Eve of the "Year of Faith"

We have arrived at the Eve of the "Year of Faith" which begins on October 11. It is more than just a year because it will last until November 24, 2013. This Year of Faith coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council, October 11, 1962, and the 20th Anniversary of the publication of the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" in 1992. The Responsorial Psalm and Gospel for October 10 are appropriate on this eve of the Year of Faith. A highlight of the Year of Faith is the "New Evangelization". As our psalmist says, "Go out to all the world and tell the Good News." Yes, we take the message of Jesus Christ to all the world and even in our very communities. As I told the Catholic School students and adults at Mass today, there are people in our communities or maybe in our midst who need to hear the Good News, they need to have a strong, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and they need a message of hope. It is our task to go forth and proclaim the Good News, not just with words, but with our very lives. That is where I tied in the gospel for today, Luke 11:1-4. The disciples witnessed Jesus at prayer and one of them asked, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." One meditation said that the disciples saw something in Jesus' eyes and they knew that they wanted to have what our Lord had. The same is true in living our faith and proclaiming the Good News. Perhaps the people we evangelize can see the joy of discipleship in our eyes and would like to be a part of it. This Year of Faith needs to do something for us personally. We are being asked to renew, revitalize, confirm, and profess our faith and have a strong relationship with Jesus Christ. Prayer is a beautiful gift and a great place to begin, as well as our participation in the Sacraments. The door on the "Year of Faith" is about to open!!! Let us make the most of this time that God and the Church is giving us and may our efforts bear much fruit so that we can truly live our faith to the fullest!!! Have a blessed day!!!