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[Every year around this time, I compose an invitation asking those who are not members of the Catholic Church to consider joining us on our pilgrimage to heaven. I usually come up with something different each year. This year I am going to repeat what I said last year. I’m thinking that most of us don’t change our alarm bell every morning. It’s pretty much the same every morning. And although we hit the snooze button two or three times, we eventually get up and respond to that wakeup call. So here follows the same alarm, a reminder for those who may hit the snooze button on their faith journey for another year. It’s time to wake up.]

The following passage from the first chapter of the Gospel of John is the perfect summary of the mission of the Church:  to bring others to Christ.

The next day John was [by the Jordan River] again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

The next day he decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

John 1:35-51

This passage is a wonderful introduction to the rest of the Gospel of John. In each chapter, we become privileged witnesses to people whose lives are changed by encountering Christ. People come face to face with the living God in Jesus Christ and immediately share their experience with others who in turn become Christ’s disciples:  the Samaritan Woman at the Well, Nicodemus, Mary Magdalene, the Man Born Blind.

        We have all heard that faith isn’t complete until we have given it away. How true that is for any gift. To be able to share something with others is a sure sign that we feel secure in a blessing. In parable after parable, Jesus teaches us that the Kingdom of God is discovered in the very act of giving of oneself to another. All this teaching finds its culmination in the Cross of Jesus Christ, the sign that God gives Himself completely that we might have eternal life.

        Now, read through the above passage once again. Instead of John, Peter, Andrew, Nathanael, substitute the names of a friend, a family member, a co-worker, or a neighbor. Who in your sphere of influence and circle of concern may be ready to answer the call of Christ to follow him as a member of His Church? They may only need your invitation and encouragement to begin the journey. We have so much to show them. Christ can hardly wait to give Himself to them in the Eucharist. Invite them to come and see.

Deacon Paul Poulter and his wife Marilee are the guides for those who seek to enter the Church, either as catechumens who would go through the Order of Christian Initiation, or for those who join the Catholic Church by a profession of faith and completing the sacraments of initiation through Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Please contact them (hummingbirdhollowfarm@gmail.com) or call or email the parish office to indicate your interest.

Please know that the first step is always that of the inquiry stage. Simple curiosity about Christ and the Church may be a sign that the Holy Spirit has already been speaking to you and inviting you on this journey. You may not be ready are even able to commit to a program of formation and prayer which leads to membership in the Catholic Church; nevertheless, taking the first step of inquiry by engaging in a conversation about your own faith journey is always welcome.