| | An Evangelical Encounters the Eucharist
MY JOURNEY TO CATHOLICISM
by Meghan Duricek I hadn’t come because I thought Jesus was here. At least, I didn’t think He was present in any sense more concrete than, “where two or more are gathered in My name” or the assurances of Psalm 139. In other words, I certainly believed in Christ’s spiritual presence with this group of believers, gathered on a Wednesday evening to pray for our home state [IGNITE 714], but I would have been hard pressed to describe more than that. However, the people around me seemed to sense a different reality.
The priest, in robes, had covered his hands to carry and set up the monstrance. A hush fell over my fellow worshippers as they genuflected again and again. I knew, of course, that Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. This Eucharistic Adoration was certainly a reverent time of worship and prayer. But the beautiful music and lovely church interior couldn’t camouflage what was bubbling up in me. Panic. Yes, I reflected, this was definitely spiritual terror. No warm fuzzies for me, this was foreign. I had come here tonight with an eye towards reconnaissance for my spiritual future, and instead of being filled with the confidence I had hoped for, here I was, panicking. I knew I was being called to the Catholic Church, but the magnitude of that change suddenly threatened to overwhelm me.
I was born to parents who had been raised Catholic, but who found flourishing relationships with Christ in Protestant churches. They loved the Lord deeply and well, and it was from them that I learned of my need for a Savior and to love Jesus. My youth was filled with Bible stories and songs, and I memorized Scripture from a very young age. From my childhood, I learned verses that sustained me in difficult moments and how to confidently approach my Heavenly Father with my concerns and needs. It was a beautiful formational period in my walk with Christ, and, I was to discover, one that prepared me well to answer when He called me to His Church.
My husband and I, with our children, had been attending the Evangelical church where we had been married for many years. This church had much to recommend it. The leadership faithfully preached the Word of God, the music was professional, it had a long history in the community, Sunday services were well-attended, and there were many outreach opportunities. Yet, we found ourselves dissatisfied. Something didn’t seem quite right, and we couldn’t put our finger on it.
Neither of us wanted to begin “church shopping.” It is an arduous process to find a new church, and we have a conviction that one should not leave a church community lightly or purely over matters of style, much less vague boredom. Thus, we felt, for lack of a better word, stuck. Stuck and unenthused, but determined not to uproot from this spiritual home without good cause.
As my husband and I discussed what we should do about our waning interest in our church, we generally considered Catholicism, the faith he had been raised in. We never considered it for very long though, because, to my mind, we had no business trading all the “grace” of Protestantism for the “legalism” of Catholicism. Then, in April of 2023, the Holy Spirit pulled together two seemingly unrelated thoughts, and set me on path I never expected. The first thought was a quote by Bishop Fulton Sheen, “There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” Well, I thought, fair enough.
Statistically speaking, I was likely in the group with misconceptions, and I had only ever interacted with Catholic doctrine from a Protestant apologetic. The second thought was this: I didn’t agree with absolutely everything that our current church taught, but I agreed with pastors in the essential teachings. Thus, I could sit under their leadership, largely untroubled by the areas where we had differences. Perhaps, the Holy Spirit prompted, if I could see the internal logic behind certain Catholic teachings I currently found troublesome, I could arrive at the same restful conclusion.
What followed was a nearly frantic summer of listening to the podcast, On the Journey with Matt and Ken and Kenny, reading dozens of books by Mark Shea, Scott Hahn, and other former Protestants, and reading conversion stories online. The research spanned months, and it took time to think through the ramifications for us personally and for our children, but I knew within two weeks what the outcome would be. What the outcome had to be. Because even if I hadn’t recognized Him that evening at Adoration, I knew I needed Jesus. I didn’t know how to live without His divine love and mercy. And as the books and podcasts had made clear, not with theological arguments, but simple logic: the Catholic Church was responsible for defining and preserving who I understood Jesus to be.
If the Church wasn’t trustworthy, if it hadn’t been founded by Christ Himself, if it did not have authority to accurately define Truth, then I had no reason to believe in the Jesus I had believed in since childhood. If the Catholic Church was not authoritative, then it might or might not be right about Jesus. If the Church wasn’t right about Jesus, then Islam or Mormonism or any other religion might be. I saw quickly that my faith in Christ would either be Catholic or nonexistent.
As I prayed that night at Adoration, questions crowded my mind. How could I guide my children in aspects of faith that were foreign to me? How could I believe new things after thirty years? Was I sure this church wasn’t dabbling in idolatry with all these statues and Mary talk? How would my family and friends react? Would my children’s faith be terribly damaged by a sea change during their formative years? As is often the case, the Almighty did not answer immediately. But in the days that followed, this phrase impressed itself upon my heart.
“Moves toward truth are always worthwhile.” I found I had no doubt that joining the Catholic Church was a move towards truth. So, although I had many questions, I came to feel deep peace. Our four children received the beautiful sacrament of Baptism in early August, making me, in the space of an hour, the last non-Catholic in my home! I have begun RCIA, and I look forward with joy and anticipation to reconciling with the Church this coming Easter.
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NOTE FROM GREG & STEPHANIE:
We are so moved by Meaghan's testimonial. Following that IGNITE, we sponsored a warm evening in our home for Meaghan, her husband, and a number of others honestly seeking solid answers to great questions. Our evening included a number of others who have been "there." If that's you, let us know if you're interested in joining us for our next gathering!
Mass Impact | Image Trinity
(814) 449-9922 | Stephanie@ImageTrinity.com
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GOSPEL | Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
"What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
He said in reply, 'I will not,'
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go.
Which of the two did his father's will?"
They answered, "The first."
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him."
QUESTION:
What struck you in this reading? Challenged you? Inspired you? What questions did it raise?
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EPISODE 392: POSTURING FOR REVIVAL
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Join us in this captivating episode as we interview prolific, internationally renowned author, speaker, and movement leader, Peter Herbeck (Renewal Ministries / ). Peter takes us back to his childhood years and shares the moving story of how his nominally Catholic family, under the shadow of an alcoholic father, was transformed through the courageous testimony of his older sister when he was just seventeen. That spark ignited the flame of faith that swept through the entire Herbeck household. You don't want to miss this episode.
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| | | PREACH IT
On Sunday's Gospel (video)
with JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT
Today Jesus shares a parable that essentially conveys a message about two sons. The father instructs one of his sons to go work, and this son initially agrees but doesn't follow through. The second son, on the other hand, initially refuses but later decides to work.
Jesus then asks, "Which one does the will of the father?" and the answer is, "The one who initially refuses but ultimately follows through." This lesson underscores the constant possibility of repentance and the capacity to change one's mind.
The term "repent" originates from "metanoiein," a combination of "meta" (change) and "nous" (mind), signifying a change of mind. So, if you find yourself immersed in a life of sin or have told God that you won't follow Him, there's hope. You can change your mind and return to Him, and your transformation will be regarded as righteousness. It's as if, in the end, you are doing the will of the Father.
Conversely, a person who appears devout, attending Mass, reciting prayers, and expressing the intention to follow God's will, may falter when it comes to living a righteous life. They might continue to lead a godless and persistently sinful existence. The good news is that you can always make a U-turn and return home. That's my prayer for you today – to come home, even if you're currently not aligned with the Father's will. You can change your mind and choose to do His will. Come home to Jesus; that's my prayer for all of you. I love you, and remember, all things are possible with God.
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