“Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a Person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction” (Pope Benedict XVI, Deus caritas est, 1).
Saint Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, our second reading, makes clear that an encounter with Jesus should lead to sanctification; it should lead to people becoming saints. Last week, on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, I spoke about Jesus’ humanity raising up our own fallen, weak, and discouraged humanity. It is necessary to repeat our belief that only Jesus Christ offers us the possibility of change; when we worship Him, when we pray to Him and the saints, when we draw upon His sacraments, we are transformed. There is another message in the second reading – we can be brothers and sisters, only if we are children of the same God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We can build fraternity among us if we acknowledge being sons and daughters of God the Father, from whom all fatherhood flows.
This past week, Br. Grzegorz and I had our annual retreat, our annual spiritual exercises. This was a chance for an encounter with God, and with our Oblate brothers. The center of our Oblate province is in Toronto, and so, our retreat took place in the GTA, at Queen of Apostles, our Oblate renewal center in Mississauga. As some of you know, I wear several hats – being the pastor of St. Hedwig’s is the most important hat, or “czapka”, but there are other hats to wear. I am also responsible for ongoing formation in the Assumption Province of the Oblates, on top of being a provincial councillor, and chaplain to the Polish Scouts. This first half of the year is traditionally a time of heavy Oblate commitments, as our annual retreat, our annual study days and two provincial council meetings take place from January to June. In short, aside from parish responsibilities, I also have obligations and work for my Oblate province.
Fraternity and brotherhood are also something to consider as we observe this week the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This year’s materials were prepared by the Christian churches of Malta. It is in Malta that on February 10th, many Christians celebrate the Feast of the Shipwreck of St. Paul, the author of our second reading. Without forgetting or glossing over our many differences, we are called to encounter Christians from other denominations, as we pray that we become one, as the Father and Jesus are one.
In the Gospel, St. John the Baptist encounters Jesus, who is drawing near to him, and exclaims, “Here is the Lamb of God”. St. John the Baptist, the faithful witness and friend of the bridegroom. St. John the Baptist was able to point out the Lamb of God to others, because he had met him first. As St. Pope Paul VI wrote, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” (Pope Paul VI, Evangelii nuntiandi, 41). One of the ways that we bear witness to Christ is by the way we speak. In Polish, for example, there are many traditional ways to express that Christ has entered the realm of the word, of speech: we can say “Bóg zapłać” – may God repay; “idź z Bogiem” – may God accompany you as you take your leave; or even “dokąd Bóg prowadzi” – where is God guiding your steps. In English we can say “Godspeed” as we wish someone a prosperous journey. These are all ways to indicate, by our speech, that we have encountered Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
As we reflect upon fraternity and brotherhood, as we recall that we are sons and daughters of one Father, let us take steps to renew and refresh our encounter with Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, pointed out by St. John the Baptist. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph, accompany us in this journey of faith with their prayers.
(Fr. Pawel Ratajczak, OMI, Jan. 19, 2020)