That Yearning to Share – Part II (08/12/2024)

Last week (08/05/2024), I shared my time with a young man who was so eager to share his faith and what he was learning. Yesterday, he came to find me after Mass to share with me a special crucifix he had received as a gift. It was crafted out of olive wood from the holy land and at the bottom was a small glass capsule of soil from Calvary. His enthusiasm for his faith was contagious.

I shared with him my pocket cross. I took it out and showed him the figures of Jesus, the Father Almighty, and the Spirit. His father was standing with us. I asked him if he had a personal cross to remind him always of the LORD’s loving power and presence. He shook his head, “no.” So, I gave him mine. And I added that it was to remind him not only of the LORD’s loving presence but also of the love of us, the community. He surprised me with a hug.

Our faith, our light, is meant to be shared like the lamp in the gospels – which is not meant to be buried under a bushel basket but on a lampstand where it gives light to all (Mt. 5:15). And yet, I found myself wondering yesterday, how many of us are as eager as this young man to share our faith with others? How often does our faith come up in conversations?

When we experience Christ, when we move from just knowing about Him to knowing Him, we are beneficiaries of His light. I think of the stained-glass windows in church filled with the images of saints – the light of the LORD shines through them day after day. We are called to be saints – to let the light of our LORD, our Redeemer, shine through us daily. Sometimes it will be through our actions, but we also need to speak of our LORD to others.

As I reflected last evening about the day and recalled the young man and his father and our exchanges, I prayed to the LORD for the enthusiasm of the young man. And I prayed that I might accompany others on their journey as this father has. And finally, I thanked the LORD for bringing both of them into my life.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.