Dear Friends:
The Second Vatican Council, which met in Rome between 1962 and 1965, brought about many changes in the life of the Church. Convoked by Pope St. John XXIII, it was envisioned as a means to bring the Church “up to date” and some have used the image of opening the windows of the Church to the modern world. The Council was seen as a means for the Church to engage the modern world. Pope John maintained that the Church had much to learn from the world, but at the same time, the world had much to learn from the Church.
Vatican II closed sixty years ago but its teachings continue to impact the life of the Church, all of us. One of the most notable teachings of the Council is the truth that all are called to holiness of life by virtue of baptism into Christ. That is the goal of our lives as Catholics, to grow in holiness of life. That means developing a deeper and more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, meditating on the Scriptures, spending significant and regular, daily time in prayer, living by the teachings of Jesus as they have been handed down through the ages by the Church, and striving to make the world a more Christ-like place. It may seem to be a tall order, but it is a vocation, a call that comes to all of us, whether we are married, single, or a member of the clergy. No one is exempt or may excuse themselves from answering this call.
In the Gospel this weekend, Jesus says, quite bluntly, that “anyone of you who does not renounce all of your possessions cannot be my disciple.” Earlier in that same passage, Jesus speaks about “hating father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even [one’s] life.” All of this sounds harsh, but it is a teaching of the Lord nonetheless. By making use of such drastic and harsh wording, Jesus makes it clear that being his disciples must be our primary concern. He must be the Lord of our lives and his way of life must be ours.
In speaking of renouncing possessions, that is something that all of us, surprisingly, can consider. There are things, ways of thinking, even personal relationships, that can get in the way of our following Christ faithfully. We need to take a good and long look at our lives and assess what is really important, what really matters. Are there things that keep us from being faithful to Christ, such as cell phone usage, computer usage, addiction to drugs, alcohol or pornography? Do we spend excessive amounts of time worrying about finances and trying to get more and more? Are there personal relationships we are involved in that are not good for us? Are our political or ideological viewpoints so firm that they cut us off from relating to others, such as parents, family or friends, simply because they disagree with us? These, and other points, are worth considering in an intensely honest and open manner. It should be done regularly, if for nothing else than it is good for the soul.
By way of information, I will be leaving for vacation this Tuesday afternoon, September 9 and will return, God willing, Saturday afternoon, September 20. I will be visiting France with a priest friend and seminary classmate.
Have a good week!