When Saint John Paul II came to the United States for World
Youth Day back in 1993, the theme for World Youth Day, that year was taken from
the words of Jesus in the last line of today’s Gospel: I Came that they might
have life and have it abundantly.
That’s a pretty important line for the mission of the Church
and for each of us individually.
For so often, our Christian faith is caricatured by the
world as a very negative way of life—that all we do as Christians is say “no”
to very enjoyable things. Perhaps as a
priest, we hear this critique more than lay catholics: we give up sex, we give
up money, we give up control. It seems
to some that all we do is “give things up”.
And perhaps priests do not preach enough about how much we actually gain
through our very unique relationship with the Lord and the Church.
And perhaps one of the reasons Catholics do not spread the
faith as much as we should is because our notion of the faith is burdensome, and
we don’t want to place our burdens on people.
One of the joys of working with the RCIA program is that the
new Catholics find the faith as anything but a burden. They experience the joy of finally finding
their home, after many, many years of searching. Finally, being reunited with their family,
for whom they have been longing; finally, receiving a drink of fresh, clean water,
after years and years of thirsting.
Finally, discovering the purpose of their life. And there is great joy in that.
We are never hesitant about spreading the faith, when we are
in touch with the true joy that comes only through the Christian faith.
For true joy and Life to the fullest is available to mankind
through the Christian faith and the Christian faith alone. For life to the fullest is available to
mankind through Jesus Christ and through Jesus Christ alone.
For, his notion of abundant life is very different from the
world’s understanding. A full life isn’t
merely doing whatever you want to whomever you want, being rich, famous,
powerful, and sensually gratified at every waking moment. Rather, a full life—abundant life—comes through
learning how to love, and sacrifice yourself for others—putting the needs of
others over your own desires—putting your life at the service of the Father—like
the Lord.
The counterfeit path to life is very seductive. Many walk that path thinking they have life,
but rather, it is being taken from them.
It is the path, as Jesus says, of theft, slaughter, and destruction—the path
that leads not to everlasting life, but everlasting death.
Jesus calls us, not to fleeting gratification, but lasting
love. May we follow him, and enter
through Him, to abundant life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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