13th Sunday in Ordinary Time: A Call to Radical Catholicism

It's amazing to think about the history of our Church.

When Christianity started, it was just a small, marginalized spin-off from Judaism. The first Christians were rejected by the Jews because they proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, and they were rejected by the pagan Romans because they refused to worship the gods of the empire.

Christians were killed for their refusal to blend in with the dominant society.

But, within a few hundred years, Christianity was the religion of the Roman Empire. How did this happen?
Yes, there were cultural and political factors; but it's important to remember that the Faith didn't spread throughout the known world because the Church compromised or decided to "lay low" and "go with the flow."

From the beginning, Christians have stood out in the world. They stood in arenas proudly proclaiming their faith right up to their death.

Even when Christianity was the dominant religion of the West, people like St. Francis or St. Catherine of Siena stood out as reformers, calling the Church back to its mission - and to its founder, Jesus.

What history tells us is that when the followers of Jesus are truly living their faith, they are not going to just blend in with the crowd. Christianity should never expect to be popular or cool, because living for God is just not acceptable to the mindset of the world.

We live in a difficult time to be Catholic. The world is not on our side.

Here in the West, the remnants of a sort of "assumed Christianity" are falling away and we are faced with whole generations who either don't know what the Church teaches or just don't care.

This week, our government dealt a blow, at least in legal terms, to the institution of marriage; but, even without the Supreme Court's decision, marriage is in a sad state - even among Catholics.

We're also facing the continued problem of the new healthcare laws which will force Catholic (and other religious) institutions and businesses to deny their beliefs or be penalized by the government.

These two issues are just symptoms of a wider spiritual sickness in our culture where the idea that there is any definite truth or good is denied.

Faced with this situation, it would be easy for us as Christians to just blend in - why fight what most people, even Catholics, don't see as a problem? Why constantly insist on these teachings on marriage, contraception, and abortion when it seems that the whole world just doesn't buy it? Why not just accept it?

Why not? Because Jesus didn't give His life so that we could be "sort of Christian." He gave everything, so that we can receive everything - the life of God, the truth of goodness, and the knowledge that it is through selfless love that we come to eternal life.

In our readings today, we heard stories of radical discipleship. The great prophet Elijah called Elisha to be his successor and, after some hesitation, Elisha left everything. He even sacrificed the animals and tools that would allow him to go back and be a farmer if the whole prophet thing didn't work out.

In the gospel Jesus encounters many people who say they want to follow Him, but they aren't willing to put Him first. He says that no one who looks back to what they left behind is "fit for the kingdom of God."

That's not "being a good person"; that's not "being religious" - it's sacrifice. It's choosing to stand in front of a world that says we're wrong and proclaiming that I am a disciple of Jesus.

We may not be called to sacrifice our oxen or even to give up all our belongings and live like monks, but we are all called to radical discipleship.

How do we do that? Here are three ways:

First, we practice our faith. Receive the sacraments. Participate in the Mass - the Eucharist is the center of everything we do, be here every week and give yourself to the celebration of the Mass. Read the Bible, spend time in prayer everyday.

Second, we have to know our faith. Read what the Church has to say about these controversial issues - especially if you disagree with the Church's teaching. I'm not under the illusion that every Catholic believes or practices everything the Church teaches, but give it a sincere chance. Go to the sources - not what we hear from the world, but what the Church actually says.

Finally, we proclaim our faith; and what that comes down to is love. The Church isn't against gay marriage because she hates gay people or against abortion because she hates women. Everything the Church believes and professes is defined by love - despite all the imperfections of us, the members of the Church.
Go out there and love radically. Show the world that even if we totally disagree with someone, we still love them and want them to know the love of God.

Last week Deacon Stan asked us: "Are we going to be disciples of Jesus or just fans?" I can be a fan of the Steelers or some rock band, but I'm not willing to die for them. A real disciple is ready to give up everything if it means following our Lord Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, God doesn't want "casual Catholics"; He wants radical disciples of Jesus. Only radical Catholicism will change us and change the world.