For Columbus, his voyage of discovery was a work of evangelization. On board his ships were missionaries; his first act upon landing in the New World was to plant the cross, claim the new lands for Christ and His Church, and ask the missionaries to offer Mass. In fact, upon first sighting land, he and his crew prayed together the Salve Regina.
It is rather a humorous irony that our reading today is the story of Jonah being shipwrecked. Jonah had been chosen by God to preach repentance, the conversion of hearts, to the Ninevites. The story detailed these strange events due to Jonah resisting the vocation God had for him.
Columbus on the other hand, plunged willingly into the unknown in order to spread the saving faith. He willingly endured the violent storms of the Atlantic, as St. Paul and the Apostles did, in fidelity to Christ’s great commission, to spread salvation to the ends of the earth.
We are of course challenged to ask ourselves if we are doing everything in our power for the same purpose. Columbus used his Italian genius, daring, excitement, energy, to bravely venture into the unknown to fulfill the will of God. His piety, his love for Christ spurned him on.
Columbus is celebrated not simply because of his great navigational feat, with its geographical, economic and political implications, which continue to effect history. He is celebrated for his faith, an act flowing from what he believed to be the purpose of life, the purpose of all life, to make God known, to make God’s mercy known through Jesus Christ.
It is likely that this is the reason modern history is so jaded and biased toward Columbus: he was a Catholic Christian who desired to spread Catholic Christianity, and he was motivated not by greed or violence, but by faith.
On what fantastic voyage of discovery, faith, and evangelization does God wish to lead us? In what ways like Jonah are we resisting God? Into what unknown waters is God calling us to explore, what unknown lands is he calling us to claim for Christ and his Bride the Church, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
- - - - - - -
That Catholics around the world will be ever more zealous in their preaching of the Gospel.
That young people be inspired to respond generously to God’s call to sanctity, and for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
For those whose love for Christ has grown cold, for those who have fallen away from the Church, for those with unrepentant hearts, for their conversion and the deeper conversion of all people.
For the Knights of Columbus and all who look to the inspiration of Christopher Columbus, may they continue in good works and be examples of virtue and faith.
For the sick and the suffering, and all persecuted Christians, that they may come to experience Christ’s healing and peace amidst their illnesses and needs.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment