Catholic Diocese of Broome

It is a difficult time to be a Catholic, or a Christian of any denomination for that matter. Churches and Church people are easy targets of derision and the victims of a significant amount of disrespect from an increasingly godless society. Popularists in the media are regularly espousing their theories of the merit of a world without religion. Meantime there are enough scandals in Church circles to comfortably feed the media monster which is always on the prowl ready to prosecute the faith and those who hold it to be dear. It is challenging, in this negative environment, to speak eloquently and enthusiastically about the Good News of Jesus Christ. And yet, despite all the turmoil and chaos that surrounds us daily in our busy and confusing lives, that is what we are called to do. Proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

My recent experience of the pilgrimage to WYD has taught me the value of a group which grows together, is focused and is able to avoid those distractions that subtract from the common purpose for which the group is dedicated.

Some of our pilgrims, me among them, complained of the difficulty of finishing the pilgrimage only to return to life as it was before – busy, frantic, multi-focused, demanding, cluttered and stressful. On pilgrimage there was time for prayer and reflection and an abounding energy produced by people of like mind. Like true pilgrims we were deeply focused on our journey in faith.

So, I have been thinking a great deal of not only how to survive in a busy chaotic world but how to thrive. How to dodge the slings and arrows of outrageous pagans while actively promoting and living the faith I profess. What I have come up with is not at all original. After two thousand years of abiding Christianity there is most likely not too much left in the challenge of Christian living that has not been tried before. But it is nonetheless a personal start and I offer it in all humility.

Firstly, be prayerful and live prayerfully. Secondly, be authentic and compare yourself only to Christ. Thirdly, be helpful and try to inspire hope in others. Fourthly, be simple in your life choices and live simply. Fifthly, live life like a true pilgrim.

Being prayerful and living prayerfully includes the daily use of Scripture, the practice of reflective prayer and the celebration of Mass. The community, all of us, are nourished by the Eucharist while our lives are deeply enhanced by God’s word and our reflections upon it.

Being authentic is to avoid the temptation to act in ways that are not Christian. To ask how would Christ have lived, what would Christ have done, what would Christ have said.

Being a hopeful people demonstrates our belief in a world redeemed by Christ wherein we are loved by God bountifully and endlessly. It is a hope born of faith.

Living simply is to use created things for the betterment of our world. It is to avoid the pitfalls of wealth and avarice. It is to shun the trappings of a pretentious life mindful of the needs of others and the demands of justice.

To be a true pilgrim is to recognize that our journey through life is a constant progression towards discovering the wonder of God’s love for us and the joy there surely is in loving God through Christ.

I am writing this on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. I am inspired in these troubled times by her words, ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour.’ (Lk 1:46-47) There are no disappointments so great that I am overwhelmed by them, ‘...his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.’ (Lk 1:50). May Mary continue to be the constant companion of all pilgrims and may Christ enliven us to ever proclaim his Good News along the way.