Greetings Missionary Disciples of Jesus Christ!
The man who would be Pope Saint John Paul II's first visit to the U.S. in 1976 was marked by a historic address. The occasion was a Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia, coinciding with the bicentennial celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Then Cardinal Karol Wojtyla spoke these very prophetic words:
"We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has ever experienced. I do not think that the wide circle of the American Society, or the whole wide circle of the Christian Community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-church, between the gospel and the anti-gospel, between Christ and the antichrist. The confrontation lies within the plans of Divine Providence. It is, therefore, in God's Plan, and it must be a trial which the Church must take up, and face courageously."
Literally and metaphorically, the culture-wide descent into fifty shades of grey is picking up steam. Note that this coincides with the occasion universally recognized for celebrating love. In fact, prominent promotion invites couples to make a (Saint) Valentine's date of it, with the promise of an additional "benefit" afterwards. Really.
Satan does this. He is insanely jealous. He offers twisted things in an attractive package. He would have us reject our God-like freedom for a prison cell; eternity for a fleeting moment.
Here's the determination of which side we find ourselves on in this final confrontation: Since we are what we eat, what are we eating?
The truth is that each of us continue to eat of "the fruit"-- stuff we're constantly being offered, and that we consume, in false hopes that it will increase the measure of our worth. What great things God can do if we're really honest here! If we recognize the captivity is pronounced by our inner discord-- how we react when the slightest thing is out of place, our schedule, our plan, our money, our comfort, our relationships, our hair.
The final confrontation is marked by each of us wandering about in the great Fog of amnesia, the one inherited from our first parents (Is. 53:6); yet, when all seemed lost, God powerfully broke through the Fog to awaken us to our God-like nature in Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:14).
It bears repeating, pronouncing-- again and again: Authentic Love, revealed in Jesus Christ, is our identity and mission. Our attainment of this identity and mission is our purpose, the measure of our fulfillment on this planet.
The final confrontation is ultimately seen in twisting Love: Where Love is to sacrifice self for the good of other, Lust is sacrificing other for the (perceived) good of self. Satan would "love" nothing more than for us to use the word for God, Love, and really mean lust.
What are we to do? How are we called to be engaged in the final confrontation? We are what we eat. What are we eating?
While we remain in captivity from eating the potent "fruit" of anti-identity, we are offered in the Eucharist the Supreme Power of Jesus Christ Himself, our true identity (John 6:53ff).
This is game changing Power to transform us and the world. It will not be realized in our simply taking the Eucharist; it requires that we actually receive Him. There is a huge difference. It's not magic. It's not going through the motions.
The prerequisite brings us back to our many shades of grey: Without awareness of our sin we have no need of our Savior.
If we're not aware of our sin, the rotting, ugly, smelling, painful chains that constrain us-- will will never have the occasion to be emptied of self through repentance and forgiveness (particularly through a good Confession). Without being emptied there is no capacity for us to receive Him. We may "have a form of godliness" but we will be "denied of it's power." (2 Tim. 3:5)
Dear brothers and sisters, this is our moment. We are in the final confrontation. We need to recognize that Satan would love nothing more than for us to be so caught up in concepts, that we never make any commitments. He would want us to be contented with our spiritual books, conferences, events, indeed-- even Holy Mass, so long as these do not result in real transformation in our marriages, families and world. So long as we do not seek to be reconciled with everyone. So long as we do not consider what our discretionary time and resources say about what's really driving us.
In the past month, compared to all the other things you scheduled, and all the time those required- how much time did you set aside as a family to talk and pray meaningfully as a family?
In anticipation of Lent (just one week away), we invite you right now to get in the game. We invite you to Rediscover Love.
Gather your family together for just 10 minutes to take a simple, one page Live IT Inventory. It's an eye-opener. Connected to this is an invitation to reclaim our relationships, marriages and families, this world, for Jesus Christ.
How truly awesome it would be if, after the seven weeks- Easter truly was a living celebration of what Jesus Christ has done and is doing! How awesome if we could have your testimony, how this impacted your family, as a basis to further IGNITE this movement!
We need you. The world needs you. Imagine it. Overcome your reservations. Say yes.
