One Direction

       This year has been a year of change for the Church.  The election of Pope Francis has caused much talk amongst and about the Church and where it is heading.  However, the direction of the Church is not up to Pope Francis (don’t be so shocked).  The direction of the Church is up to the Church, which means it is up to every baptized man, woman, and child.

pic via The Riches of Proverbs 

       The beauty of God is that he is the same today, yesterday, and everyday.  While many people complain that the teachings of the Church are outdated and irrelevant that is simply not true.  God is truth and truth is never changing.  The Church teaches the truth; therefore the Church’s teachings cannot change with the times.  However, the Church itself, and how it is portrayed and how it functions can change.   We, as members of the Church Jesus began, have a responsibility to share the truth of the Church in our everyday actions and interactions. 

       When we are baptized into the Catholic faith we are baptized priest, prophet, and king.  That means that we are all called to minster to people, share the Gospel, and lead.  We are all called to greatness.  We are called to be lights in the darkness. 

       So stop underestimating yourself!  The idea that I can't cause a change has been and sometimes still is a lie that I believe.  So many of us believe that we are too small to make a difference in the Church; that we will not have a lasting impact. That is simply not true, just by changing your own way of living to more closely reflect that of Christ, you are changing the Church.  Just by not being afraid to tell your friends that you are going to mass or Bible study, you are changing the Church.  Just by doing some spiritual reading and reflection on your own or with friends, you are changing the Church.  We have the power to impact lives, starting with our own, but by no means confined to our own. 

When I was a little girl in Catholic school we used to sing a song:

       “God made the world and it was good
         He made it out of nothing
         He’s the only one who could
         He put it all together just the way that it should be

         And he left the rest up to you and me”

       So let us accept the challenge and the responsibility that has been awarded to us by God.  Let us take the world by storm and move the Church closer to Christ.  You (that’s right, you) have the power and the opportunity to change the Church.  No, our teachings don’t change with the times, because God doesn't change with the times, but a change certainly needs to take place in our hearts.  The change Christ is calling us to make is not to move away from the current teachings but rather to move closer to them.  To quote Matthew Kelly, “there is nothing wrong in the Church that can not be fixed by what is right in the Church.”  So I challenge each and every one of you to begin with yourself and harness what is right in the Church and change what is wrong.  

       What do you think about the direction of the Church?  How can we change it for the better?  What are some practical ways you try and move the Church closer to God?  Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Drop me a line in the comments below!