Today’s readings:
Isaiah 4:2-6
Psalm 122:1-4,8-9
Matthew 8:5-11
Soldiers are those who obey their commanders. Oftentimes, what is required is blind obedience. Such was the case with the Roman centurion and his soldiers. “And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes” (Mt 8:9b). Such obedience is also borne of faith, since soldiers trust in their commanders. Jesus was amazed and said to the crowd, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” (Mt 8:10b).
Now we are supposed to be warriors of Christ. We are in an army where Jesus is our Commander-in-Chief. Do we obey him? Do we fully trust in him? Jesus commands us to proclaim the gospel of salvation in him. Do we do so? Or are we engaged in so many other different things, and not have evangelization as our core task? Do we have many excuses for not doing more of his work, putting our time and energy in looking to our own needs for money and resources? Do we, despite what we profess, lack faith in our Lord?
What is it that we as MFC believe in? Do we understand and embrace our vision and mission? Do we know we are called to rapid, massive and worldwide evangelization? This is our call, our charism, our reason for being. If we live it out, we will be tremendously blessed. If we do not, we will stand condemned by the very Lord we seek to serve. It is our decision. As “Jesus said to the centurion, ‘You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.’” (Mt 8:13a).
Now during these dark times when sin abounds on the earth, even seeping into God’s very own Church, our work is also the work of helping renew, revive and strengthen our Church. This is done through LCSC. Many Catholics are lapsed in their faith. There is growing apostasy. 99 of the 100 sheep are lost, and our Church continues to lose Catholics by the day.
LCSC, as a lay response to the call to New Evangelization, is crucial. We seek to help renew and revive all lay Catholics. Rather than seeing many Catholics no longer going to Church and to Mass, we want to hear them say, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” (Ps 122:1b). We want no one left behind, we want no one lost to the fires of hell, we want all to make it to heaven, to the New Jerusalem. “And now our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem.” (Ps 122:2).
God seeks out the lost sheep, and wants to bring everyone back to Himself. They are to return, and they are to grow in holiness unto the Lord. “Everyone who remains in Zion, everyone left in Jerusalem will be called holy: everyone inscribed for life in Jerusalem.” (Is 4:3).
It starts with those who have already been called, chosen and sent. We are supposed to be God’s holy warriors. Are we indeed?
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