Around the Water Cooler

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Today we celebrate another Advent saint, another St. John, better known as John of the Cross.  He is another of the pre-Christmas saints' days when we experience a reflection of Jesus Christ.  Yesterday I received a package in the mail:  Cardinal Wuerl's Christmas gift to the priests of the Archdiocese.  "Seek First the Kingdom" is the Archbishop's latest effort to share his extraordinary theological insights.  As I began to read his message that we today can "challenge the culture by living our faith," I felt genuine hope that this book will be of great help to all of us in the upcoming year of evangelization that Pope Benedict with begin on the Feast of Christ the King 2012.  This was precisely how John of the Cross attempted to reform his religious community.  The President of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, in the forward to the Cardinal's words not "A solid grounding in the faith, moreover, is only a first step toward effective Christian witness in a pluralistic society."  Yes, living a life that is perceived by our sisters and brothers in our faith as well as our colleagues "around the water cooler," at the Rotary Club luncheons or sitting in the viewing stands at a Little League contest or an NFL battle is no easy task.  It is truly a contemporary challenge.

However, we must not forget the words repeated many times by Blessed John Paul II:  "BE NOT AFRAID."  Our faith today has to be strong, must be tolerant and we must make it significant in so many different situations.  Cardinal Wuerl drives home the point that it is true that we are called to seek the kingdom of God but that is not enough.  We must strive to "build up" the kingdom as well.  No season of the Church's year could be more suitable for taking a look at the foundations of my faith than the weeks leading to a celebration  of  Jesus' birth.  It is with a faith strengthened by personal renewal that each of us can indeed be like John of the Cross.  We can bring about a contemporary reformation within our faith.  If one person takes this change seriously, at least one "footprint" will have been "reclaimed for Christ.  And if many people do so ... an entire culture can change and be renewed."

Please remember a marvelous man, Robert Sullivan, member of Jesus the Divine Word Parish, Huntingtown, who died this morning.  A fellow Gonzaga High School graduate, Rob was always helping me, along with others, while pastoring the flock there.  Please remember his wife, Barbara and their family.  Eternal rest grant unto Rob, Lord.