EITHER YOU CHOOSE TO STAY IN THE SHALLOW END OF THE POOL OR YOU GO OUT INTO THE OCEAN.

CHRISTOPHER REEVE

We live in a world that is obsessed by sport and achievements. We have the Olympics, world cups, national championships, state championships, seasonal sports, team sports, individual sports, sports channels etc. Every day the media reports about the men and women whose whole lives have been devoted to the pursuit of excellence in their field of sport. We are fascinated by the achievements but also by the sacrifice that is made in the name of success. Personal sacrifice, family, time, social lives, long term health, injury. Many of us enjoy speaking of their achievements however many of us would never dare to make the same sacrifices or commit ourselves to such goals as these top-level athletes. It is much safer being on the sidelines or watching it all from the comfort of our living room. The same principle unfortunately applies to our faith. We speak about the saints and the people who have gone before us. We tell stories of their heroic faith and the sacrifice they have made but we would never dare to follow them in the same way.

There is a Catholic author by the name of George Barnardos who once wrote this about the Church. “You are rather like the legendary Italian soldiers waiting to attack. All of a sudden, the colonel snatches up his sabre, jumps over the parapet and charges off beneath heavy fire all by himself crying ;avanti avanti’ whilst his soldiers remain crouched undercover, electrified by such a display of valour.” An interesting view but really Barnardos is challenging us as a people to not just be spectators in this world that we inhabit. The whole reason why these men and women we call saints have charged off in pursuit of Christ is so that we would follow in their footsteps and that we would be inspired by their example to live radically. The example of those who have gone before us is our call to holiness.

So, let us not be discouraged. Let us not be passive and sit back in the comfort of our own security but have the courage to stand up and follow Christ and those that have walked before us. A large responsibility of the Church and, therefore for us as a lay Catholic organisation, is advocacy. To stand up, be courageous and to speak on behalf of those who are voiceless.

Therefore, let us move the boundaries and open other people’s eyes to the needs of those in our society who are living on the margins. Indeed, let us engage in the struggle to address these needs in a sustainable and Christlike way.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

How do you actively advocate for those living on the margins?

What was it that called you to action and therefore called you to join the St Vincent de Paul Society?

From: Firewood for the soul, vol. 1, A Reflexion Book for the Whole Vincentian Family
St. Vincent de Paul Society, Queensland, Australia.
Text by: Samantha Hill.