Commitment
by Fred Schaeffer, SFO (© 2006)
#120
Last Saturday, I attended with about 349 other Catholic men, a spiritual rally for Christian Men. It was held at Cardinal Newman High School in Palm Beach, Florida. A bus picked us up from the Church parking lot in Vero Beach, and brought us back home. It was nice not to have to drive the 150-mile round-trip but leave the driving to someone else.
Many of these men, from parishes all over the Diocese of Palm Beach, were active in their parish. There were Lectors, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, Tenors and Baritones, and some were on Parish Councils and other committees common in our parishes. Also, some were into Prison Ministry and some form of rehabilitative ministry. You may wonder why such a rally for men is necessary. Well, women, in the American Catholic church, an organization such as the Council of Catholic Women, but for men there really isn't any similar organization. And we, too, need encouragement. We need encouragement to join parish activities and ministries as an adjunct to our basic commitment to a parish, going to Sunday Mass. Attending Sunday Mass isn't enough anymore. While it satisfies Church law, most people want to be active in their parish but do not know how to apply.
Generally, parishes, in discussing stewardship, will also discuss activities that need to be staffed. Because we give not only monetarily, but we give in deeds. We give of ourselves. That is commitment. And when you've already formed some commitments, you need a periodic shot in the arm...you need to realize that it isn't all for nothing, but that there is some very specific reason for the activities you undertake.
In St. Helen's parish where I worship, there are many activities. What do you get out of this participation. Well, let's see... I've gotten a lot out of my participation in the daily affairs of my parish, taking Holy Communion to nursing home(s) and homebounds, involvement in Prison Ministry, Choir, Prayer Group, etc. For one thing, I've gotten to know a lot of great people. Also, there is a certain level of spiritual satisfaction given the fact that we know Jesus heals other people, people we pray for, interceed for, talk to and teach. We bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to people who need shoring up. And, I suppose, God's gift of Grace plays a role in all of this, too.
Take Prison Ministry. We all know that people mess up. They make mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes are calculated, but much of the time, they just get in with bad friends, or peer pressure drives them into areas of questionable activity. In the 5-6 months I've been going to the local jail, I have yet to meet someone who is totally rotten to the core. I mean, even people who have killed another human being are remorseful, and know deep down that they've really messed up bad. But there is always hope. Hope does not mean getting a lighter sentence, although an inmate may think in these terms. Hope, to me, means an environment where they can stay and better themselves through the reading of Holy Scripture, conversations with their cellmates about spiritual things, and by taking Jesus as their God and Savior, the time they have to serve will go faster. And it is our hope that through this commitment, they will stay out of jail next time around.
We all need to make firm commitments. Commitments to help each other and to allow others to help us. Jesus made a commitment with us too. He made a covenant with us. He said: "I will be your God and you shall be my people." - A covenant is a commitment. Then we need to keep that commitment. We don't just keep our promise when we feel like, but we enact the commitment before we satisfy ourselves. We are all brothers of Jesus. In that relationship, we are brothers to one another. We know that unless we love our brothers and sisters, we cannot love God. And, if we do not love ourselves, then it's pretty hard to love anyone else. To love God, to love others, to love ourselves, takes another commitment: forgiveness. Unless we forgive those who do us harm, we cannot begin to love God.
Fighting a war isn't a good example of loving our brothers and sisters. But now that we are in this war, at least let us love those who fight for our safety. Prayer is a commitment too. Let us promise to pray for all those brave men and women who participate in conflicts in this world. Let us pray for their safety and for their families. Let us pray for peace in this world.
3/25/2003