A. J. Benjamin - When the Son Frees You: A Catholic Mans Journey of Healing From Same-Sex Attraction

N othing is more powerful than a testimony. The first time a person shared the best news that mankind ever received, it was in the form of a testimony.

Prophets had foretold it, mankind longed for it, but no one could have imagined it would be this good. That GOD would become one of us. I think even the angel Gabriel was stunned at the news he was given to deliver to Mary.

And after receiving Jesus, Mary was propelled by the love within her to reach out to help her cousin Elizabeth who was also pregnantand her first words to Elizabeth didnt come in the form of a proposition to consider, but an announcement of what God had done in her: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. Testimony. She wasnt glorifying God out there, but within her. She was bursting forth with joy about what he had done in her life. And she wanted the world to see that glory shining from inside of her because it was simply too good to keep to herself.

Thats what Saints do for us. They help us see the glory of Godshining through them, bursting forth from them. I think that unique way of seeing Gods glory will make heaven more beautiful. Saints make heaven more beautiful. The Saints (both capital and lower case) are like crystals that allow the light of God to shine in them, and that light refracts and blasts forth from each in an unrepeatable wayfilling the space with their own colors and shapes. But here on earth, that uniquely refracted light has the practical purpose of being easier on the eyes than staring directly at the sun. In other words: Its sometimes easier to grasp the Gospel and how to live it here and now when we see it enfleshed in holy lives.

But more. The testimony of saints also makes the Gospel attractive. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, The ultimate apologetic (that is, the ultimate answer to peoples questions about Faith) is Saints. One can always come up with new objections and questions when you offer them answers. Thats because so often those questions come from the will, not the intellect. People come up with questions because they want those questions as excuses to keep them from a way of life they perceive as unattractive. But saints are attractive. Theyre beautiful. When we see the beaming face of pregnant Mary saying my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord! we dont have questions. We just want some of what she has. All the powers of hell and all the objections of mankind are dumb and silent when they come face to face with a saint.

And when it comes to the most contentious issues of our day, the response of saints offering testimony is the only thing that will work in the end.

We can offer logical responses to attacks on the Churchs teaching on homosexuality, sexual ethics, gay marriage, and gender identity, and we should. But as weve seen, those arguments arent getting us very far.

What we need is a growing cloud of witnesses willing to say, Ive been there and done that. Ive seen what the world has to offer, and Ive found something betterimmeasurably betterin Jesus Christ. Fulfillment isnt found in sexual license, but in the love of God. My identity isnt found in my sexual attractions but in him. I am not an L, G, B, or T; I am a child of the most high. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord! I have found real love, real peace, real relationships, real joy, real LIFE in him. And its better than I could have imagined.

People might disagree with our teachings, but like it or not, every human being is attracted to the light of saints sharing their joy.

Thats why the book youre holding is so important. Whether you or someone you know has personally struggled with same sex attraction or not, I pray the testimony herein inspires you to deeper faith in the fulfillment of all desire: Jesus Christ.

And Id ask you to join me in prayer that A. J.s voice helps inspire a revolutiongiving courage to the growing army of people who have experienced same sex attraction or gender confusion and found life, not in the empty propositions of a secular movement, but by following Jesus Christ in his Church.

Chris Stefanick