Taking on the Culture of Death

PATRICK NOVECOSKY writes that we need to be rooted in prayer and live out our faith . . .

Patrick Novecosky

I’ve been thinking about what it was like before I came to know Christ in a personal way, or rather what I was like before my “reversion.” Not much bothered me back then. The very good didn’t move me and the very bad didn’t faze me.

But all that changed when I encountered Christ in my late 20s. The excellent things of this world — like my three-month-old son’s smile — now make me ecstatic. And the evil of this world — like the horrific slaughter of thousands of Christians in the Middle East — fills me with great sorrow.

This change of heart might be the answer to a prayer I’ve prayed many times: “Lord, let me love what you love and loath what you loath.” I know for certain that Jesus loathes sin and suffering. He became man to put an end to evil, and I long for the day when his Kingdom comes.

But until then, we are called to be a light in our imperfect world every day. And Legatus members have that call in a unique way. Legates are called to learn, live and spread the Catholic faith in a world hungry for the truth, but a world which, at the same time, cringes every time Christ is mentioned.

With the Islamic State on the rise, an Ebola crisis looming (already killing people in our own country), and the Church in turmoil over the Synod on the Family in Rome, it might seem like the darkness is closing in. That may be, but this is our day! This is our time to shine. In the midst of the gloom, we’re still called to be that light in the darkness. A little light can be very bright (think Easter Vigil) and make a big difference for people trying to move forward in cultural darkness.

Nor can we ever forget that we’re in a spiritual battle. Saint Paul wrote to Timothy that “the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth” (2 Tim 4: 3-4).

Paul urges Timothy to persist in spreading the Gospel despite setbacks and hardships. Our call is no different. Rooted in prayer — our lifeline to the Living God — we are each called to serve where we’re planted. And if we are all faithful to our calling, the Culture of Death doesn’t stand a chance.

PATRICK NOVECOSKY is Legatus magazine’s editor-in-chief.