Facing a radical Christianity

The following of Christ admits of no neutral ground. It is either we stand in Jesus’ territory or we are on the other side of the fence. Our stands will show that. If we are against the teachings of Christ, we are not for Him. We do not claim to be half against him. The following of Christ is either a "yes" or "no". It is either black or white, no middle colors. We are either in sin or not in sin. There is no half-sin. Even in the matter of loving Christ, it is either all or nothing. No half stance when it comes to relating with Jesus.

Thus we do not proclaim that we accept Jesus as our personal Savior but live-in with a married man estranged from his wife. We gorge our bellies with all the food that whets our appetite, then sit down next morning at the table of the Lord to partake of the sacred meal. We feast our eyes on all the porno in movies and television, in lurid magazines and tabloids, then join a Bible session. We flaunt illegitimate pregnancies, as if they are top news just because we are celebrities on TV and movies. We go into the family apostolate but are unfaithful to our spouses. We preach Christ as lay ministers while we steal from the coffers of Church and government. We are Catholics in the eyes of parishioners who see us faithful to Sunday worship but spend the whole day wasting our time in mahjong sessions. When we don’t make it at mahjong sessions we vent our wrath on the poor maid who has been slaving the whole day doing all the work while we are away.

We know Christianity enough to realize that we are face to face with the radical following of a life admitting of no half-heartedness. St. Therese of the Child Jesus is one saint who seems to have understood in the short span of her 24 years’ life what this radical Christianity is all about. She was able to say honestly at the close of her life that since the age of three, she has never refused our Lord anything. "Oh, I want to give Him my all and if I have nothing anymore to give, I will give Him that nothing." This is a signpost as we travel this life: That we cannot take to mediocrity and be for Christ at the same time.

If our hand feels like dipping into the coffers, cut it off. If our feet lead to forbidden pastures, cut it off before it starts on the tragic journey. If our eyes are tempted to look with pleasure on porno filth, pluck it out. We say it is not that easy. That is the reason why we have to come face to face with the challenge of a radical Christianity which will demand of us our all. And we are not free to choose either way. We are not free to be for or against Christ. We are not free to take Christianity or leave it because Christ warns: "It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God without a hand, or without a foot, or without an eye than to be thrown into hell where the worms that eat them never die, and the fire never goes out."

The demand of Christ’s love is most loving; but it has the imperatives of an absolute love which makes our Christianity a radical following of Christ.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 9, 38-48

On September 21, Ephpheta Foundation for the Blind, Inc. celebrates the 37th anniversary of its founding. Let us thank the Lord for taking care of the blind through EPHPHETA these many years. If you wish to help in our apostolate, please call 426-5969 (Malve), 913-9789 (Rene).