People of good will, it is time to act. It’s time to act, not just by putting our faith into action but by living our act of faith.
We believe. By God’s grace, we believe! We believe He is our peace and the answer to every care, sorrow and paralyzing dilemma.
It’s true, the crosses of this world and our lives are hard, even mind-numbing. Yet, we know and proclaim that Our Lord has the victory over fear and death.
Yes, it is easier to say than to live, but that does not diminish its truth. God came to earth and walked among us to bring us a life to the full (John 10:10) and a joy that is complete (John 15:11). His word remains true, despite what the day brings.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
We can choose to be consoled by the Lord. He knows what we need and how to bring us joy. Our heavenly Father has a plan to draw us to Himself. This is the true goal of life to keep in mind: to arrive at our Father’s house.
This is a time when “the world” needs the witness of Christians who can live the peace that comes from Christ. Jesus speaks to us:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)
“In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
What are we to do with these words? Let us receive their consolation and hope. Let us open the doors of our hearts as wide as they need to be to take in the presence of God.
We need to find the time and space to let the peace of Christ be poured out into our hearts and lives. This is best done by being in the Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, when possible.
He came to dwell among us and left Himself in the Blessed Sacrament for a reason: We need Him.
The power of God’s Presence, whether we feel it or not, is real in the Holy Eucharist. His Sacred Heart places no limits on His love for us. Let us go to Him.
We make an act of faith when we come to Him in church.
The followers of Jesus live “beyond fear,” as in the description of St. John Paul II, by George Weigel. (Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II, 1999, page 849) They do not let fear keep them from carrying out the mission the Lord entrusts to them.
When we live “beyond fear,” we acknowledge the truth of what we face but we act as believers. We live a courageous confidence in Christ with a self-emptying surrender.
Like Peter, we stand before Jesus and give our consent to His will. We pray “at your word, I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:5) We lay down our plans, belongings, loves and hopes at the feet of Christ. We trust He wants our greatest good and knows best how to put our lives in good order.
Let us act with faith by lowering our nets, putting aside the primacy of self for the primacy of Christ. We can do this by asking the Holy Spirit to shed light on the areas of our lives that are keeping us from being obedient to Christ.
We can ask God for the grace to see habits or relationships in our life that prevent us from drawing close to God and are incompatible with the Gospel. Everyone struggles with these obstacles in life. It is in committing to the struggle for virtue that God guides our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:79)
Nothing opens the floodgates of peace and grace like confession. Nothing nurtures this peace like receiving Jesus in the sacraments with trust in His mercy. “Jesus, we trust in You” is a prayer meant for our times.
Let us raise the bar of our lives by lowering our nets before Christ. Let us live as believers in a God who casts out fear with love, bringing a peace and a freedom the world cannot give.
Sister John Paul Maher, OP, is the principal of Worthington St. Michael School and a member of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.