Accepting Sinfulness

It seems to me that today people accept sin.  They feel as if they are entitled to whatever makes them happy and will do whatever they want to get it with no remorse or concern for others.

We look up towards celebrities, politicians and athletes knowing that most of them have faults.  They may be cheating on a spouse, problems with the law or using drugs.  The list could go on from there.

I realize I am  generalizing here. I'm not saying everyone is like this but our culture does not seem to have the morality it one did.  We just accept behaviors that 100 years ago would have been condoned.

I have been reading C.S. Lewis lately.  He is most famous for “The Chronicles of Narnia,” but he also wrote much about what it means to be a Christian.  At some point he stated that if people are accepting of sin and commit sin without remorse, there is no need for a Savior, no need for Jesus, who died for our sins.

So what can we do to change the culture of selfishness and sin we face today?  We need to carefully choose the people we look up to.  We can read about strong, moral people in history.

We need to realize that none of us is perfect and we all sin.  But when we do we need to show remorse.  As a Catholic we need to confess our sins.

Mother Teresa (now a Saint) went to confession weekly.  I'm quite sure a nun who devoted her life to the poor in India sinned way less than I.  So if she felt the need to confess her sins weekly, is it too much to ask for me to go to confession more often?

13th Apostle? Is This Position Available?

 

Jesus chose the 12 Apostles from his friends.  Then, after the Judas betrayed Jesus, the other Apostles needed to choose a replacement.

They chose Matthias as the next Apostle.  I don’t think much is known about Matthias, but he was present at the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.   I’m not sure if that makes him the 13th Apostle or just the new 12th.

Then on the road, Christ, in a vision, chose a Roman who was known as someone who persecuted early followers of the church to be his evangelist.  Following his conversion, St. Paul devoted his life to spreading the word of Jesus.  A large part of the New Testament is attributed to his writings.  He is sometimes called the 13th Apostle.   

In both of these cases, becoming the 13th disciple means surrendering all that we want to control, all that makes us comfortable and secure, and trusting Jesus to do something miraculous in and through our lives that will change the world.

Which leads me to think, can I become the 13th Apostle?  I don’t expect the Holy Spirit to descend on me in a tongue of fire or Jesus to come to me in a vision telling me to go on missionary journeys spreading God’s word.  And I’m pretty sure over the 2000 years since the original 12 there have been many people more deserving to be listed as the 13th Apostle than I could ever become.

But what I can do is aspire to become someone who does follow the example of the Apostles.  I can trust in Jesus, putting my life in his hands.  I can trust that He knows what is best for me and will allow me to do something that may change the world even in some small way.  What that change may be only He knows.

I believe that’s what we all need to do.  Trust in Jesus.  He is our savior and our friend.  He knows what is best for each of us.  All we need to do is talk to him through prayer.  He is always listening.

St. Jude: The Patron Saint of Desperate Situations and Lost Causes

The feast day of St. Jude Thaddeaus, or more commonly just Jude, was yesterday October 28th.  On the occasion, I decided to learn a little more about him.  One of the 12 Apostles, He was a relative of Jesus-a cousin.  His brother was also one of the 12, James the Lesser.  He is credited with a book of the bible.

Unfortunately, little more is known for sure about Jude after the resurrection.  It is believed he preached the bible in many places following Jesus’s Ascension before dying as a martyr.

He is the Patron Saint of the disparate situations and lost causes.  When I was told I had cancer I felt like a lost cause. In the months that have been a roller coaster of hope followed by periods of pessimism.  There have been times when I felt like a lost cause, worthy of prayers from St. Jude.

“Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, I place myself into your hands at this difficult time.  Help me to know that I am not alone.  Please pray for me, asking God to send me comfort for my sorrows, bravery for my fears, and healing for my suffering.”

• So yesterday, at the beginning of chemotherapy, on The Feast Day of St Jude, I prayed directly to him.

• Saying this prayer made me think of all the people in the surrounding rooms, getting their own infusion.  Why should I only pray for my healing? So the next hour I extended my prayer to include them.  

• On the way out I looked back at the hospital and I realized there are hundreds of people in there dealing with their own sufferings.  So the next time I prayed for his intercession I included the whole hospital.

• In the evening I realized that there is much suffering in the world and many people who are more of a lost cause than I am.  I closed out the night asking for St. Jude to comfort all that are suffering.

I will continue to do this, ask for St, Jude’s intercession, but not only for me but for all who through physical pain and suffering feel they are a lost cause.  That they will not only find relief from their ailment, but find comfort through St. Jude and his cousin Jesus’s presence.

When Jesus Called His Apostles Would He have Called Me?

Today's readings include one of the most simple of the Gospels. Luke just basically reads the roll of the list of the 12 Apostles.  If I was there would my name have been called?

When Jesus chose his Apostles, he didn't call the best educated. He didn't look to influential political leaders. He didn't call religious leaders.

Jesus called the common man. Many of the people he chose to build his church were from many different walks of life. None were perfect.  Some had many faults.

If I were there would Jesus have called me one of his Apostles? I am far from perfect.  I have many faults. It seems like I meet the qualifications he was looking for, a fixer upper. Someone Jesus can form through his teachings to what he needs.

But I wasn't there, so Jesus didn't call me to be part of his 12.  But that doesn't mean he isn't calling me.  Maybe I was just a little late…2000 years late.  Jesus is calling me today to profess his message.

He might have been calling me years ago and I didn't hear him. Or maybe I wasn't ready to be summoned until today.  But I am listening now.

And I plan to use the rest of my time on Earth working to be his Apostle.  I can't be one of the original 12, but that doesn't mean I can't try to emulate them in being a faithful follower of Jesus.  And professing his glory to all who will listen.