May 7 - "Fifth Theme - Expressions of Our Identity"

Several weeks ago now I began what will be a series of columns on Being Catholic Today:  Catholic Identity in an Age of Challenge, a Pastoral Letter that Cardinal Wuerl issued on May 24, 2015.  The Cardinal identified five key themes of being a Catholic today.  I want to devote this column to the fifth and final theme:  Expressions of our Identity.
Since 1634 when the first Catholics set foot on what is now Maryland, the Church has made a tremendous impact manifesting Christ’s kingdom of truth, life, justice, love and peace.  We must remain true to the expressions of our Catholic identity.  Through our educational, social service, and health care programs, the goodness of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the presence of Christ are actually visible and tangible in our community.  The Church, in all of her works, brings an invitation to faith, an encounter with Christ, and a way of living inspired by the Gospel.  There is no greater or more perfect gift.
This is what it means to be witnesses.  The visible expressions of our Catholic identity can be traced all the way back to the Acts of the Apostles, where Jesus in his final instruction before his ascension into heaven, tells his Apostles, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on you, and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8).  As God was with those who first accepted his challenge to be his witnesses, so he is with us as we accept the call to be faithful witnesses to our Catholic faith in all we say or do.  As we open ourselves to life in the Holy Spirit, we are given the incredible gift and responsibility to radiate Christ’s truth and love to bring joy to a world that so desperately needs God.
Cardinal Wuerl concludes the Pastoral Letter with this reflection:
Pope Francis puts it this way, “We should avoid the temptation of having earthly power transform our faith.” In a recent homily he prayed that “the witness of the martyrs” might help us lest we be tempted by the ways of the world toward an attitude that is not of Jesus.  Shortly after his election Pope Francis called us to experience the value of witnessing in our societies an openness to transcendence that is inherent in the human heart.
Our Catholic identity, even when challenged, should remain for us a source of conviction and pride.  As God was with those who first accepted the challenge, “You shall be my witnesses,” so God is with us as we accept the summons to be faithful witnesses to our Catholic faith today in all that we say and do.  As we open ourselves to life in the Spirit, radiating fully Christ’s truth and love, we can also bring joy to a world that so desperately needs God.  By being true to our Catholic identity, we can help manifest and realize God’s kingdom, coming to be here and now, a kingdom of truth, peace, joy and love that trust sets us free.
Until next week,
Fr. John Dilon