Part Four – Now Is Our Time

We are two days away from the conference Passion and Purpose with Matthew Kelly. Over the past three weeks we have examined eighteen chapters of his book, Rediscover Catholicism. In the last section of this book, Matthew explores our call to action in the three chapters we will review today: Time For A Change, Leadership, and Return to Virtue.

Chapter Nineteen - Time For A Change

The mission for Catholics in any age is to transform the world they live, work, and play in. All periods of history have faced unique challenges – our time is no different. The benefits of transformation are not limited to the individual, for as we are transformed, every activity, every person and every environment is transformed by our touch.

What does it take to create this needed transformation? Matthew says we need people willing to live life to its fullest - to be the example that will inspire others. We need people willing to change. It easy to say that the Church needs to change, but what we forget in making that statement is that we are the Church. So the real question becomes: Are you willing to change? Are we willing to become the change the Church needs?

Matthew notes that while there are many things we could focus on changing, he feels there are two that will be key to driving the type of lasting change needed: Education and Evangelization. Both of these are significantly flawed or at the very least woefully inadequate in the life of the Church today. Matthew asks how can it be possible that so many pass through the Catholic education system and know so little about the Church and their faith? How can so many graduate and not know how to build an effective relationship with God?

We cannot afford to lose another generation of Catholics. The Catholic education system has the potential to play an unfathomable role in the renewal of the Church. More than any other activity in the Church, education has a rare opportunity to reorient modern men and women toward God. We need to take a hard look at how budgets are being allocated and educational plans are being created to ensure we are engaging our young people in the Catholic faith.

The nature and purpose of the Church is to influence people and communities by bringing the life and teachings of Jesus Christ to life in every place and time. This is the effort of evangelization. Matthew proposes a four-step approach.

• Step One: We must begin to nurture friendships as the first Christians did. 
• Step Two: We must pray for the people we are trying to reach with life-giving values, principles, and ideas of the Gospel.
• Step Three: We need to tell our stories and the stories of the great people in the Church. Stories change people’s lives. 
• Step Four: We need to invite our friends and neighbors to outreach events at our local church.

Matthew admits that many will see this plan as too simplistic. But this plan was what made the early Church unstoppable. They believed that the values and principles of the Gospel were the best way to live. They nurtured friendships. They were deeply committed to a life of prayer. They were courageous in telling their stories. They were generous and welcoming. The primary vehicle that God wants us to use to share the truth, beauty, and wisdom of his ways is not mass media or the Internet. The vehicle God wants to use is friendship.  

Chapter Twenty - Leadership

People need leadership, and in the absence of genuine leadership they will listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. Matthew feels we need an authentic Catholic leader who can speak to our people in ways that are bold, brilliant, logical, articulate, and inspiring. I feel we have that today with many people, lay and ordained, but most importantly with our Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Matthew points to several characteristics he feels we need in leadership. The first is courage. Everything in life requires courage. Courage is essential to the human experience. It animates us, brings us to life, and makes everything possible. The second is bold leadership. The famous German author, Goethe, wrote, “Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” It is this boldness that the Church needs. The bold leader will be dedicated to the spiritual life, the prayerful life, the virtuous life.

The third and last characteristic is servant leadership. Jesus gave birth to this type of leadership. Unlike the kings, queens, and emperors who through history used their strength and power to rule, Jesus, the greatest leader of all time, did not come to be served but to serve. He ruled through his servant example and heart.

At different times, we are all called upon as leaders - some as mothers and fathers, others as CEOs and presidents, and yet others as priest and bishops. Whatever form of leadership we are called to, let us exercise it with one thing in mind: People don’t fail because they want to fail. People fail because they don’t know how to succeed.  

Chapter Twenty One - Return to Virtue

Matthew closes his book with a discussion on virtue. The only way for our lives to genuinely improve is by acquiring virtue. Similarly, it is impossible for a society to genuinely improve unless its members grow in virtue. The renewal that the Church so desperately needs is a renewal of virtue. And it is our relationship with Christ that gives us the strength, the grace, and the wisdom to grow in virtue. The catechism tells us that virtue is “a habitual and firm disposition to do good.”

The connection between virtue and the flourishing of an individual is unquestionable. To live a life of virtue is to move beyond the chaos and restlessness that agonize the human heart, and embrace a life of coherence. Similarly, the relationship between the virtue of the members of a community and the flourishing of their society is proven time and time again throughout history.

The Church has always proclaimed that the seven foundational virtues are the cornerstone of the moral life. This foundation is made up of the supernatural virtues (Faith, Hope, and Love) and the four cardinal virtues (Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude). The supernatural virtues free us from self-centeredness and protect us from the ultimate vice - pride.

The cardinal virtues allow us to acquire the self-mastery necessary to make us free and capable of love. They do this by ordering our passions and guiding our conduct in accordance with reason and faith. The only way for our lives to genuinely improve is by acquiring virtue. To grow in virtue is to improve as a person. Virtues are the tools God uses to build the-best-version-of-ourselves. 

Matthew finishes the chapter with a wonderful statement on the power of hope. I hope . . . that I can live up to the gifts and talents God has given me. I hope I can have the courage to be a true friend, and a good parent. I hope I never stop striving to become the-best-version-of-myself. I hope I will have the courage to follow where his voice leads me. I hope we can build a world where our children can grow free and strong. And I hope we grow wise enough to realize that we have no better ally than Catholicism in achieving these hopes.

I hope . . . and that is a wonderful thing. Matthew asks us to join him in that hope and together we will awaken all men and women to discover the incredible dream God has for their lives and for the world.

Question

How do you intend to chart your path in life to be-the-best-version-of-yourself? 

In peace,
Dan