From what seemed for a long time like blissful neglect, clergy today are at risk of suffering too much attention. As the world changes; so too does the Church.

My purpose in these posts is to bring a variety of Christian witnesses and writers in reflecting on life, encounters, and various situations, in a desire to enhance our understanding of what it means to be a missionary disciple of Jesus Christ at the service of the common good and directly or indirectly give glory to God and extend the Lord's work of salvation to all of humanity. G.S.

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Who am I?

As a seminarian, I was deeply moved and inspired by Jesus' Easter encounter with the two discouraged disciples walking on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. A dear friend, who is now with the Lord, sketched the incident in the above illustration as the visual theme for my ordination to hte priesthood. I've been a priest serving in my home diocese now for going on 43 years. For most of that time, we priests lived through what could be called blissful neglect: blissful in that one could be happy not to draw too much attention to oneself, to one's ministry or lifestyle. Not eliciting much attention could be a sign of a ministry that is fruitful and a lifestyle that is holy; although that may not necessarily be the case.

The fundamental principle of "subsidiarity"

As a young priest, I heard stories told by our elders about "being called in by the bishop", which was generally not good news. Either one had "stepped out of line" or the bishop was about to "demote" one to a less important assignment, or else promote one to a more demanding assignment. One elderly priest related how the bishop called him in, as a relatively young priest, to confide in him the important assignment of establishing a new parish. He was both terrified and exhilarated, and flattered. What the bishop omitted to tell him was that six months later, his territory was part of a region separated from his home diocese to become part of a new diocese. He was cut off from all his friends. 

Thus it was deemed a good thing to remain "under the radar" of the bishop's observations or those of his officers. Most of the formation needed by priests was dispensed and acquired "on the job" and under the wings usually of an experienced pastor and, subsequently, a mentor. The Church functioned generally smoothly as each person exercised fully the responsibility that was theirs, at their "level", not trying to "micromanage" those under them, nor disrupting the responsibility of those "above" them, or supervising them. This was known, and still is, as the "principle of subsidiarity", the way in which the Lord Jesus shares his authority and power to serve throughout the Church, among both clergy and laity. 

The new buzzword "new evangelization"

Among those just a little older and more experienced, I often heard other priests complain that they did not feel supported by the bishop, that the bishop and his offices were "grinding out too much" material, all designed to give priests and parishes "more work". There was talk about mobilizing "the new evangelization" but not much in the way of suggestions about how to do it. There were monthly or so meetings organized by geographic region or, in our case, among the English speaking clergy, which included deacons and their wives and others with pastoral mandates from the bishop. We were generally left to our own devices locally but also encouraged to engage in "coresponsibility", that is, to proactively collaborate among ourselves and especially with the laity. 

Another new buzzword "coresponsibility"

After a few decades of encouragement to engage in this coresponsibility - as opposed to the clericalism whereby priests insist everyone knows they are "in charge" - these regional meetings were abolished and somewhat replaced by something resembling a "deanery meeting" but not in the canonical definition of anything usually designated by this term. It was and is for us just a meeting of priests with our director who serve in English. 

Nothing much has changed in the past four decades regarding any "attention" we might have or not on the part of our bishop with the exception that in our case, we have enjoyed having an episcopal vicar and an office director closer to us than anything the rest of the clergy may have enjoyed. At times, both functions have been served by the same person, sometimes an auxiliary bishop. At other times, the functions have been invested in two different persons, including a lay woman. We've had more than one, and they have all been remarkably competent, caring, and effective.

No real reports or work reviews in the Church

The Church here has operated differently than the world of work. A wonderfully competent lady, who became our friend, was hired from the world of work where she had been in H.R., i.e. "human resources" services in the business world. She explained how in the business world people apply for a position, must submit a C.V., i.e. a curriculum vitae, undergo one or more interviews, be hired on probation, undergo evaluations at 3, 6, and 12 months, and have to wait before being vetted for any kind of permanent status. In this environment, workers never get away from having to make regular reports and undergo evaluations, and work under the certainty of constantly being observed, tested, and assessed. 

Anyone wanting to take over their position can lodge complaints against them, which requires them to be ever ready to give an account for their performance, behaviour, and attitudes. Perhaps some wealthy dioceses in the world have introduced such workplace practices among church workers, but I haven't heard of anything like it in Canada.

The new age of the "ombudsman"

There has been one very dramatic change in our local church world, and that has been the attention given to "underage and vulnerable persons", which was prompted by the worldwide awakening to cases of abuse perpetrated by a few deranged clergymen on innocent children or vulnerable women or elderly persons. Since priority has been given to "responsible pastoral ministry" for the protection of those who are or may be vulnerable, i.e. potential victims, formation has been given to all those who work with people in the name of the Church, as well as police checks and other filters in order to reduce to a minimum the risks of exposing the vulnerable to potential predators. This is only right and just, but requiring dramatic changes.

Further mechanisms have been put in place to initiate rapid responses to complaints and red flags indicating potential harm to the vulnerable. There can be no doubt that one would find a wide range of credibility and gravity among such complaints, from simple human relations or personality conflicts to out and out crimes of abuse and violence. In principle, those invested with authority to manage and operate these mechanisms are able to "sort all these complaints out" in order to apply to each one the appropriate response and remedy. 

However, human nature being what it is, what happens when the distinction between a simple personality conflict and a violent crime is not so clear? Moreover, is any scrutiny applied to those who formulate those complaints; given that they too are human beings and quite capable of exaggerating or even outright lying, or perhaps even setting out on a jealous rampage or thirsting for revenge?

Ambiguous consequences of sanctions

When sanctions are deemed necessary, or at the very least a preliminary investigation, action is at times taken to remove a priest from his ministry, or place of work, or even his place of residence. Apparently, in such cases very little information is given to the priest himself; let alone to the people whom he had until that precise moment been ministering. They, like he, are left mostly in the dark and left to suffer the worst scenarious their imaginations can conjure up. That would be bad enough were the uncertainty to last a few weeks, but when it extends into months and even years, the harm done can be incalculable; both to the priest - especially if he turns out to be mostly innocent - and for the people.

What about the "observer effect"?

Zoologists, people studying wildlife, have been prowling about the wilds of Planet Earth for centuries, but it is only relatively recently that they have become aware of the effects that their very presence actually has on that wildlife, and that they have taken measures to mitigate that effect or influence. Here is a quote from AI in answer to the question: 

"When did zoologists become aware of the effect even observing wildlife was having on the wildlife?"

AI Overview

Zoologists and naturalists began to develop an awareness of the observer effect in wildlife studies during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with formal recognition and mitigation strategies becoming standard in the 1960s to 1980s. While early naturalists understood that studying animals required long-term observation, the understanding that the presence of the observer itself altered behavior—a concept similar to the "Hawthorne effect"—developed as ethology matured into a scientific discipline. National Institutes of Health (.gov)

Is there an "observer effect" from actions taken by leadership?

For those placed under preliminary or extended investigation by church authorities and, for the duration of those investigations, when they are removed from their specific ministry, or from all ministry, and / or from their place of residence; what effect do these actions have on them in the first few weeks? In subsequent months? What about years? Beyond those under investigation, what effects may be observed in the people who had become familiar with those priests; whether they appreciated them and their ministry or not?

We can easily imagine how such a priest, living in some degree of suspended living, might feel consigned to some sort of "acquarium or terrarium", with all eyes turned to him, and a sense of being unable to extricate himself from such a very difficult and helpless situation. The season in life in which he finds himself will generate very specific questions. His state of health will also generate other questions, interacting with those first questions.

How long will this situation last? What is he to do during the investigation with his capacity and need to work? How does he recover, if possible, from the damage to his circles of relationships? If he turns out to be guilty of human relations or human resources blunders; how does he recover and move on? If he is guilty of a crime; then of course he will have to endure the consequences. Wherever and whenever he may have harmed anyone, he will want to atone and repair, but he may or may not be able to do so under the circumstances or timeline. 

What about parish communities of faith? How do they make sense of such developments, particularly when they happen suddenly, as if in the shadows of the night? How do they maintain their trust in the Church leadership and their faith in the Church herself as the Bride of Christ? What happens to their trust in the Church's shepherds generally and in the chief shepherd in particular? There are many questions but few answers; since we seem to be in a time of experimentation forced upon us by a serious crisis. The crisis is real and worldwide. Sadly, so are all the intended and unintended consequences of all of our actions; including the "observer effect". 

Lord, we are your Church; have mercy on us.

We very much need to renew our confidence in the Lord, the Most Holy Trinity, and in Jesus as our One Lord and Saviour. Lord, have mercy on us all. Mary, Mother of God and of the Church, intercede for us. We desperately need your motherly protection and love.

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My purpose in these posts is to bring a variety of Christian witnesses and writers in reflecting on life, encounters, and various situations, in a desire to enhance our understanding of what it means to be a missionary disciple of Jesus Christ at the service of the common good and directly or indirectly give glory to God and extend the Lord's work of salvation to all of humanity. G.S.

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© 2004-2026 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2004-2026 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC 

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Queenship of Mary, Mother of God - August 22nd, 2024 - What do we do in the face of many personal trials and troubles and of all the evil in the world?

My purpose in these posts is to bring a variety of Christian witnesses and writers in reflecting on life, encounters, and various situations, in a desire to enhance our understanding of what it means to be a missionary disciple of Jesus Christ at the service of the common good and directly or indirectly give glory to God and extend the Lord's work of salvation to all of humanity. G.S.

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This reflection is in response to heartfelt cries for help from the parents of young families - in addition to the normal challenges of their daily routine - who are faced with unexpected and frightening troubles which, when they accumulate, can take on an appearance of evil.

I understand that you and your family are anxious because of all that has happened and is happening to you. I believe that you and and your spouse have yet to discover the full dignity and capacity you have received from God our Father to live as his children in the world. Jesus has commissioned all of us, and this includes each of you, to go out and labour confidently as his missionary disciples in the world. As we try to live in God, the Holy Spirit makes us "light for the world" and "salt for the Earth". I know you are comforted and encouraged by the presence and visit of the priest. I think you don't fully realize that Jesus gave not only to bishops, priests, and deacons, but to us all  a share in his authority over the darkness, to dispel it, because He is victorious over sin, death, and the evil one. Jesus wants all of us to become, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his missionary disciples to carry the light of his love into all the dark places in the world.

There is no such thing as "evil eye", which is an idea, image, or feeling left over from pagan times when people had no understanding of the order that exists in the universe under God our Creator and Father. That is only one among many images, ideas, or phenomena which make up what we can call the "shadows" where evil lurks, waiting to pounce on unwary victims. You must know and understand that there is no true power in the universe apart from the power of God. To his creatures, like the angels (which includes the rebellious or disobedient angels which we call demons), He has given a share, but only a partial share, in his power. His human children, that's us, He has made free, and the demons have no power over us except through fear, if we give in to it. 

Italy is one place where, like in Haiti, there persists what is called syncretism, which is an attempt to mix Christianity with the old pagan beliefs and superstitions. This never works because by making room for pagan beliefs and superstitions, we never actually put all our trust in God. Pagan ways only have power over us through fear. When we surrender ourselves to fear, or give in to fear, or focus on fear, or allow ourselves to become obsessed with fear; then we open the door of our mind, heart, body, imagination, and soul to the darkness. When we accept to play the role of victim, then we can experience bad things that we don't need to experience. 

There are already enough bad things in life without opening the door to the darkness through fear or playing with any of the various occult practices: ouija board, tarot cards, fortune tellers, reading tea leaves, seances, spells, witchcraft black of white, etc. etc. One of the most dangerous and wide open traps rapidly spreading throughout the world right now is every form of pornography. This includes what maskerades as art but in fact denigrates the dignity and beauty of the human body and person. Every form of porn or false art denies the beauty, goodness, and truth embedded in our human nature by God our Creator, and tries to distract our attention away from our true identity and dignity as children of God and tries to seduce us to another way of living, which in the end can only lead to loneliness and death. The proof is everywhere around us in the wholesale slaughter of the innocents in the womb. 

More innocent lives have been ripped from the womb and deprived of their right to be born and live than all the victims of wars and violence throughout the world in the 20th century, which is hard to believe but true. We cannot assign blame to women who have abortions without asking: "Where are the men? Why are the men not taking responsibility for themselves, and why are they abandoning the women they pretended to love and care for? What happened to the mothering and fathering of children that has produced human beings so insecure in themselves that they need to have recourse to sex in a desperate attempt to feel some human warmth and intimacy; however shallow and fleeting?

God our Creator and Father made our human sexuality as only one part of our human life. It is beautiful and powerful and adds colour to life, in addition to generating new life. It is designed to "cement" husband and wife to each other, to strengthen them against all the trials and troubles of life.Whenever we use our sexuality outside of the bond of husband and wife, the power of sex binds us to other things: selfishness, situations and combinations that are not part of God's plan for human life and happiness, exploitation, violence, and the destruction of the innocence of children and youth. 

We must renounce ALL these things, all these forms of evil and the occult, and all degraded forms of sex and false and empty intimacy, and get them out of our houses, purge all our electronic devices, and put all of this trash out of our minds, imaginations, and memories, confess having used them, or even having entertained such thoughts and ideas. We renounce all these forms of darkness and evil when we renew our baptismal promises every Easter. We also do it at the beginning of every Holy Mass and also every time we pray the prayer that Jesus, Our Lord, taught us... the "Our Father". 

We need to go in the opposite direction of the fear, the dark images, the dark feelings, the temptations, the threats, the shadows where evil lurks trying to intimidate us, and instead go in the opposite direction and walk towards God our loving Father, and keep deciding to put our trust in Him and in his Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, the one and only Saviour of the world.

That is why I recommend to you some practices for you and your spouse and your children as a family. Don't try to do all those things by yourself, if you are the wife and mother, but tell your husband that you need his support and leadership as head of your home. If you who are reading this are the husband and father, please also don't try to do these things by yourself, but first chat with your wife, and let her know that you don't want to do anything without her consent and support. You each have a part to play. It is up to each of you to decide to practice faith and putting trust in God through prayer and practicing silence, meditation, and the peace given by the Holy Spirit deep within us, but only if we want it. 

God never imposes, but only offers. It is up to us to want it, to ask for it, to do it, to receive it, and to accept it; to live it. This is how, by dwelling in love and in God, it is God Himself who pushes away the darkness from inside of us. The darkness outside will remain until the end of time at the final victory of Jesus Christ; we need to understand that life will always be a battle between light and dark, and the battle line runs through the middle of our mind, heart, body, and soul. 

God wants us to do battle and have the satisfaction of participating in the victory Jesus won; remember that first He suffered and died, and only then did He win the victory. God our Father wanted to demonstrate to all of humanity that even when evil would do its worst against Jesus, even killing Him; still, evil could not have a definitive victory. It was through dying that Jesus overcame death itself. It was by taking all the bad effects of sin on Himself that Jesus overcame sin. In the end, all that remains is the powerful and victorious love of God. 

Here, then, are the practices I encourage you to do together.

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Priests are generally glad to visit your family and home, but please remember that God wants you to do your part; you cannot expect the priest to solve all your problems without doing your part to take responsibility for yourselves, your lives, your marriage, your family, your home, and every aspect of your lives.

In the meantime, don't wait, but, first of all, the best you can all do as a family is to go to confession regularly, all of you, in order to allow darkness not to get any foothold within you. No matter how often we must confess a similar sin, we refuse to give up or be discouraged, and by continuing to confess, we practice putting our trust not in our own power to be perfect but in God's mercy and love. 

Second, obtain some holy water in a jar from the church (for the purpose of going through your entire house sprinkling it generously and abundantly, and praying the Rosary at the same time - see "fourth").

Third, pray together as a family. You could pray the Rosary together every day for a month, and it could become a good daily habit. (If your girls are to learn to live with God, you need to show them by doing it yourselves and also doing it with them.)

Fourth, while praying the Rosary, go around the house sprinkling the holy water in each and every room, closet, and cupboard, sprinkling with clean hands into all the corners of each space.

Finish with joining hands and praying in thanksgiving to God: one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.... Then, give each other the sign and kiss of peace. Our Father wants us to be filled with his peace and joy; even in the face of troubles, threats, dangers, and sufferings.

How to pray the Rosary by meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary - events in the life of Jesus and Mary, which the Holy Spirit uses to make connections with our own daily lives....

After praying the prayers connected to the Crucifix, the first bead, the next 3 beads, and the last bead, before starting the first decade, read the text for the first mystery in the set of mysteries you have chosen. Then pray each prayer in the decade, contemplating the mystery as you say the prayers. Do this for each decade. At the end, pray the "Hail, Holy Queen", the "Prayer to St. Michael", and any other prayer(s) you may wish to add.

By praying together as a family, the Lord Jesus will definitely be with you and drive away any dark influences.

I and all the bishops, priests, and deacons - including and especially Pope Fancis - are with you all in spirit. The role of the priest is to lead and show the way, but each baptized person must then actually walk in the way... and Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life." To see the way He walks and walk in it, to perceive Him as the truth and take it into us to absorb it, and to receive Jesus with the Father and the Holy Spirit and have their life within us... for all of this, we need to look at Jesus, begin to notice that He looks at us with love, let Him touch our hearts, let Him bring his light into our mind, let the Holy Spirit fill us with the peace that comes from the love of the Father and the Son.... 

All other ideas, fears, troubles, trials, feelings... they are all distractions trying to make us forget to keep looking to Jesus, to keep welcoming Him into us.... Don't be fooled by the superficial trials of life... they are only opportunities for us to practice putting our trust in God while we do our best to do what is in our power to do. What isn't in our power, that's what we put into God's hands, trusting that He will take care of his part, when and how He decides to do that. Our part is to hope and wait with confidence; while continuing to do what is ours to do, especially to pray and visit with God often during the day as we go about our occupations.

God doesn't want us to suffer going through life as though we were alone, or as orphans... but instead to make room for God in our mind and heart as we go about our occupations; knowing He is looking on us with love all day long and all through the night.... 

Please show this to your spouse, chat together, ask God to guide you, and decide what steps you will take. Then, let your priest know what you are doing together about all of this. Good priests who are good shepherds are glad to know what the faithful are doing to walk in the ways of the Lord, and are glad to offer counsel and encouragement. As you prepare and take good steps, know that the whole Church, the Bride of Christ, the entire Body of Christ consisting of all the baptized, all the ordained, and all the religious, are constantly praying for you all and with you in the Holy Spirit, 24/7! 

In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,

Fr. Gilles

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My purpose in these posts is to bring a variety of Christian witnesses and writers in reflecting on life, encounters, and various situations, in a desire to enhance our understanding of what it means to be a missionary disciple of Jesus Christ at the service of the common good and directly or indirectly give glory to God and extend the Lord's work of salvation to all of humanity. G.S.

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© 2004-2024 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2004-2024 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC 

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Jesus sends us out to "make disciples".... In the face of the world as it now is, how exactly do we do that?

My purpose in these posts is to bring a variety of Christian witnesses and writers in reflecting on life, encounters, and various situations, in a desire to enhance our understanding of what it means to be a missionary disciple of Jesus Christ at the service of the common good and directly or indirectly give glory to God and extend the Lord's work of salvation to all of humanity. G.S.

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How do we go out and "make disciples" in our world in 2023?

Chand Barkat, a persecuted Christian now living in Canada 

        In reflecting on this question, I'd like to relate a glimpse of the life story of a devout Roman Catholic Christian man I have come to know these past ten years. He works in our residence as a kitchen aid and sometimes assistant cook. He is in his sixties, is married, and has six grown children. Until last year, he enriched our lives by labouring joyfully at our service five days a week, from Monday through Friday. Last year, as he began to receive pensions, he cut back his work to half time, coming in two days one week and three days the next. His joy is so infectious, that we miss him on those other days, just as previously, we missed him on the weekends. 

        Chand Barak's story is relevant to our question because he is a remarkable witness to the Good News by his attitude and behaviour as well as by what he likes to tell. In the early years of our acquaintance, I simply assumed that he was a remarkable and unique individual, but that his story could not be imitated and therefore was not all that relevant for the issue at hand.

        You will find at this link a record and summary of his case as a persecuted Christian in Pakistan in the early 1990's, dated from mid-1994. You will find the pertinent text in section "3. Cases of abuse of the blasphemy law". He was a small merchant with a stall in a public market when another merchant saw him as a competitor and threatened him to remove his stall. When Chand didn't, the other accused him of blasphemy in order to make use of the law against him. However, this account does not tell how Chand's story unfolded, but which he has related on a number of occasions. As indicated in the record, the judge wanted to release him, but under the threats from his persecutors, the judge was loath to release him and suffer along with him the wrath of the mob. 

        The judge informed him that he would be released late at night or early in the morning, but that he would need help to be taken to a safe refuge. Help was found and in time Chand found refuge in the house of some missionaries who arranged for his safe departure from the country and travel to Canada as a refugee. In time, he was able to obtain similar help for his wife and six children, and they all found refuge here among us. He was generously helped by his local Pastor, Fr. Paul Pomkoski of St. Brendan Parish in the Rosemont district of Montreal, and finally able to obtain gainful employment. His wife and children, as they were able and desired, were also able to find work and are doing well. 

Chand Barkat, a missionary disciple 

        Chand does not proselytize nor go around proclaiming the Good News; so, how could he be a missionary disciple? The answer is both complex and simple. It is complex in that he "effects a jolly demeanour", to quote Kris Kringle in "Miracle on 34th Street" the 1993 movie. Here is a brief story which perfectly expresses this. One day, while still in Pakistan, he was approached by a small gang who threatened to kill him and demanded he hand over all his personal effects. 

        He smiled at the ruffians and gladly emptied his pockets, treating them like long-lost relatives, to whom he was eternally grateful for the privilege of handing over to them all his effects. Grumbling, they took his effects, threatened to kill him if he reported this, and turned to leave. Chand called after them, "Wait. Wait." He said. "You forgot my wedding ring; here it is." Saying this, he pulled off his wedding ring and extended it to the leader, with a broad, warm, and sincere smile.

        So far, the story is complex due to this extraordinary warmth and compassion of this man even for his enemies. Now, the story becomes simple. So, the leader of the hoodlums barks to him, "What is the meaning of this? Why are you handing us your wedding ring?" Chand answered, "But you told me you needed everything I possess, and you forgot about my wedding ring; so, here it is. I give it to you gladly. You obviously need it more than I do." 

        Dumbfounded, the leader stood there for a moment. He asked Chand, "Why are you behaving like this towards us?" Chand gently explained, "I am a Christian; so you are my brothers. In Jesus Christ, I am so rich, that I don't need anything. That is why I am so glad to share with you everything that I have, including my faith." Then, the leader, turning to his comrades, ordered them to return everything to their victim. Chand accepted to receive back his personal effects as graciously as he had accepted to surrender them. Herein is the simplicity of Chand's Christian witness: Jesus Christ alone is his treasure, and all other things are of lesser value and importance and subordinate to this "one thing necessary". 

The relevance of Chand Barkat's testimony for us missionary disciples 

        Having known Chand now for almost ten years, and having heard innumerable stories of his encounters with people in surprising circumstances and a variety of places all over the world, I can attest to the genuineness of his character and behaviour. This man is in a constant state of joy, and it all exudes from within, rooted in his personal relationship with the Most Holy Trinity, and his undying gratitude for the multiple ways in which Divine Providence has cared for him and his family, and also touched the hearts of many of his enemies, but more importantly, of all those he encounters. 

        Even as he meets people in airports and other places, Christians of various denominations ask him to come and share his testimony with their congregations. When he apologizes for being a Roman Catholic and of a different Christian tradition; they want him to come all the more to speak to their members and their families. They even pay for his travel expenses and accommodations. 

        When he and his family, relatives, or friends travel and they encounter all sorts of restrictions, Chand gently says to them, "Wait here. I'll go and speak to them." Even in Germany, where people are so strict on timeliness and rules, when Chand approaches them explains his situation, and places himself at their mercy, people generally make an exception for him and allow him to pass. He of course warmly expresses his gratitude to them and may even express his wish for God's blessing on them. 

        So, what do I take away from Chand's example in seeking an answer to our question: "How do we go out and "make disciples" in our world in 2023?" There is a word from Jesus that comes to mind and may be applicable to me, to us in some situations: "O you of little faith. Why did you doubt?" Like Peter walking on the water towards Jesus, we become distracted by the force of the wind and we take our eyes off Jesus and begin to sink. 

        We also, due to our human condition and mortal insecurities, cling to our meager worldy goods, even when we profess to live according to the evangelical counsels, and in so doing, we turn our gaze again away from the Lord Jesus; whom we profess to be our only treasure. 

        It seems that, in order to become fully activated as Jesus' missionary disciples in our world today, we need to daily let go of whatever we hold in our hands, minds, hearts, or souls; so as to cling to Jesus alone, and only Him. This attitude becomes real moment by moment as we accept to endure all things, to let go of all things,  to trust in Him in all things, and to love all others at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances. This, of course, is humanly impossible; all the more reason, then, to cling to the Lord and continually offer Him our poverty that He might fill us with his riches, and offer Him our weakness and frailty, that He may bring to bear the fullness of his power to save in and through us.

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My purpose in these posts is to bring a variety of Christian witnesses and writers in reflecting on life, encounters, and various situations, in a desire to enhance our understanding of what it means to be a missionary disciple of Jesus Christ at the service of the common good and directly or indirectly give glory to God and extend the Lord's work of salvation to all of humanity. G.S.

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© 2004-2023 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2004-2023 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC 

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