Leave Everything, Bring Christ By Beth DeCristofaro

Leave Everything, Bring Christ By Beth DeCristofaro

Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

 

 

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God (1 Corinthians 3:18-19)

 

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.  (Luke 5: 8-11)

 

Piety

 

 

Study

A large crowd including future disciples, listen to Jesus’ teaching and then, at his command, catch so many fish. Astonished, overawed and overwhelmed, perhaps even afraid, Peter encounters Jesus in a new, raw and personal way.  Is this what you experienced on your Cursillo? Maybe at another time, you were overcome with the beauty, potency and intimacy of God.  And now you are changed.  We are each gifted with unique, particular encounters and calls from God.  We are also collectively called as Church to meet and share God to a world which, in its self-centeredness, considers itself wise.

 

Our unique call is rooted in another astonishing gift from God:  the desire for God.  The Apostles’ call was to witness to their faith.  And so is ours.  Paul clarifies that the way we do this differs, but all service in love and community comes from God. At times I think how much I would like God to write down “what he wants me to do” on a tablet at my bedside table.  Christ already told me and you, written on our hearts, to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Whether we become a civil servant, a business owner, a first responder, a disabled person unable to hold a job, retired or not, all must flow from those two commands.  When we accept God’s wisdom, inspired as was Peter through our inadequacy yet fired by desire for God, we too will be fishers of (people), shining with Christ’s light. 

 

Action

I struggle every day with leaving everything and following him.  St. Gregory was a monk who was reluctant but followed the call to be a Pope.  We must start with ourselves to “Find a Friend, be a Friend, bring that Friend to Christ.”  What obstacles within or outside of ourselves inhibit our ability to, like Peter, fall on our knees in a renewed yearning for Christ?

 

Illustration:  http://www.carmelites.net/blog/gods-garden-august-28-2020/