May 22, 2005

In the words of the pope, ‘Christ takes away nothing and gives you everything.’

In the homily at his installation Mass, Pope Benedict XVI offered these words especially to the young people of our world and in honor of his predecessor: “If we let Christ fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that he may take something away from us? . . . No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide . . . Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything!”

Have courage! It is a frightening thing to contemplate a call from God. On the surface and as the world sees it, the call to priesthood, religious life, or service within the church seems to offer nothing but a loss of freedom. In fact, the contrary is true! True freedom and beauty are found and the full potential of human existence is realized only by saying yes to God’s call for us. God wills only our good.

In his article “A Share in God’s Life: Mystical/Liturgical Foundations for a Catholic Morality” (Logos 8:2, Spring 2005) James Keating offers these words that are worthy of reflection: “Christ not only wants us to share in his faith, hope, and love, but he also wants us to understand and live out the habit of choosing the good and beautiful as well. All the theological and moral virtues can be ours, the more we yield the mind and will to the mystery of Christ’s loving obedience to the Father. To dwell in the Eucharist is to be formed by the total self-offering of Christ in the service of the Father’s will. Aligning oneself with the will of the Father is to be recognized as one who is visited by Christ” [emphasis mine].

Christ wants us to develop the habit of being able to choose the good and beautiful. We do this by entering into the mystery of Christ’s obedience to the Father, which finds its fullest and primary expression in the Eucharist. To live in the Eucharist is to be formed by the self-offering of Christ.

Have courage! Where do we find courage in the face of all the doubts and fears of the world? It is in the Eucharist and in the desire to live in the mystery of the self-offering of Christ that courage, trust, and all the virtues are found and that we come to be “recognized as one who is visited by Christ.” We meet Christ in the Eucharist, and as we receive, we are transformed. To be “visited by Christ” is to live a life in relation with God. This is the same truth and healing possibility expressed by our Holy Father in the words “Only in this friendship . . .”

Christ takes away nothing, and he gives everything!

If you would like to discuss the possibility of a vocation to priesthood or religious life, please feel free to contact Father Michael Cummins at 423-745-4277 or MemmetC@att.net. Father Cummins is vocation promotion coordinator and the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Athens.