Be Fully Catholic

How Do You Know Who I Am?

I’d like to begin today with a question. How do you know that I’m a deacon? Really, let’s hear some answers?

Yes, these are all good ways to know that I’m a deacon: my liturgical garment has sleeves, I’m sitting next to Father on his right, my stole is diagonal. But is this what makes me a deacon? After all, anyone can order a dalmatic, alb, and stole from the catalog.

The signs you should look for are more fundamental. Yesterday Bishop Burns ordained 17 new deacons for the Diocese of Dallas. One part of the rite of ordination sees the Bishop place the book of the Gospels in the hands of the new deacon. He says: “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

Indeed, those are the marks that make me a deacon. It doesn’t matter what I wear, it matters how I behave.

And So It Was in Olden Days

This is where our Gentile ancestors found themselves. Remember, Christianity began among the Jewish people, a people with a devout set of observances. Devout Jews ate only certain foods; had special observances on the Sabbath, took ritual baths, and their males were circumcised.

But the faith quickly grew beyond the Jewish people. These new Christians were Gentiles, members of myriad other religions who dropped those beliefs to follow Christ.

And here comes some well-intentioned Jewish Christians to tell them, “hey, you’re not really a Christian until you’re circumcised.” As you might imagine, that went over like a lead balloon.

Paul and Barnabas travel to Jerusalem to seek clarification, and they then travel with brothers from Jerusalem to Antioch where the final decision is made. No circumcision is required. Only very specific behaviors that are are related to living out the Gospel.

How Will They Know You?

This is the essence of what Jesus shares in today’s Gospel. “Whoever loves me will keep my word… Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” The words He’s referring to are those of the Great Commandment: Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor as yourself.

We are not known to be Christians by our outward signs. It’s not our clothes, or by making the sign of the Cross. These are empty gestures if our very being is not changed by them. Indeed, the true mark of our faith is that we compassionately carry the love of Christ to all of creation. This includes the environment, the poor, the marginalized, the imprisoned, the hungry, the naked, the mentally ill, the unborn and the elderly.

This we share in communion with each other. Yes, we are still diverse. We have brothers and sisters of every race, language, political persuasion. But we are united in our commitment to live out the Great Commandment. To love as we have been loved.

The Holy Spirit Is Our Guide

In today’s Gospel, Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift of the Holy Spirit is promised to “teach us everything and remind us of all that He told us.” This wasn’t a promise made only to the Apostles, but to each of us gathered here today.

Remember the old rubber bracelets that said, “WWJD?” It stood for What Would Jesus Do? Well, knowing what Jesus would do is the easy part. Doing it is the hard part. The Holy Spirit is here to help form us, to make it just a bit easier to follow God’s command.

See, we don’t have the luxury of falling short in living out the Great Commandment. We don’t get a pass to be “mostly Christian,” but not that part about the poor. Not that part about the hungry. Not that part about the unborn. If we are known by how we live out Christ’s command, then falling short means we’re really not what we say we are. More importantly, we’re really not who He wants us to be.

Our Responsibility to Lead The Life We’re Called to Live

We have a responsibility to God and to each other to fully live our vocations as Catholic Christians. We have a responsibility to love all of creation as Christ has called us to love. And for those of us in public office---bishops, priests, deacons, religion teachers, even politicians---we have an even deeper responsibility to be true to our faith. Jeremiah 23:1 tells us “‘Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!’ says the Lord.” He’s not just talking about pastors. He’s talking about all who hold positions of authority and are responsible for leading people.

When we live lives that are not aligned with the Gospel truth we can create the potential for scandal. Scandal occurs when our actions, our inaction, or our words give rise to another person’s occasion of sin. When we remain silent on issues of social justice, when we remain silent on issues of abuse, when we remain silent on issues of life, we give rise to scandal. And we become those shepherds who are leading His flock astray.

In Sum

So, let us take the occasion today to reflect on our own lives. Do people only know we’re Catholic because we tell them we are? Do our words and actions demonstrate the love that Christ calls us to demonstrate? Do our actions support a culture of life from conception to natural death? Do we actively defend the dignity of the poor, the migrant, and the hungry?

Perhaps, like me, you find that you’ve fallen short. Let us pray for each other in the coming weeks. Let us pray for the courage to stand up for the dignity of all persons, born and unborn. And if you struggle with Christ’s teachings on these issues, don’t become discouraged. We are meant to struggle. Ask questions. Demand answers. Most importantly, pray that God will help you understand and accept His teachings.

Avail yourselves of the sacraments. Partake in the Eucharist, visit the confessional. These sacraments are meant to strengthen us, especially in these crazy times we’re facing today.

Above all, be proud of your faith. Members of our faith, following the teachings of Jesus Christ, created universities and hospitals. We care for more sick and injured people than any other charitable organization. We educate more children then any other religious or cultural organization. What else can God accomplish through you and me and we just stand up, speak up, and let Him lead?