The Price and Profit of the Risen Life: Easter Week Three, April 22 - 28, 2012

Let’s explain the Good News by presenting it first as bad news. Paul did: to live the risen life we have to be “crucified to this world.”

Jesus did:

Those who want to save their life will lose it.... None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.... carry the cross and follow me.... hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself.

If we don’t appreciate how bad the “bad news” is, or how much it costs to buy the “pearl of great price” and the field that contains the “buried treasure,” we can’t appreciate how good the Good News is, or how much the pearl and the treasure are really worth.

In spirituality as well as in business, you only get what you pay for. Call that bad news if you wish.

But let’s look at how good the Good News is.

Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.... Those who lose their life for my sake will save it.... I came that they might have life and have it to the full — both here and hereafter. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.... As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love....

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives....

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.... You are the light of the world.... When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.... If you are truly my disciples, you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free....

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.... The Holy Spirit will teach you everything, and guide you into all the truth.... The Holy Spirit will teach you what you ought to say.... It is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these.... I chose you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.

Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Is this our experience of Christianity? Notice the italicized words. None of them makes sense except in a context of mystery. Nothing Jesus promises above is just the fruit, the result or consequence of living a “normal,” good human life. We are talking about the mystery of divine life here. Of life we can only have or understand as sharing in the divine life of Jesus himself. Living the risen life by letting Jesus live and act with us, in us and through us in everything we do.

So it is obvious Christians are not called just to live normal human lives. But what, in parish ministry, calls us to more than this? When are Catholics told they are expected to “be Christ” in everything they say and do? When are they told they are not disciples of Jesus Christ unless they are constantly poring over Scripture to learn the mind and heart of God? When are they urged to live up to their baptismal consecration as “prophet, priest and king”? When have these words even been explained to them?

Let’s be brutally honest. If not, we will be brutally disappointed. It is already happening: One third of Americans baptized Catholic no longer call themselves Catholic. Of those who have become Protestant, seventy-one percent say it is because “their spiritual needs were not being met” in their parishes. Why? What is missing? What should we do?

We are oblivious to the obvious. The bishops at Vatican II said it is “evident to everyone that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of love.... Every Catholic must therefore aim at Christian perfection.” Is this really obvious? Neither the bishops nor the pastors are taking it seriously. Not one Catholic parish or diocese has a systematic plan of integral spiritual formation designed to engage every person in the pews. You don’t believe this? Name one.

We can’t reach the goal of perfection overnight. And if we don’t even accept it as a goal — personally, intentionally — we won’t reach it at all. But how many parishes preach, push or promote this goal? How many offer a practical means to achieve it? (And don’t say, “We offer word and sacrament.” That obviously isn’t working).

“To fail to plan is to plan to fail.” We are failing. The next blog will talk about planning.