Sunday, November 05, 2023
“Weekly church attendance by Roman Catholics continued to decline in the last year, according to a new survey.” That was written in a New York Times article published on November 12, 1973, 50 years ago. Earlier in 1970, the Gallup Organization wrote that high points in church attendance were recorded in 1955, the year these audits began on regular basis.
We all know this to be true and not just statistics based on small group samples. We’ve observed attendance decline in our churches. A Catholic Priest giving a homily at a university stated that it is fairly safe to say that there is nothing that draws more people away from Christ than Christians. Whether they are ordained, religious or lay, it is not living up to the faith they profess is what draws other Christians away from Christ and the church. But the news is not all bad, the Priest also said that when we try to live our faith out, there’s nothing that draws more people to Christ than Christians.
Religious people not practicing what they preach is not something new. Religious people mistreating, and offending others and being hypocritical can be traced back to the time of Jesus. This is what He said in today’s Gospel about the scribes and Pharisees: “observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” Matthew 21:3.
Today’s lectionary reveals to us what God expects of us; to glorify Him, our creator, to keep the faith with one another, to be humble, and to witness to our faith through our words, actions and attitudes. St. Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy write in the epistle to the Thessalonians how they not only preached to the faithful in Thessalonica, but they cared deeply for them. “We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well.” 1 Thes. 2:7b-8a. Their care and affection for the people was like a nursing mother caring for her children. Do we love and share ourselves with others? Does our love, gentleness, and affection towards our neighbors, friends, and co-workers lead them to Christ?
Jesus calls us to a life of love and service. “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled.” Matthew 23:11. We grow our humility by praying to God for it and by genuinely loving others and considering them better than we are. We put them ahead of ourselves.
Let us not have our behavior and attitudes become a stumbling block drawing others away from Christ. Let us by our love and service lead them to Him.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.