Our Own Journey of Faith

by Kilian SC · October 27, 2016

Julia Beacroft finds that the younger generation’s terminology is sometimes surprisingly apt. I have sometimes thought that the young people in our communities use a language that is entirely their own, a language with which they are perfectly at ease and which their peers easily and readily understand.

Let me give a few examples from my area in England, many of which are international: “Bad” meaning good, “Fit” meaning attractive, “Buff” is muscled, “Gross” means unpleasant, “Sick” means impressive or enjoyable, and so the list goes on…

And my 23-year-old twins are no exception to this. They refer to “selfies” and frequently allude to “LOL” (laugh out loud) when I’ve cracked a joke. As this has been going on for a few years, I can probably boast that I’m now fairly up to speed with most of their words and expressions.

Yet a few weeks ago I found myself surprised by a turn of phrase my son produced. I had explained to him that I was feeling a bit tired as I’d done a lot of walking that day. When he asked where I had been, I gave details of the route I had taken.

“Wow, that’s a mission, Mum,” he exclaimed in admiration.

I will readily admit that this was new ground for me. I was unfamiliar with this term. However, the meaning was clear enough — he was referring to a journey of great length.

Last year, Pope Francis’ message for World Mission Day said: “The mission of the servants of the Word — bishops, priests, religious and laity — is to allow everyone, without exception, to enter into a personal relationship with Christ.”

Upon reflection, I was struck by the fact that possibly my son’s use of the word “mission” — interpreted as lengthy journey — was not so wide of the mark after all.

Pope Francis reminds us that the mission of all is to have an intimate relationship with the Lord. Yet, of course, in so doing we embark upon our own journey of faith.

On Mission Sunday we share our love and concern for our brothers and sisters in missionary territories, with our charitable donations journeying to distant shores to supply the aid that is so necessary.

And not least of all is the fact that we are a missionary Church, thereby spreading the Gospel of Christ to all and in so doing journeying and following the same path as the Lord himself.

And finally, if anyone asks why you are a follower of Christ, tell them that it’s because he is cool, awesome and wicked! Nice one!

Julia Beacroft’s book Sanctifying The Spirit was published this year by Sancio Books. It is available on Amazon.