On this introductory episode we will discuss Our Lord’s command for all of us to become perfect in holiness and how this goes for everyone, no matter state of life or stage of life. Whether someone is a convert to Catholicism, in RCIA, or maybe is asking questions but has not yet any intention or conviction to become Catholic, all of us are still called to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”. We can — and must — continue to pursue and grow in imitation of Christ no matter what the circumstances of our lives. Only by doing so will we be able to discern and follow God’s forward guidance. This is also a crucial key to any authentic ecumenism — Catholics and Protestant Christians need to seek to be Holy, and trust that in the context of that seeking, God will work the healing and reunification He wills.

Join host JonMarc Grodi and special guest, Ken Hensley for this inaugural episode of Deep in Christ and be sure to join the CHNetwork mailing list and/or subscribe on social media to follow along with this new show.

Sources/Quotes:

Fr. Benedict Groeschel

The real foundation of real ecumenism is devotion to Jesus Christ… Devotion is a powerful personal conviction that our Divine Savior in eternal life knows me, knows you individually, knows us, not as the great choir, but one at a time. That He cares about us. That He sends us grace. That in the difficult times of life we can trust in Him and that He will lead us even through the valley of the shadow of death. That He expects things of us and that when we fail He expects our repentance.That He hears our prayers especially for those who are dear to us and for the world, and that in the hour of death when we close our eyes we will find Him — He will be there.

LUMEN GENTIUM: Chapter V, The Universal Call to Holiness in the Church

(P. 40) The Lord Jesus, the divine Teacher and Model of all perfection, preached holiness of life to each and everyone of His disciples of every condition. He Himself stands as the author and consummator of this holiness of life:

“Be you therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect”.(Mt. 5:48.)

Indeed He sent the Holy Spirit upon all men that He might move them inwardly to love God with their whole heart and their whole soul, with all their mind and all their strength (Mk. 12:30) and that they might love each other as Christ loves them.(Jn. 13.34; 15:12.)

The followers of Christ are called by God, not because of their works, but according to His own purpose and grace. They are justified in the Lord Jesus, because in the baptism of faith they truly become sons of God and sharers in the divine nature. In this way they are really made holy.

Then too, by God’s gift, they must hold on to and complete in their lives this holiness they have received. They are warned by the Apostle to live “as becomes saints”, (Eph. 5:3) and to put on “as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience”,(Col . 3:12) and to possess the fruit of the Spirit in holiness.(Gal. 5:22; Rom. 6:22) Since truly we all offend in many things (Jas. 3:2) we all need God’s mercies continually and we all must daily pray: “Forgive us our debts”(1 Mt. 6:12)

Thus it is evident to everyone, that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity; by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society. In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history.