Living out your faith in these troubled times can be more than tricky. Often it seems overwhelming and daunting. Judgement seems eminent. But isn’t that exactly what God is calling us to do? To live out our faith to the fullest, despite the opposition we may face and the grumbles we encounter. He calls us as Christians to go the extra mile, to put ourselves out there in trust and faith. God asks us to live our lives on fire with the love of the Holy Spirit emanating joy. As Saint Paul stresses in his Letter to the Philippians 2:17-18, “But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.”
Why you ask? Why is it important that I exude joy and the love of Christ? Well, in her daily devotional, Be Still, Lisa Brenninkmeyer shares a story of a young mother who was quickly turned off by the chastisement and lack of joy in the church she visited. This single mother with her young baby, seeking acceptance and Christ’s unfailing love, was met with disgust and judgment of her less than ideal circumstances. Being a single mother with her baby nestled close, in this new church, she felt more than alone. The poor young woman felt the pain of haughty judgment as a sinner. She felt less than loved as she sat through the service with these professed followers of Christ.
This mother walked away because she was turned away. It was in all the small choices of nonacceptance that these ‘Christians’ sent the clear message that this mother was less than them. The young single mother did not desire to fit into this group of judging people, she was clearly unwelcome. Because of their uncharitable acts, she walked away from an opportunity to turn her heart toward Christ.
There are so many people in the world, like this young mother, who have never encountered Christ or true faith. These poor lost souls have heard people profess belief in God and boast about the church they attend on Sunday. Yet, the lost have not quite been able to grasp the faith and love of Christ and His Church. Those they encounter are not truly living with a love and passion for Christ in the everyday.
What does living Christ’s love look like? Well, for each of us it is different. The way I live my faith compliments the life of faith my friends lead. With such a multitude of opportunities and talents, we live out our love and joy in a variety of ways.
For example, a dear outgoing friend regularly invites other moms to attend her Church with her. Another friend enjoys hosting families for evenings of desserts and praying the rosary. A different woman mentors in a small group for moms. When lifting up a person who is suffering a loss or in need is called for, a sweet family I know is notorious for gathering friends and families together to pray. To draw together many couples of faith for fellowship, a couple with grown children will host couples nights. A dad I know organizes caving, hunting, hiking, and kayaking activities for men to build comradery. Another man has coffee with men he perceives as lost. The Franciscan Daughters of Mary, a group of sisters living in the inner city here in Kentucky, serve the poor, sharing their faith as they meet the basic needs of the poverty-stricken, with love and an outpouring of joy. A devoted married couple sacrifices some of their precious time with their own family to minister to engaged couples. They strive to guide them in their relationships, encouraging conversations and growth to create healthy lasting marriages in the future. The list goes on and on. The common factor is that each of my friends’ God given gifts is utilized in the unique ways they live Christ’s love and joy each day.
I choose to share my gifts by inviting people into my home. My hospitality welcomes them, my meals feed their most basic needs and we have the opportunity to exchange stories. I find enjoyment in connecting with others and conversing until we find common ground, a connection. But I do not stop there.
I pray for my friends, new and old, and take notice of the people God places in my life repeatedly. The ‘random’ thoughts I have of individuals I have not seen in years, or a person who comes to mind when I am in prayer is not dismissed. I take this to further prayer. A quick message to someone I feel called to pray for, to let them know they are in my prayers and on my heart, carries Christ’s love. Lifted up by my words, I often receive a message back affirming this action. My shared sentiments are a vehicle of Christ’s love.
When I go on a retreat, to an event with a speaker, or a weekend away, I pray about who the Lord is asking me to invite along. It often strikes me as odd who He puts on my heart. But the conversations shared and the fruits of the time together are always evident. His hand is at work in His desired company and shared experiences.
Dropping a relevant book in the mail, or sending a link to a prayer, an article, or site that speaks to my heart of a certain person is another way I expose my faith. I relish reading and find the fruits endless, so when the opportunity to share this knowledge and passion arises, I am quick to jump!
I share the joy of my faith, in the fasts, special feast days, and holy days we celebrate. The meaning behind these is often taken as ‘Catholic only’, so as not to be shared with those of other denominations. I disagree. I am gentle and careful in how and what I share, but I try to share the beauty in these special liturgical times. Catholic means universal, so shouldn’t our joy be shared universally?
A few close Baptist friends of mine insist that they enjoy conversations with me because I am not Catholic in name only. They can see that I live out my faith and embrace and am passionate about what it means to be Catholic. They have many other Catholic friends, but none, they hold, that take their faith seriously.
If you have ever met me, you will know I am not shy about sharing my love of God. I am Catholic to the core, but I think I could easily be described as an evangelist or Christian woman because of how open I am with my reliance on and love of Our Heavenly Father. I am not in your face about it, but I certainly do not deny it. You could chat with me for five minutes and understand I am a girl who loves God! He is weaved into my stories, not because I incorporate intentionally, but because He is entwined into every fiber of my being and every aspect of my life.
My intent in living and sharing is to bring others closer to Jesus. I am not out to convert all my friends to my beautiful Catholic faith, but I do aspire for them to see the beauty I see in it. Living for Christ and in relationship with Christ brings overwhelming peace and joy. I yearn for them to understand this truth through the unfolding of my life. Saint Paul reminds us of this call to serve in Act 20:24 when he writes, “I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of God’s grace.”
So I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and share your faith. Live it out as only you can. Share it uniquely. Don’t push it on others or be unnatural about it. Allow it to happen in organic ways, but press yourself to speak up and share the joy.
CALL TO ACT: In what ways do you uniquely share your faith? How can you look to others for ideas on how to live out the joy and love of Christ each day? Is there an area where the Lord is asking you to open yourself up, exposing vulnerability, trusting Him as you bring others closer to Christ by sharing your realness. Is there a gift or talent you possess that you can use as a vehicle to share your faith and love? What new way is God inviting you to take action to better serve Him?
On the days I feel less inspired to live for Christ, exhausted by the demands of this world, I turn to one of my favorite Saints for encouragement, St. Teresa of Calcutta. In her great wisdom she wrote:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spent years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us that we can persevere in living out our faith amidst these troubled times. Ask our Lord to grant us magnificent courage and instill a zeal for our faith in our hearts. Beg Him to encourage us daily, especially in our interactions with all those we meet. May our faith be strong and our joy and love exuberant. We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
Elizabeth Seton was not born into the Catholic faith. She grew up in a wealthy family in New York. At the age of twenty she married a prosperous young business man, William, whose family owned a shipping business. Love for this man and her new life filled her. Soon though, she and her husband hit rough times. When her father in law died, she began to care for her husband’s seven siblings and then William contracted Tuberculosis and his shipping business went bankrupt. In an effort to help him heal from his illness, they made a long journey to Italy to stay with friends. This proved to be life changing for Elizabeth. Though her husband perished while in Italy, Elizabeth found a new joy in the Catholic faith. The family they resided with introduced her to the beauty of their Catholic faith. Elizabeth returned to America with this new treasure in her heart. She began a school in Baltimore and then a free Catholic school. A Sisterhood based on St. Vincent de Paul’s Rule was also established by Elizabeth, which opened orphanages and a second free school. St. Elizabeth took her vows into this Sisterhood and led them in their life’s work. She was referred to as Mother Seton. Developing tuberculous, she continued on in her mission, always deeply aware of the spiritual needs of her family and friends and those she served until her death at the young age of 46. Read more about her here: