reading more of your inspiring articles as we move forward together, we who are strong in The Church pull the weak along . God desires no one to perish. Yet, we must stand up for The Truth..The Rose
jh
10 months ago
Clearly written, challenging, and obviously necessary.

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