While we wait for the call home; our task must be our Evangelistic efforts!

While we wait for the Call home; our task must be our Evangelestic efforts!

As the Bishop anoints our heads with Chrism the words to reach out to the unchurched is implied.  We never were expected to receive a Sacrament like Confirmation or Holy Orders as a prize for doing something holy.  Both are a willing example of taking the Cross of Christ and reaching into the world of disbelievers to unite them with God.

Working with high school students as they prepare for confirmation we can only hope that the efforts we use will be enough to place the term “soldiers of Christ” on them and have a positive meaning while sending them forth as a type of missionary for the Church.  They aren’t expected to begin each day as an employee and follow the dictates of a manager.  But living in a manner that just might demand a thrust at holiness by avoiding the evils that are prominent at their age and in a school system that avoids God and Church.   The temptation to walk away from their recent anointing of Confirmation will be there with plenty of support from non-believers.  That is where their attempts to become soldiers for Christ will be the swords they can use to attack the enemies of God.  Simply by walking away is one battle cry that will be a blow to them.  

There will always be an opportunity for recent confirmed students and newly ordained priests and deacons to answer the call to reach out when the Spirit permits a challenge to confront us and the power of the sacrament will reach into our grace-filled ministry and present to us the grace needed to bring the Living Christ to both of us; the recipient and the evangelistic person of us.  As a deacon making rounds in a hospital communion trip to patients more than once the Holy Spirit stopped me when it was a late hour and had me visit a woman who had been away from the sacraments for 13 years, not of her own choice.  She was saved from a life-time of never receiving the Eucharist any more.  That is how the Spirit touches any of us that are recent or old-timers at our ministry to become the one carrying the cross for someone else who may be lost on their journey to Calvary.  Never should we believe that the Spirit will get someone else.  If the Spirit calls you, you’re the one he expects to respond.

When the Holy Trinity knew the Incarnation had to become a reality to save humanity God then chose to be the sacrifice since there was no one else even in eternity that could fulfill this need.  Through the Holy Spirit and in unison of the Trinity God said, “Here I am” I will go to redeem my people.”  The Son of God, God himself, who put on humility and became one of us.  Think for a moment if the challenge to step into the position of sacrifice as a confirmed student or a priest or deacon becomes your call.  Remember we are the hands and voices of God as we all journey towards our eternal home.

Accepting the call to Confirmation and Holy Orders is not another notch in our belt.  It is our yes to join Christ in reaching one more soul that no one else wants to reach.  It will be our belt filled with opportunities to find and confirm one or more souls who wait for the Spirit to send us.

Ralph B. Hathaway