Share my faith? How?

So there’s a lull in a conversation with friends and someone you know, but not all that well, asks you, “Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?” Everything stops, doesn’t it? Like a sudden wind that knocks you off balance, you struggle to respond in some appropriate way but you really are at a loss for words.

Catholics especially find it hard to answer this question. “I THINK I HAVE” might be our answer. Pressed further as to when and where you accepted Jesus someone might say “Well, I go to mass on Sunday”, “I don’t cheat anybody.” “I give to the United Way.” “Oh I don’t know.”

I don’t think it’s through any lack of faith that one is left in confusion. It’s just that we show our religion and faith in a different way. Taking Holy Communion at mass is probably the premiere moment for Jesus and me in the week. Yes, THERE HE IS, my Lord and Savior!

(Chances are, our inquiring friend would not understand this answer.) . . . And just before that we turn to each other and say, “The Peace of Christ be with you!” and we smile at each other and somehow I feel Jesus is with us.

That’s it. That’s Jesus and me. And is He my Lord and Savior? Of course He is!

However. . . that’s not enough. You see our faith is a gift that is meant to be shared. Christianity is not just about “Jesus and me”, it’s about Jesus, you and me, all of us together. Why else would Jesus leave the 99 safe in the meadow to search out the lost sheep?

So how do we uptight Catholics begin to share our faith? It starts with an attitude of affection. We have to like our neighbor, to genuinely care how they are, to be hap- py when they are happy and sad when they are sad. Not that everyone is our best friend, but everyone can count on us to be in their corner.

We want goodness to find Once we have our neighbor fixed in our hearts as “brother” or “sister”, we can speak to them as to a friend – — because that’s what they are. (People just know it when someone approaches them in kindness.)

Next we need to check our memory bank for the times God has popped up in my life. These are moments of joy or sorrow, success or failure, where I cried out to God and He heard me, or a joy beyond all expectation filled my heart. These are my life’s faith stories, my God history. These things I know, not because I read about them, but because they happened to me personally. These are the things that Christ asks me to share with my neighbor when the Holy Spirit moves.

Sooooo . . . . Sometime you might consider:

• Telling a friend or co-worker who’s facing sickness or sadness or some worry in life, “I will say a prayer for you each day this week.” And then do it!
• Telling a troubled teenager about a time in your own youth when things seemed impossible. But “You can do this. I’ll pray and God will help. I know because God has helped me.” 2 Cor. 1:4.
• Inviting a friend to come to mass with the promise of “breakfast on me” afterward.
• Sharing with someone what you have learned in life that relates to your faith. (Telling your story about: telling the truth, purity in relations, going out of your way to help, etc.)
• Let people see you make the sign of the cross, saying grace before meals, blessing your children.
• Do something for others. No expectations for a “thank you”, just a kindness that speaks all by itself.

You’ll know what to do. The Holy Spirit will whisper it to you.

Fr. Tim