I am what many call, a “Cradle Catholic”. While I think that means, for most, that they were born into the Catholic Faith, I think for me it meant that I usually whined like a baby whenever I had to go to Mass. I also recall kicking, screaming and crying when my Mother took me by the hand to turn me over to the kindergarten nuns at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel grammar school in Jersey City, New Jersey in the US. Not an eager Christian at that early part of my life. In fact, church was upsetting to me…literally. I remember using the pew in front of me for an air sickness bag during one of the services we attended during the school day. I am thinking it was right after lunch in the Mt. Carmel cafeteria.
But my attitude towards The Church changed at some point, though I can’t quite recall when. I served as an alter boy starting in 7th grade and recall looking forward to going to church. I went to Marist Catholic High School in Bayonne, New Jersey ( as a matter of fact, I just ran into a 1964 alumnus of Marist at a showing of White Christmas in Chicago this past weekend). As a senior, one of the Brothers who taught us asked what I was doing for college. When I told him I was attending a public college I sensed a touch of disappointment from him. In hindsight, I think he had me pegged for the priesthood. Instead I ended up becoming a veterinarian.
In Romans, from today’s first reading, St. Paul taught that in order for people to believe in the words of Christ, they must actually hear them. And how can this happen without someone preaching the words to them. And this can’t occur unless they are sent and confess the Lord’s words openly, with a heart that truly believes what the mouth is saying. Christ chose his disciples and apostles not based on status and wealth but on the inner most corners of their hearts. They may not have had the finished product…the windows, trim, roof and landscaping of a proper house but they did have the solid foundation to build on and to raise up the kingdom with their words and actions.
Today is the feast day of St. Andrew, the apostle. He was called along with his brother, Simon Peter away from the secure life of a fisherman to follow the uncertainty of a life as a follower of Jesus. Before being called by our Lord he was a follower of John the Baptist. He had an early education that allowed him to better hear and heed Jesus’ call when it came. Andrew eventually spread the Good News across Greece, Turkey and around the Black Sea and was martyred on an “X”-shaped cross. He heard the word when young, it became a part of his inner being and he then carried it to others.
After attending my Cursillo weekend a few years ago, 4 of us formed a discussion group that met weekly to discuss our prayer lives, how our study was going and reveal how we plan to put this all into action. One of our original group members had been an attorney for 30 years or so. He was doing well and he was comfortable in this life. But as our group discussion went on over the ensuing months it became clear that his soul had caught fire with the word. It consumed him. It became obvious to those around him that he was being transformed. Many people around him began suggesting the priesthood to him. He at first was incredulous that this was not going to happen. But the Holy Spirit did not give up. The fire grew until it was ablaze. He was accepted into seminary and is now in his third year. He always said that this was not what HE wanted but it was what God was asking him to do.
And so I think back at what that Brother at Marist High School seemed to be suggesting to me all those years ago….about becoming a priest. And then I look back at where my life has actually taken me. I did not become a priest. I became a veterinarian. When I related this story to our deacon recently, and mentioned maybe the deaconate was a direction for me now, he made an observation. He knew me well in terms of my profession and he said something like, “do you know how much good you do for the people in our community as you care for their pets?” In other words, we do not only spread God’s word by entering the ministry. We carry the message with us every day in our work, in our friendships, in people we encounter at stores and with our family. It is HOW we carry ourselves in these situations. It is what we say and how we say it. It is what is carried in our hearts and our souls. And this comes from what we hear and learn from others as they spread the Gospel in their lives.
This is the great cycle of our faith lives. What we learn…we then teach. Consciously or subconsciously. There is a song we used to sing in choir called “Find Us Faithful” and one of the lines from this song goes, “…may the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe..” The question is, are you willing to confess with your mouth (and actions) what you believe in your heart.
Readings:
