Our Lady of the Holy Rosary — St. Richard Catholic Church

"To be a witness for God is to be a living sign of God's presence in the world. What we live is more important than what we say, because the right way of living always leads to the right way of speaking. When we forgive our neighbors from our hearts, our hearts will speak forgiving words. When we are grateful, we will speak grateful words, and when we are hopeful and joyful, we will speak hopeful and joyful words.” Henri Nouwen 

"FIVE STEPS TO A FULLER LIFE"

What is the most important decision you face?

We all desire a way of life full of meaning, productivity, and happiness. Jesus proclaims to be “the way, the truth and the life” that leads us to the fullness of life (See Jn 10:10). Therefore, as Fr. David Knight challenges us in his book, Reaching Jesus: 5 Steps to a Fuller Life, “The decision whether or not to believe that Jesus is the life we seek is the most important decision we will ever make, because it sets the course of our lives” (Id. at p. 2). He further states:

If we really believe that the fullness of life we long for is found in union with Jesus, we will direct our whole lives toward acquiring that union. If we really believe Jesus is the way to the fullness of life, we will follow him; we will base everything we do on his words and examples (Id.).

This is not a one-time decision. Rather, “it is a recurring moment, a decision made and persevered in, a commitment….Every decision, every free choice, is an act of self-determination” (Id.). Fr. Knight reminds us,

Our commitments—the truths we choose to believe, the ideals we choose to embrace, the direction we choose to take, the goals we choose to pursue, the hopes we choose to live by—these are the enduring choices that shape our souls, make us the persons we are…” (Id., p. 3).

Fr. Knight offers us five choices that “are essential to our commitment to follow Jesus Christ” and that “lead to the total gift of ourselves in love.” They are “choices to die to ourselves and rise to being in Christ.”

1.  “Make Jesus Christ an active participant in everything we do.“ We are called to recognize the need for Jesus in our life and through God’s grace and prayer, “to make a conscious act of faith that Jesus Christ is living within us, and to invite him to take part in every thought, word, action and decision of our life.” (Id. at pp. 9, 10).

2.  Choose to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, “actively devoting ourselves to continue learning from him at every moment of our lives.” We do this primarily through actively participating at Mass, spending dedicated time in prayer, and reflecting on Jesus’ teachings, ways, and actions found in Scripture.

3.  Make everything in our life and lifestyle bear witness to Jesus Christ and the truth he proclaims. This requires a commitment to continual transformation of our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.

4.  Mediate the life of Christ through love and self-sacrificial service to others.

5. Take responsibility as stewards of our God-given gifts and talents to help transform our cultures to experience and live God’s reign of love, truth, justice, peace, goodness, healing, mercy, and salvation.  

Reflect on Your Experience

Have you made the decision that Jesus is the life you seek?

Do you allow Jesus to be an active participant in everything you do?