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Journey of an Unknown Soul
Lindsey Larson
May 31, 2006
What new cultural, intellectual or religious horizons confront us today? What are some of the areas in which this new "missionary" encounter might occur? What might be the vocation of a modern day saint?
In the modern world, I believe that the missionary is called to a radical love - more then ever before. People, especially in the Western world are continually denied love in their homes, work, school and recreation. We are taught moral relativism, self reliance and sexual disorders are all normal and good things. Blessed Mother Teresa confronted the poverty of Calcutta with gentle hands feeding the poor, healing the sick, comforting the dieing and welcoming all unwanted. Yet when she was confronted with the Western World Mother Teresa said, "You in the West have the spiritually poorest of the poor much more than you have the physically poor. Often the rich are very spiritually poor people. I find it easy to give a plate of rice to a hungry person, to furnish a bed to a person who has no bed, but to console or to remove bitterness, anger, and loneliness that comes from being spiritually deprived, that takes a long time."
Presently the philosophy of the times is a neo-pagan thought. As many of my Catholic friends went out into the world, I watched them turn to moral relativism, believing that everyone can find their own truth and they "shouldn't" force their beliefs on anyone. This liberal movement of thought has only left my dear ones not believing in anything. I can sense in their very presence and often their words that they question whether there is truth. Instead of "giving freedom" to others to believe what they want, it has drained them of all of their beliefs and left Christ alone in the deep part of their hearts waiting to be loved, waiting to be known.
This neo-pagan thought is full of self reliance. It teaches people to rely only themselves and to not trust, need or want a community. This is contrary to our natural inclinations as humans. We are made to have community, to have a family and those that we can trust and give ourselves too by means of true love. Self reliance destroys families and moves the individual to isolation, materialism and deep inner turmoil.
Neo pagan thought is rooted in living sexual lies. Sexual disorder is not something that just affects the physicality of the person, but because our bodies are a part of our person, deeply interconnected with our soul - our physical actions run deep within. When a person gives him or herself away before marriage it leaves such confusion and pain. This pain only leads to other unhealthy relationships. Beyond this, as moral relativism has progressed, the world has become more and more accepting of same sex relationships. Understanding the beauty and intricacy of the human body in light of God's creative power, we understand that living an active homosexual life is against the true and the good. Homosexual lifestyles are contrary to the human body and the way that we are created to give ourselves to another. This active life destroys families and the soul of the person. Active homosexuality and premarital sexual relations are atrocities to the souls involved because they live a sexual lie. It is not simply words that are false, but with their very bodies they say something that is not true and even worse, this leads to such distortion that they believe that they are truly loving another. Consequently, often when the love of God is brought before their eyes they are bitter and confused because it is so contrary to the "love" they have known and been living.
All of these issues should not lead the modern Christian to despair, casting judgments or righteous preaching. Mother Teresa said, "The world today is hungry not only for bread but hungry for love, hungry to be wanted, to be loved. They're hungry to feel the presence of Christ." Understanding the neo-pagan thought compared to the Christ of the Gospels, should move us to our knees in radical prayer. Through this prayer we come to know sweet Jesus. In the Gospel of Mark, we are recalled to a leper coming to Christ, our Lord responded with eyes of compassion. So too our eyes must burn with loving compassion for our brothers and sisters. In a world that knows such little love, we must not only be vessels of God's love but chalices overflowing to all those that we meet. Mother Teresa said, "You may go out into the street and have nothing to say, but maybe there is a man standing there on the corner and you go to him. Maybe he resents you, but you are there, and that presence is there. You must radiate that presence that is within you, in the way you address that man with love and respect. Why? Because you believe that is Jesus. Jesus cannot receive you - for this, you must how to go to Him. He comes disguised in the form of that person there. Jesus, in the least of His brethren, is not only hungry for a piece of bread, but hungry for love, to be know, to be taken into account." In encountering the Risen Christ in each of us, many will turn their eyes to the Way, the Truth and the Life. It is a relationship with Christ that will change our lives and the lives of all around us! No missionary has any power on their own, instead we must pray to the Holy Spirit and strive for our own bettering and in loving our brothers and sisters live as witnesses to hope.
Pope John Paul II, pray for us.
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