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HAS BEEN A BREAT BLESSING in my life to have as my life
partner a man who, in the face of enormous personal
suffering, speaks the truth whenever and wherever he senses
the promptings of the Holy Spirit to do so. The cost, both
actual and potential, is high as he frequently puts himself
at risk in answering the call of God to proclaim the message
and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it (2 Tm 4:2). I watch
with admiration as he endures the ridicule of colleagues for
holding up the teachings of the Church on such practices as
horoscopes and numerology (#2116, Catechism of the Catholic
Church). I cheer him on as he steps way out on a limb to
suggest gently and lovingly to a pregnant student that a
decision for life is a courageous option.
 It
is true heroism, I believe, to go out this way day after day
into our communities and our workplaces bearing the light of
Christ, knowing that in all likelihood we will be ignored,
rejected and even persecuted.
Yet,
that is exactly what the Church has been subjected to since
its early beginnings, but perhaps never to the degree that
we are witnessing today. As a "survivor" of the liberal
sixties and the self-indulgent seventies, I am a
whole-hearted convert to the straight lines and the timeless
values that have been upheld by the Church since Jesus set
it on a firm foundation so many hundreds of years ago. The
truth is the truth, now and ever shall be, world without
end. No compromises, no concessions, no bending, no
negotiating. Love is unconditional, life is precious, and
salvation is in Jesus Christ.
It
hurts us to see our beloved Church dragged through the mud,
taunted by the media, condemned for being rigid and
unyielding. It hurts me to see my husband come in the door
exhausted from the experience of living the Gospel in a
hostile environment. But I know that this is the paradox of
joy-suffering that Jesus lived and invites us to live as his
followers.
And
if we agree? Like Jesus, who was rejected by men but chosen
by God and precious to him, we are a
chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a
people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you
out of the darkness into his wonderful light (1 Pet
2:4,9).
Awesome,
isn't it?!
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