The whole Church has proclaimed 2014 as the Year
of the Laity to stress the importance of
the vocation and mission of the lay faithful. The call to discipleship is a
vocation to communion and mission. All without exception are called to
evangelize or proclaim the Gospel. The world becomes the place and the means for the lay faithful to fulfill
their Christian vocation (CL 15). It is in the world that they are to grow in
holiness especially in the family. It is
in the temporal world: in their place of
work , in the communities where they
live, and in in the vast fields of
economic, politics and culture that they
proclaim his Gospel.
The
lay faithful are incorporated by Baptism into Christ and thus belongs to the
Church. The lay faithful received a real consecration – their baptismal
consecration. They are as much members of the Church as the hierarchy or those
belonging to institutes of consecrated life.
They share with all the baptized an equal Christian dignity. They seek
the Kingdom of God by engaging in
temporal affairs and ordering them according to the plan of God. (LG31) The Church is not only the Hierarchy, not only the Sacraments, not only
the Scriptures, but it is also the Community where every one belongs. It is a Church therefore that is made of living stones that is
in need of living Saints. And the good
news is, we are all candidates. All
lay people are qualified to become saints.
HOW COULD THE LAY FAITHFUL BECOME
SAINTS?
v First of all, is to know Christ; what is his
mission, his values, his attitudes.
v Second, is to establish a closer relationship with Christ so much so that, "that your life is not yours
alone, anymore , but it belongs to
Christ who lives in you and who works in you through the Holy Spirit He
sends ”
v Third, become like him, who is God’s
love personified. To love, not in word or in speech, but in truth and action” (1 John 3:18) And
following Jesus’ example, bear witness to the love of Jesus,
which is loving in deed rather than in word, beginning from the humble acts of
service asked of us each day by those we meet and to recognize Him in every neighbor. In fact,
He holds as done to Him what we do for
each person we meet.(Mt.25:40) To welcome people is a great gift, because “when we are
generous in welcoming people and in
sharing something with them –we no longer remain poor but we are enriched. No one can remain
insensitive to the economic inequalities
in the world and that everyone should be able to make a personal contribution
to putting an end to so many social injustices. Let us always remember this:
only when we are able to share do we become truly rich; everything that is shared is multiplied! The measure of
the greatness of a society is found in the
way it treats those most in need,
those who have nothing apart from their poverty! Giving bread to the hungry is a
“necessary” act of justice, for there is
a deeper hunger, the hunger for a
happiness that only God can satisfy.” (address of Pope Francis, WYD- Brazil)
v Fourth, be Christ’ missionaries. Christ continues his
work in us, and we hear Him admonish us, "Go and proclaim the Gospel”. Make
disciples of all the nations, as the Father has sent me so do I send you. Be “missionaries” in the sense that you are also being sent to share your
faith with others. Christ asks you to proclaim him especially where he
is not known, among people who do not recognize him, in places where he is not
worshipped. Are you preaching the good
news? And the good news is
yourself, but are you a good news to
others? Become instruments of
Christ’s presence and influence in every corner of the world with every kind of
person and in every kind of context.
v Fifth: PERSEVERE.
In order to be able to respond to the challenge of our faith ,you have to persevere, have your life concentrated,
focused on the Lord. As you are focused
fill yourself with the spirit through
prayers and Sacraments, to personally accept God as Savior, to obey Him,submit freely to the
word” of God [CCC, no. 144] who
in many ways speaks to us, such as in
the Sacred Scriptures, in the Church, in the
celebration of the Liturgy, in prayer, or in ordinary situations of
life. What they should know, what to transmit, knowing the teachings of
the Church and Sacred Scriptures. Live what you believe in order to be credible
witnesses. Witnessing must start in your
families, neighbors, places of work. Participate actively in good
governance, and proclaim the values
of honesty, transparency ,integrity and
accountability.