No time for idling: much work to do
THE editor of the English Communist newspaper The Worker during World War II was Douglas Hyde. Disillusioned with Commu-nism, he and his wife became Catholics.
In his book Dedication and Leadership he wrote: “Communism is spreading throughout the world because every Communist is 100% dedicated and self-sacrificing witness to Communism. Christi-anity has been in existence for nearly 2000 years, yet Christianity is still in the minority. Communism, on the other hand, has been in existence for only 60 years and already it has captured one third of the globe and of the world’s population. Lenin said: ‘This is the epoch of the proletarian revolution’, and that, many say, highlights one of the big differences between Communism and Christianity. Communism is new, Christianity is old; more than this, it is old and tired. Over a period of nearly 2000 years, something has got lost somewhere along the line. Communists, like the early Christians, are, most of them, converts.
“Christianity in the early centuries spread like wildfire because every Christian was on fire with the flame of Christ’s spirit; everyone was a witness to Christ. That is why Vatican Council II has been looking back to the early centuries, looking back to a period before so many barnacles had accumulated on the bottom of St Peter’s barque.”
Another famous personality from the 1930’s was the Anglican Dean of St Paul’s. He declared: “We are losing our Christianity because Christianity is a creed for heroes, while we are mainly harmless, good natured little people who want everybody to have a good time.”
If either of these two persons, Douglas Hyde or the Dean, were alive today, what would he say of us Catholics; of you, of me, and of so many others? How would he assess your zeal as an evangeliser, spreading the “Good News” of Jesus Christ, making him known and loved?
This is our vocation as Christ’s disciples. Recall what was said in this column last year about the New Evangelisation:
“It is not a matter of inventing a ‘new’ programme,” John Paul said. “The programme already exists. It is the plan found in the Gospel and the living tradition. It is the same as ever. The ‘newness’ must be in us—every single one of us. We must gain ‘new impetus’ in Christian living, making it the force which inspires our journey of faith…so that in him and with him we may proclaim Christ to the world.
“Lord, can I dare sit idly by, and watch the millions of Christless die? Doing nothing to save the lost, afraid of what might be the cost? Like Peter warming at the fire, sheltering under the Church’s spire. Dare I sit and waste my years – sharing thy joys, but not thy tears. Unheeding thy low, tender plea: ‘Take up thy cross and follow me’; While thy footsteps leave crimson stains, in city streets and country lanes; As Thou dost carry thy Cross anew, seeking the lost as I should do. O Lord, forgive! I weep in shame. I love Thee truly. In thy name I turn my back upon the past, to wholly follow Thee at last.”
Paul’s stern words of admonition and yet of encouragement to the Christians of Rome are still valid: “Do not let your love be a pretence… work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit” (Rom. 12: 9,11).
