Reminding myself to live in the joy of Easter throughout the year may sound like a lofty sentiment and a daunting quest. Yet we are in Eastertide — giving me plenty of opportunity keep that attitude alive and create the fruitful habit of proclaiming the Gospel message of Easter joy at every opportunity God presents me.
I sense this is the intent of the 40-Day “Activated Disciple” Challenge going on now, as I and other members of parish-based Synod Evangelization Teams share Christ’s love as part of implementing the Synod in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
After recently completing the seven-week School of Discipleship, we are now working on establishing habits of virtue to help better live a life of faith. And to live it “radically,” as put by Jeff Cavins, leader of the School of Discipleship, which is offered through the Archbishop Flynn Catechetical Institute at The St. Paul Seminary in St Paul.
It is a worthy initiative, albeit taken on to the chagrin of me and others with my parish who are seeking that joy amidst the other “No. 1 priorities” in life. But we are called to go through the challenge to help build habits and skills to grow in faith and “make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19) — starting with our own families and parish life.
Now that nearly two weeks have passed since the 40-Day Challenge launch on Palm Sunday, the man in the mirror tells me to practice what I preach as a Catholic Watchman and encounter Jesus in Scripture. Which means to be an active disciple versus a passive Christian curmudgeon. This should be a joyful activity. Actively proclaiming the joy of Easter is truly Christian. It is similar to daily prayer and being an authentic Christian father. Showing up physically and spiritually every day to our families is not a life of passivity. I have to remind myself more times than not to live always in Easter joy. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that “joy is not a virtue distinct from charity, but an act or effect of charity (love).” This starts with the love for our Lord.
Encountering Jesus in the Bible helps us know, follow and love him. Through his resurrection, he defeated death — and that is whose side we want our families and loved ones to be on. That is the essence of the joy of Easter we need to proclaim daily.
To “make disciples of all nations” is a formidable mission indeed. The ancient practice of lectio divina (divine reading) with meditation, prayer and contemplation of sacred Scripture is the method used in the 40-Day Challenge to embrace biblical passages for daily living. Experiencing lectio divina individually or in group activities helps participants focus on what God is revealing through his words. In time, we can live the Scripture passages and attract others to the saving knowledge of Jesus — proclaiming and spreading the timeless message of Easter joy.
Deacon Bird ministers to St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville and helps with the archdiocesan Catholic Watchmen movement. See heroicmen.com for tools supported by the archdiocese to enrich parish apostolates for ministry to men. For Watchmen start-up materials or questions contact Deacon Bird at gordonbird@rocketmail.com.
