THE BISHOP'S CROZIER: Shining Lights in the Darkness

By Bishop James R. Golka

As the bishop of the diocese that has its home in the Olympic City, I was deeply shocked and saddened to witness the blasphemous display during the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris.  

The shameful mockery of the Last Supper caused a great wound to the heart of Jesus and to the hearts of many Christians around the world. How do we as Catholics respond to this?  While we are certainly called to courageously stand up and defend our Lord and our holy faith, I would like to give some other insights on how we can effectively respond to this and other trials and persecutions that we will face as Christians living in an increasingly secular and hostile culture. 

First, we should not be surprised that we are facing this kind of mockery and persecution from our culture and the evil one.  Jesus prepares us when he says, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”  (John 15:18)  He also teaches us in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)  Being Christian has always meant being a sign of contradiction against the spirit of the world in which we live. There is always going to be opposition and persecution, especially in a culture that is openly rejecting God and his love.   But Jesus also teaches us how to suffer in love when we are persecuted.  He commands us, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) We need to be aware that what is ultimately at stake is the salvation of souls.  Those who encouraged and took part in the events at the opening ceremonies are real people who Jesus wants to save!  So while we boldly defend our faith, we must also pray for the conversion and salvation of the people who participated in this act so that they can come to know the mercy and love of Jesus.  “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  (Luke 23:34)

Secondly, we need to have great hope in Christ’s victory. While we see much evil and experience persecution in this world, we need to remember that in the end Christ is victorious!  This reminds me of the scene from the gospels of the storm at sea.  The boat is being swamped with waves and the apostles are convinced they are perishing. But what is Jesus doing?  He is asleep!  Jesus knows who he is and what he is about and that he will be victorious. Jesus wants us to share in that same confidence and peace, even in times of trial and persecution, so that he can use us in bringing about this victory.  Pope Francis reminds us of this when he says, “Nobody can go off to battle unless he is fully convinced of victory beforehand. If we start without confidence, we have already lost half the battle and we bury our talents.”  (Evangelii gaudium, 85)

Pope Francis understands that Jesus wants to use us in his victory through the witness of our lives.  The battle for souls in our world today will be won primarily through the authentic witness of our Catholic faith that is true, good, and beautiful. Our faith is attractive, and it is most attractive when we are bearing witness to it through lives of humility, charity and holiness. St. Paul VI sees our holy witness as the very heart of evangelization: “Above all the Gospel must be proclaimed by witness. Take a Christian or a handful of Christians who, in the midst of their own community, show their capacity for understanding and acceptance, their sharing of life and destiny with other people, their solidarity with the efforts of all for whatever is noble and good. Let us suppose that, in addition, they radiate in an altogether simple and unaffected way their faith in values that go beyond current values, and their hope in something that is not seen and that one would not dare to imagine. Through this wordless witness these Christians stir up irresistible questions in the hearts of those who see how they live: Why are they like this? Why do they live in this way? What or who is it that inspires them? Why are they in our midst? Such a witness is already a silent proclamation of the Good News and a very powerful and effective one. Here we have an initial act of evangelization.” (Evangelii nuntiandi, 21)

So our definitive response to what occurred in Paris is to be shining lights in the darkness.  Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount, “You are the light of the world . . . let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14;16)  We see this powerfully lived out in the liturgy every Easter Vigil when the light of the resurrected Christ pierces the darkness of sin and death. But then that light grows and becomes almost overwhelming when the light of each person’s candle is lit.  The darkness of sin and evil is vanquished when each one of us becomes the light of Christ brightly shining in the world and stirring up irresistible questions in the hearts of those around us.   This is our response and our call.