Years ago, when I was in college, I worked at a local non-profit agency. In the beginning, I was working with mentally retarded and developmentally disabled adults in their group homes on daily tasks of life. Then, as I became familiar with the population and my superiors, my position morphed into as a role as a job coach, where I helped train those individuals seeking employment in the community. Hired by a Jewish woman who was on fire with her faith and working under a supervisor who was a devote Christian and alive with a love for Christ, I was surrounded by mentors who had a passion for and love of God.
From the get-go, my supervisor, Eric, was open with me, and everyone he met, about his faith. He had grown up in a Catholic family and schools, but had fallen away from God for a brief time, and then Eric was introduced to Younglife, a group for adolescents whose mission is to help youth to grow in their faith and to come to know Jesus. Quickly embracing life as a Christian and building his own personal relationship with Jesus, Eric’s faith exploded! As he aged, he developed a passion for young adults and accompanied youth on their journey. His desire was always for others to love Jesus as much as he did or more. Eric and his young wife also hosted a bible study at their home each week. Inviting everyone he knew to this study, my superviser opened his home and heart to bring others to Christ. This faith filled man took every opportunity to share his love of Christ and reliance on God for all things. Confident in God’s power and might, when tough situations arose, Eric would quickly turn to prayer, asking others if he could pray over them or with them. He was unashamedly Christian.
Thinking back to that time makes me reflect on how often I or others throw a veil over our faith. Pushing our faith out of view, attempting to live in the world as if Christ is not the center of all things, we renounce our relationship with Christ. How often is it uncool to be a Christian living in the world today? Pretty often is the answer, realistically, almost always. However, shunning our Father and things of true moral value may seem to move us ahead in the world, but our denial moves us further from eternity, a relationship with Christ, and what the Father calls each of us to do, forming disciples for Christ. Christ’s grace and might are the truth behind our strength. The removal of Christ from the picture of our daily lives makes it appear to others that we are able to independently do all things. When in reality, we are convicted that “I can do all things through Christ who strengths me,” Philippians 4:13.
Denying our faith by casually covering our bible that is sitting out or tucking our rosary into our pocket so others will not notice that we were praying, is shameful. We trick ourselves into thinking we do it so others will not feel uncomfortable, telling ourselves that when the time is right, we will share who we are, followers of Christ. Yet the time never arrives and we miss opportunities to evangelize others, failing to show them that Christ is in all things, in the everyday. It’s the little ways we live our lives that matter, the ways we lean into Christ.
Renouncing Christ, removes the truth in life. The truth is that my help comes from the One who made heaven and earth. Jesus tells his disciples in John 14:6-7 “…’I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Let this truth be known, sister! Do not be shy. The Lord is the maker and divinely handles all things. When life hands us lemons, Christ can make it into whatever He desires, lemonade, or something as precious as diamonds. Remember, He turned water into wine (John 2: 1-11)! God uses all things for good and we need to remember this truth, sharing our faith-saturated reality, our encounters with Christ in the everyday. Shout it from the rooftops, sister! Hiding our light, Christ, under a bushel is not what the Lord desires. God created us to let our lights shine for others to see the way. He is the way.
Call to Act: How is the Lord calling you to let your Christ light shine today? Where is He asking you to be vulnerable to spread the love of Christ with another? Is He asking you to share how Christ is working in your life? Does He want you to invite someone to a group you belong to at church or maybe He is simply asking you to witness to His might and love in your heart or in your family? Does He want you to pray openly? Maybe that will inspire others to begin to pray or share their joy of their faith with another. Love of Christ is contagious. “Your life may be the only bible some people read,” rings true in so many situations. Remove the veil, lift the bushel, flick the switch, share that Christ light unapologetically. My prayers are with you, sister, for boldness and the courage to share Christ with the world around you each and every day.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” – Saint Teresa of Calcutta
St. John Bosco, pray for us that we may be strong witnesses for Christ. Help us to proclaim the Gospel with our lives, unswervingly sharing our love of Christ with all those we encounter. Beg the Lord to give us the grace to remove the veil we so often choose to place over our faith, instead living our lives on fire with love for Christ. Beckon the Lord to give us opportunities to witness to others and invite others to enjoy a personal relationship with Christ, just as you did with the youth you prudently and lovingly guided. We ask this through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Saint John Bosco
Born in Italy in 1815, John’s father died when he was just two. His mother, Margherita raised John and his two older brothers to be devout Catholics. Despite their poverty and dire situation, Margherita and her boys shared their meager means with the homeless. At nine years old, John experienced several vivid dreams with a majestic lady instructing him to, “Be strong, humble and robust,” showing him how to bring others closer to Christ. Soon after, John encountered circus performers and was enamored with their tricks. Deciding to learn some tricks, he employed them to hold his friends’ attention and then proclaimed the Gospel and prayed with them. Enjoying sharing both the tricks and Gospel with others, John discerned a call to the priesthood. This would require John to receive an education, something he had not be privileged to while being raised on a farm. As a result, he left home at twelve to work on another farm as a hired hand and quickly met Father Jospeh Cafasso, who supported John in his call to the priesthood. John was ordained a priest in 1841. Working in the streets of Turin, Fr. Bosco noticed many teenage boys ended up in the prisons. He began to work with the boys in the streets showing them tricks and then shared the Gospel with them, just as he had done as a youth. Father John helped the young men to find work where they were not abused and worked with his own mother, Margherita, to house them. Seeking boys who were possibly called to the priesthood, John helped them to prepare and journey down a virtuous path. He established the Society of St. Francis de Sales. This group guided boys to lead a moral, faith-filled life, as well as performed charitable works. After a long life lived with fervor and faith, Father John Bosco died in 1888. His society continues to serve children today. Read more about him here:
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=63 and here