Why have so many in our country given up on being Catholic? There are many reasons for
this. I believe that this phenomenon is not mainly the result of doctrinal issues but
because they have not had an experience of a religion that has reached out to them and
touched their lives in a significant way. “What you do speaks more loudly that what you
say.”
When we speak of “the heart” in the biblical sense, we are not speaking only of our
feelings. We are speaking about a person’s center, the source of his or her whole life.
Pope Francis wants all members of the Church to evangelize. He is not just talking about
doctrinal issues. He is talking about living a Christian life is such a way that people notice
our outlook and behavior, that reflect a deep Christian spirituality. We need a revolution
of the heart. The experience of God who accepts us and loves us even though we sin, can
change our stony hearts to accept and love others. Pope Francis says, “All are welcome
into this community of people who have not yet arrived but who are on the way. We are
a pilgrim Church.”
- Have people in your family or friends stopped going to Church?
- Does your Church (parish) have a way of reaching out to the “nones”?
- How can you show acceptance and love?
O God, help me show acceptance and love to others, especially the broken hearted.