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One’s faith is a powerful influence on others
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February 1, 2021Unlike the rest of material creation, human beings are self-conscious, thinking beings invested with the capacity for free choice. They possess immortal, spiritual souls capable of union with God. Every person has a profound spiritual dimension to his or her being. The human person is, after all, “the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake. From his conception, he is destined for eternal beatitude.” (CCC 1703)
In acknowledgement of this supreme calling, our Savior reminds us to render “to God what belongs to God” (Matt 22:21), inviting us to be generous with the gifts we have received through divine providence and God’s magnanimity. Our commitment and generosity, therefore, should never be self-motivated or restricted to a single moment or occasion. As Jesus says, “[W]ithout cost you have received; without cost you are to give” (Matt 10:8). We should not limit our relationship with God, but, instead, see in every hour of the day the opportunity to manifest God’s blessings.
Christians active in economic, social, political, and cultural affairs should not behave as if faith were merely relegated to religious moments. “The Son of God,” Pope Benedict XVI once said, “took flesh and became man, not merely to confirm the world in its worldliness and to be its companion, leaving it to carry on just as it is, but in order to change it.” In other words, our determination to live as children of God should be realized in all aspects of human life, in our choices and actions. We must be light and salt amid the world.
A disciple’s faith, then, serves as a powerful influence upon others, a light that illuminates everything it touches. “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matt 5:14-16). With a heart overflowing with gratitude for all bestowed in Christ Jesus, a disciple joyfully and willingly integrates faith into every facet of daily existence, both in private and public manner. Consequently, it is scandalous, an act of contradiction, for any disciple to live a double life, dividing one’s loyalties between God and personal concerns. This is a losing battle, says Jesus, because “no one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or be devoted to one and despise the other.” (Matt 6:24)
True love for Jesus poses no contradiction and is devoted 24 hours a day; it is single-minded in focus. Our dedication as disciples, hence, encompasses the whole of our lives, and every fiber of our being resounds with the love of Jesus and the Gospel He proclaims. As Pope Leo XIII said, “Christians are born for combat” (Sapientiae Christianae, “On Christians as Citizens”). Thus, each ordinary moment becomes an extraordinary opportunity to magnify the greatness of God, bearing constant witness to the transforming power of His eternal love.
Modern society would have Christians remain silent, especially on fundamental Gospel values — i.e., human dignity, respect for born and unborn life, and the dignity of marriage between one man and one woman. However, when tempted to say nothing or to compromise on essential Christian tenets or waver in the face of pressure and convenience, we should remember “there is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). And bear in mind that “Christ did not promise an easy life. Those who desire comforts have dialed the wrong number,” Pope Benedict XVI told German pilgrims who were in Rome for his inauguration in April 2005. “Rather, he shows us the way to great things, the good, towards an authentic human life.”
FATHER SHENAN J. BOQUET is the president of Human Life International and a priest of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, LA.
