Difficulty in Sharing the Faith
Our Readings at Mass today describe vividly some of the more unpopular, or more specifically, the more difficult parts of what it is to follow God, to give our whole selves. It would do us well to look to them, to be challenged, but ultimately to be encouraged.
ONE
The Prophet Jeremiah begins by crying out, “O Lord you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long”
How many of us have felt deceived by God? That question maybe shocking at first. But haven’t we thought it? I’ve certainly thought it while trying to share the faith with people, especially with people I earnestly care about, and the end result seemingly is as Jeremiah says, “everyone mocking me” or that I “I have become a laughingstock all the day”. It is difficult to stand on the side of truth and to share that with others. When we have one of these difficult encounters, it can be the source of feeling “deceived by God”, feeling that somehow sharing the Gospel, sharing the truth should be easier. God does comfort us, but He didn’t promise we would be comfortable.
TWO
Jeremiah then continues, “If I say, “I will not mention Him, or speak anymore in His name,” there is in my heart a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” Because of these difficulties sharing the truth, even Jeremiah wanted to say, “I will not mention Him or speak anymore in His name.” But, he knew he couldn’t do that. He couldn’t keep the truth to himself. This is nature of Truth, of Goodness, of Beauty, of Love: It has to be shared. This is what Jeremiah meant earlier when he said, “You are stronger than I, and you have prevailed.” If he tried to hold it in, his heart and bones were like they were on fire and he tired from holding it in. We may have experienced this before, but too often for us if we hold it in, if we stop sharing the faith, our fire goes out.
THREE
St Paul gives us the answer to our struggle. He says, “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” The answer is this: The problem is in me. I want comfort, while God wants me “not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewal of my mind.” Even though I have been following Jesus for 20+ years, I can still have this idea that if I’m following Jesus it should be easy. That if I’m trying to be virtuous then it should go smoothly. That if I’m sharing the truth, it should go well. But that is not what is being said. What’s being said is to present ourselves as a living sacrifice.
FOUR
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.” You see, even Peter thought it could be done without difficulty, that it could be easier. Can you imagine for one second, having the best of intentions just like Peter and saying, “Lord, why can’t it be easier? Lord, why not another way?” and even though we mean well, having a different plan in mind than God? Jesus turns and He says, “Get behind me, Satan!” How difficult for Peter! How hard for us too, when we hear that we are hindering the Gospel, we are hindering God’s plan all because I want it easy. I want to be comfortable.
FIVE
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Sharing the Gospel, standing up for the truth, walking with the broken these can all be so very difficult. Jesus cuts right to the point: By denying yourself the easy way and giving all of yourself, you will find life. How much more so when we share the Gospel, not only we will find life, in spite of the difficulty, but also our friends and our family members. Strangers we meet and have the courage to share with, they will find life. And a reminder when we say share the Gospel, when we share the name of Jesus that often begins with a smile, asking someone his or her name, what are their interests, what has caught their attention today, how they are doing – that is where it begins. “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”