Joan Mueller - Living Evangelization: Three Minute Reflections on Faith (7x4 Daily Meditations)

A blustery wind rattled the rickety windows of the inner city church sacristy, while a group of Sudanese refugees and I huddled against the cold. We were completing the reflections required for parents preparing to celebrate the baptism of their babies, and these parents were looking forward eagerly to next Sundays celebrations. I had taken time to prepare the process for the day. We would examine the theme of love by reading the parable of the lost sheep. The lesson of the story is, of course, obvious. God loves each of us so much that even if we stray, God will leave the ninety-nine in order to find the one who is lost. God loves each of us, uniquely and unconditionally. No matter how we might stray, God will seek us out.

We began reading the parable, and the parents listened with acute attentiveness. They loved hearing the scripture read aloud, since reading and celebrating their faith was often punished in Southern Sudan where churches were burned, villages destroyed, and Christians imprisoned and tortured. I learned many things from those newcomers to American life, perhaps most importantly, how to reverence and cherish the reading of the scriptures.

After the reading, I asked a simple question: What message do you think God wants us to hear in this text? Presuming that the answer would be some variation on Gods love and care, I had the rest of the process outlined.

One of the men answered. Its about faith, he said. Others in the group nodded in affirmation. Taken aback, but not wanting to betray my surprise, I simply asked why he thought it was about faith. In reply he offered not a metaphysical response but a story.

When I was in Southern Sudan, he said, the enemy came to my village. They captured me, and threw me in chains into a dark room. They made me sleep on damp concrete for one year. The soldiers would come and put electricity through me, and ask me if I was a Christian. Many times I thought they would stop if I denied my faith, but God gave me courage. No matter what they did to me, I said: I am a Christian. Finally, they became tired and let me go. I am alive; I am free because I said, I am a Christian.

As I listened, I realized that these people were looking at the parable of the lost sheep from an entirely different perspective the perspective of faith. While I interpreted the parable as a love story, they perceived it as a faith story. It was their story they were lost, tortured, alone, forgotten, and now were free. The birth and baptism of their babies was an exuberant celebration of new life that came from this persevering faith.

Opening the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Benedict XVIs apostolic letter, The Door of Faith , invites Christians to reflect on their gift of faith. This book will use passages from The Door of Faith in order to focus our reflections. Over the course of four weeks, we will ponder our faith perspective, our faith conversion, Mary as a model of our faith, and our mission of faith. Like those Sudanese parents, it is hoped that pondering our Christian experience of faith might bring us new vision, new courage, new joy, and a profound sense of living faith in action.

To use this book, pray through the exercises day by day. Each day has a scripture passage, a passage from The Door of Faith, a reflection, and a spiritual practice. If you choose to pray the book over the course of a month, use one exercise daily. You might also choose to move more slowly, spending more than one day on spiritual practices that need a little more time. Enjoy the journey, and let us pray for each other!