Active Membership Pillar: Engagement in at least one parish ministry

This weekend, the US Church celebrates Respect Life Sunday, which kicks off Respect Life Month, and this year’s theme is Life: Our Sign of Hope. This theme is particularly appropriate because the global Church is continuing to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope. With all this talk about hope, however, it might seem like there is a disconnect from what is happening in the world around us. All you have to do is turn on the news, and today’s first reading from Habakkuk rings true, “Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord,” (1:3). How, then, as active members of Lumen Christi Parish are we to have hope in our community?  

Today’s readings show us how to place our hope in Christ. First, Psalm 95 reminds us to “harden not our hearts.” We must not become numb and indifferent to the suffering around us, rather, as St. Paul writes, “Bear your share of the hardships with the strength that comes from God…guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us,” (2 Tim 1: 12-14). If each person at Lumen Christi would commit to volunteering in at least one ministry at the parish, our community within the greater Mequon/Thiensville area would be transformed. Think of the many lives that are being touched by our volunteers: whether you are a catechist on Sundays, donate items to the pregnancy resource centers, or distribute food at a local pantry, there is so much good occurring on a regular basis at this parish and on behalf of our parish. The only way to continue to foster Christian hope in our world is to accept our baptismal calling as a disciple of Christ by becoming an active member and “sharing the love and light” into the world.