RADICAL RESPONSE TO CHRIST

As Advent rolled on a few months ago, there were some of us in the parish office who began talking about St. Joseph. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to him in a dream, told him that Herod sought the death of the newborn Child, and to take Mary and the Child into exile in Egypt. St. Joseph wakes up and does exactly as the angel had instructed him. He doesn’t hem or haw. He doesn’t talk it though with his wife, or with his buddies. He doesn’t even say a quick prayer to God asking for clarification. He received the angel’s message and immediately goes into action. What incredible faith that St. Joseph exemplifies! What an example to leave for us!

We see the same kind of radical response from four of the twelve Apostles: St. Peter, St. Andrew, St. James, and St. John. We first see Andrew and Simon Peter fishing with their father. Though there may have been times when they would go fishing for pure enjoyment, what we see here are three men at work. They are working hard long hours for the sustenance of themselves, their families, and those in the community as well. The Lord comes and calls out to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Just as St. Joseph, these men dropped their nets and left their father at once. No questions asked. No asking for time to finish their shifts. No procrastinating until the weekend or until they were ready. They leave at once.

It’s hard for this to not remind me of another saint, St. Francis of Assisi. This year, on October 3rd, we will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis, and as Pope Leo XIV closed the door on the Year of Jubilee, he announced that this will be a special Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi. As a former Franciscan, I can say a lot about St. Francis, but I will do my best to limit myself. St. Francis holds a unique place in the Church. He seems to be beloved by Christians and non-Christians alike. What is it about this little poor man, this poverello? I think it is as simple as that he too had a radical response to the Lord. In prayer, he heard the Lord say to him, ‘Rebuild my Church.’ He wasn’t sure what to do, so he rebuilt a small chapel, but he knew that that couldn’t be what the Lord meant. While attending Mass, he heard the words of the Gospel, ‘If you wish to be perfect, sell all that you have and give it to the poor. Then, come follow me.’ That’s all St. Francis needed to hear. He sold all his belongings – and some of his father’s – and he began a life of simplicity, poverty, and total dependence on the providence of God. He followed not only in the footsteps of Christ, but in the spiritual footsteps of St. Joseph, St. Peter, St. Andrew, St. John, and St. James. He heard the voice of the Lord calling to him, and he responded. Let these men be an example to us. What is the Lord asking of us? How will we respond? What will you do when the Lord calls out and says, ‘Come, follow me.’?

~Grant O’Neill, Director of Lifelong Discipleship and Outreach