Christ, and the Friar

What does it mean to evangelize? What does it mean to spread the Word? These are all questions that the Christian asks throughout his life. For some all it takes is one monumental moment in their life, for others it could take a lifetime of monumental moments for them to realize the nature of our Christian faith.

A wise priest once told me “fundamental Christianity is taking complacent ideas and turning them into simple deeds.” I think all too many times as we walk or drive we see opportunities to serve or give, and think “that person could use my help” or “there is no sense in this trash being here.” Yet there is that little still voice that beckons “don’t worry, someone else will drive by and help them, you are busy so don’t worry about it.”

And there the momentum stops, the complacent idea remains just what it was in the beginning. The opportunity to serve is passed, lost, and can never be changed. Later on the Christian wonders “what if?”

Into our life walks Friar. During ADORE last week while holding a spot light I noticed it wasn’t a seminarian with the censor going before the monstrance. He was a monk with full garb and rounded shaved hair! It wasn’t too surprising, being that every so often someone traveling through the diocese is invited to come to an event and it is always a blessing to meet them to learn of their life and experience.

After everything was over Paul walked over and said he wanted us to meet someone. Friar is a member of a newly founded religious community known as the Poor Friars and Nuns of the Victory of Jesus and Mary. Born in Australia and then living in Italy he learned of the new order and felt his calling to serve the Lord through the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. For several years he has been in seminary in Italy, but during his break they have been seeking places to start a new community. Bishop Jacobs was one of a few who responded to their letter of requests, so Friar traveled here to our diocese to begin the process!

We spent an evening with him just talking about life then going to mass. He informed us he was about to return to seminary in Italy and was looking to visit his brothers and sisters in Mexico. We found a flight for him leaving out at 6am on Tuesday. Monday night Darby and I brought him to New Orleans, had amazing conversation, and was even able to pray evening prayer with him responding in Italian!

What is interesting though is that their order is cloistered, and ministers to the poor of the community or travels by hitchhiking, but Friar used every opportunity to remind us that every moment can be a chance to share the Word and evangelize. You can check them out at http://nuke.poorfriars.net/

Pope Paul VI in his encyclical Evangelii Nuntiandi (Evangelization in the Modern World) gives a bold statement that sounded like a deep bell within my heart, very awakening. He says that

“those who have received the Good News and who have been gathered by it into the community of salvation can and must communicate and spread it . . .For the Christian community is never closed in upon itself. The intimate life of this community-life of listening to the Word and the apostle’s teaching. . .this life only acquires it’s full meaning when it becomes a witness. Thus it is the whole Church that receives the mission to evangelize, and the work of each individual member is important for the whole. . . .Such an exhortation seems to us to be of capital importance, for the presentation of the Gospel message is not an optional contribution for the Church. It is the duty incumbent on her by the command of the Lord Jesus, so that people can believe and be saved.”

This makes complete light of James 2:14-26 that faith without works is dead. We receive the Word, and in that receiving we are obligated to share that word.

“If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them “go in peace, be warmed and filled” without giving them the things needed for the body what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, it is dead.” James 2:15-17

Works here though many people take out of context and don’t fully understand. Catholics are accused of trying to “earn” their salvation. It isn’t about earning, it’s about being obedient. “For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers who will be justified.” Romans 2:13 “Therefore my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

Obedience to the mandate to evangelize, to share the Gospel, to be a light to others in and through the Christian life is our work. Pope Paul VI’s statement may seem bold, but boldness is what we are called to, it is our duty. Christ was bold, and if we are the body of Christ called to participate in His life (Romans 8:17, Colossians 1:24), then we must be obedient, we must be His body if we are to attain our eternal salvation.

His yoke is easy, His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). Obedience to truth is freedom from the slavery of sin and it will bring joy, happiness, and peace into your life. There is so much more that can be spoken about this, but trying to end on a simple note. Friar’s simple life of poverty and service is a reminder of Christ’s life for us. And if we are called to live as the Body of Christ . . .

“but there are also many other things which Jesus did, were every one of them to be written, not even the world itself could contain the books to be written.” John 21:25

I guess we better get to work =)