Are You Doing Your Part?

As Catholics, I think there are far too many of us who have grown comfortable depending on others. Each of us knows someone with an amazing ability to explain the Gospel in a manner that leaves newcomers on their knees, crying out for Jesus. Every parish has the older man and woman willing to listen to any situation someone is facing and knows how to follow it up with a perfect prayer.

I could go on and on concerning the characteristics of some of the incredible heroes every parish has. However, that wouldn’t help me get to the point of what I want to say any quicker. I think there are several members of the Church who are riding the same boat I am in. We have become great at letting people know who it is they need to talk to. We may or may not pray for the individual before laying down to go to sleep. And we somehow, we manufacture a false comfort that tells us we have done our part.

For me, this couldn’t be more true than when it comes to pointing non-believers towards the cross or reaching out with love to the members of another part of the Body of Christ. It seems all too easy to send someone a video or suggest someone else they may want to approach with their questions. Besides, isn’t that part of the responsibilities of a Priest or a Deacon? Isn’t my responsibility simply to show up every Sunday, confess to the best of my ability, and try my hardest not to repeat the same mistakes?

Many Christians are ok with saying, “Yes, what you just said is exactly right. Leave the inspiring and evangelizing to the professionals.” While I am not going to be the one to tell these individuals they are wrong, I am thankful this wasn’t the view of St. Andrew. Simply knowing Jesus wasn’t enough. He had to go out of his way to make sure those closest to him had the same opportunity to find Jesus he’d been given.

We are able to read about the events in verses 41 and 42 of the first chapter in the Gospel of St. John: He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah.” He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated to Peter).

Let that sink in for a minute. Peter, the original Pope of the Catholic Church, the rock the Church was to be built on, wasn’t originally sought out by Jesus. He didn’t hear a homily and decide to surrender his life to the Lordship of Christ. He was led to and introduced to his Savior by Andrew, his brother. All Andrew had to do was decide to leave the inspiring to a professional and the Church could have been drastically different.

Now, before you rush off to the comment section, I’m fully aware of the sovereignty of God. I believe Peter had been chosen for his position long before his parents were ever created. I also believe there’s a very significant reason why we are able to find this passage in Scripture. Each of us also has the same duty to carry out as members of the Church. 

As ordinary, everyday Christians, we are the rays of The Light that are to expand out into the world of darkness. We are the ones to chase after the lost sheep, hoping and praying to point them towards the cross. Each of us knows at least one person waiting to be introduced to the love and compassion of Jesus. If you don’t, you really need to take a walk through the neighborhood you live in and find someone.

Not because it’s required or will earn you a bigger seat at the table. Simply because it’s what we are called to do. We have been rescued to become part of the rescue party. We have been saved to demonstrate to others that miracles still exist in the world we live in today. Jesus hung on a cross and made a decision to come into your heart, hoping that you would introduce His love to someone else in need.