Sometimes I Hunger for This

I am a Catholic writer.

I am a Catholic.

I am Catholic.

I am.

And I am happy there, in the Church that Christ built, enjoying the fullness of faith.

I am grateful for Christ’s presence on the altar at the Consecration, in the tabernacle all the time, in the Eucharist, in me.

I remember that when our youngest son was still in school, he once told me that when he didn’t know why something was right or wrong, he knew he could always ask his Dad and me.  And if we didn’t know, he knew we’d find out and explain it to him.

The Catholic Church is like that.  If you don’t first understand a complex teaching–say purgatory, or  sexual morality, or original sin, or actual grace, or the hypostatic union–the Church will have a completely logical explanation and a long tradition in support of big-“T” Truth.

I am a Catholic.

But once in a while, I look back to a time when I worshipped at an evangelical church, and I am wistful.  I remember the experiential faith of the believers who gathered there.  My evangelical friends–sometimes affectionately called “hands-uppers”–were so focused, so unabashed in their praise of God, that one couldn’t help but be conscious of His presence.

I am grateful for the exuberant witness of those evangelical friends, for the ease with which they speak of spiritual things.  Catholics may have all seven of the sacraments instituted by Christ, but often, they wear their faith awkwardly, mumbling the prayers during the Sunday liturgy, keeping their quiet, enduring faith to themselves.

We have much to learn from our Christian brothers and sisters in faith, while at the same time, we have much to teach.  What power there would be, were we all gathered together!  I am reminded of Jesus’ high priestly prayer to the Father in John 17:21,

“…that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

This video is a little long.  Take time to watch it, and let yourself be inspired–not just by the song, the lyrics, but by the robust faith that is shared and so joyously expressed.