Christians in Fact

Details: 03 December 2010

Several weeks ago Jack Crowley, one of our board members, invited me to a Husker game. It had been years since I saw the Huskers in action at Memorial stadium. Needless to say, things have changed in the stadium over the years. It was amazing to see more than 85,000 excited people in one place.

Aren’t there a little over 90,000 Catholics in the 24,000 square miles of the Diocese of Lincoln? Do they not all exhibit even more zeal for the faith than a stadium full of fans on game day, albeit in the silence of their hearts, when they attend the holy sacrifice of the Mass? I thank God for the ones that do and pray that the ones who do not will some day.

Recently we celebrated the memorial of the 117 individuals who were brutally put to death in Vietnam between the years of 1820 to 1862, including Father Andrew Dung-Lac. These are among the 130,000 men, women and children who were similarly put to death, some by decapitation, strangulation and other unspeakable ways between the 16th and 19th centuries all because they were followers of Jesus Christ.

The above number is a conservative estimate of those who were butchered. It is likewise estimated there were even more martyred, not including the hundreds of thousands who suffered severe hardships for the same reason – being Christian. The above-mentioned Memorial Stadium in Lincoln could not have held them all.

For more than 20 centuries, countless men, women and children all over the world have suffered, died and continue to do so for the faith Jesus our King gave us through his apostles. This staggering number known in the intellect of God will be publically revealed on the last day when Christ the King comes on the clouds to judge the living and the dead.

Anyone who has read the lives of the saints can attest they all share two qualities: loving God with their whole heart, soul and mind, and their neighbor as themselves (Mt 11:37-39). Even though our many benefactors have not or will most likely not have to make the choice between their lives or their faith, the very existence of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska is proof they love their neighbors as themselves.

As we continue our Advent preparation for the coming of the Christ Child into our hearts at Christmas time, let us remind ourselves that "Our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Cor 8:9).

Let us go and do likewise, not only sharing our time, talent and treasure for the material needs of the poor but be even more concerned about sharing with others our most valuable treasure, our Catholic faith.

Please remember that by preparing adequately for the coming of the baby Jesus into our hearts at Christmas time spiritually, we will prepare ourselves for the second coming of Christ the King at the end of time, when our mortal bodies will rise from the dead to die no more.

Please also remember that we at Catholic Social Services will keep you and your intentions in our prayers. St. Andrew Dung-Lac and his companion martyrs, pray for us!