I have been reflecting on how much has changed during the time since I was ordained a permanent deacon in 2004. Back then, the Red Sox hadn’t won a World Series in a very long time, though that was due to change soon, iPhones hadn’t been invented yet, and a tall house blend coffee at Starbucks was $1.40 as opposed to more than twice that today. Another thing that is different is the state of organized religion. In those early days of my diaconate, at baptism ceremonies when the time came to recite the Our Father, I used to simply say the first two words of the prayer and then those in attendance would continue along without any further prompting. More recently, I have found that I need to say the entire prayer, slowly and clearly, so that the words of worship don’t tail off to silence. Things have surely changed.

Some much-cited research studies put a finer point on this by noting the dwindling numbers of those who experience their faith by participating in the sacraments, attending Mass on a regular basis, and actively engaging in parish life. Typically, those who comment on these statistics sound an alarm and bemoan this as tragic.

Well, it is tragic. Our sacraments, the sacrifice of the Mass, and active participation in a faith community are all incredibly helpful to establishing and fortifying a person’s spiritual foundation and, most importantly, building a relationship with Christ. Bottom line… it’s about a relationship with Christ and our faith tradition has so much to offer to those who seek. That there are fewer now who are seeking along with us is sad.

But… let’s look at it from another angle.

Most of us who are Catholic came to the Church via our upbringing. Others have been invited by friends and family who took the time and made the effort to evangelize, even if that meant simply living their faith life with sincerity and conviction. Modeling what it means to have a relationship with Christ typically does more to promote the Good News of the Gospel than any theological discourse, textbook on Christology, or finely crafted homily. Actions always speak louder than words.

But for those of us who are Catholic and are of a more mature age group remember when most people we knew had some experience of the faith and who understood what it meant to be Christian. But that has changed. Many in our culture today see us as anachronistic, a curiosity, annoying, or even dangerous. Some would prefer that we go away.

In other words, it is becoming more and more like the way it was at the beginning. At the very beginning. When Jesus gathered up a small group of followers and asked them to teach, to introduce, to persuade, to model, and ultimately… to transform the world. This was not easy and for many, it involved great risk and personal sacrifice. They clashed with the popular culture of the time but ultimately, they persisted, and they did change the world.

So, what does that mean for us?

I believe it means that we should begin to consider the notion that we may need to view ourselves as more like the early Christians than those of a more recent vintage. That we will need courage, boldness, persistence, and a true willingness to try to change this world… even if those who we most often encounter prefer that we not bother.

To me, this feels daunting. But necessary.

And like those first Christians, we will need Christ by our side and the reassurance that his message of hope and redemption, and the reality of his Resurrection… will inspire our actions and propel our work. 

Maybe it’s time for all of us to go back to the beginning?