What Does It Mean to “Be Catholic”?
June 19, 2024
Fr. John Riccardo
Brothers and sisters: The love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer. So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.
2 Corinthians 5:14-17
There is so much to ponder in these few short verses from Paul this week. Is he, for example, referencing the fact that he had met Jesus in his earthly ministry? It would seem hard to imagine that Paul, who was educated in Jerusalem, did not ever hear Jesus preach? It was a small city, after all. I often wonder about this. On a recent trip to the Holy Land I was blessed to spend a number of days making a holy hour at Golgotha, and one day was almost entirely focused on Paul and whether or not he was there that Friday we call “Good.” He certainly would have visited the spot after he encountered the Risen Lord on the way to Damascus.
The line, however, that stands out the most for me this week is this: “...so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
Who am I living for? Who are you living for? Is it really the Lord?
I had a conversation recently with a friend and over the course of the conversation we started talking about those who identify as Catholic. I personally find virtually every attempt to discuss what “Catholics” believe futile. I told my friend, “I don’t think that I know what that word means. Does it refer to those who were baptized? Those who call themselves Catholic? Or something else entirely?” Paul’s words this week seem to offer us a way to think about this.
Jesus makes it abundantly clear that the call to follow Him is a choice. He says very clearly, “If anyone would come after Me He must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). I always used to get hung up on the “pick up your cross” line, for obvious reasons. It is, though, the first part of Jesus’ saying that is the most challenging. Mary Healy, in her spectacular commentary on the Gospel of Mark, points out, ‘To deny’...was a legal term signifying a complete disownment … Jesus is referring to a total shift of the center of gravity in one’s life, a reckless abandonment to him that entails the letting go of all one’s own attachments and agendas, even one’s hold on life itself.”
Paul has done this. Not, however, in an attempt to win God’s favor, His love, or to avoid going to hell. He shifted “the center of gravity” in his life out of a loving and grateful response to what Jesus had already done by His defeating Sin, Death and Satan for him.
Has this happened for us? Until it has, we’re really not disciples of Jesus, and that’s ultimately what it means to “be Catholic.” Catholicism is not something we happen to be, like our ethnicity. We can only become disciples by making a deliberate choice to do what Jesus invites us to consider and by surrendering the ownership of our life to the God who is Love. Let us ask St. Paul to pray for us to encounter this week anew the love of God for us by name, and to make the decision – daily – to live no longer for ourselves but for Him.
ACTS XXIX Prayer Intentions
June 2024
For Bishop David Kagan and the presbyterate of Bismarck, North Dakota and the retreat we’ll be leading for them.
For the many leadership teams across the country who will be attending the Leadership Immersives on our campus.
For all bishops and priests throughout our country, especially those who are celebrating anniversaries as well as those who are suffering with illness.
For our Board of Directors, our Episcopal Advisory Council, our benefactors and prayer partners.
For protection upon Fr. John, our team, and all our families.