The Darkness: Our Catholic Moment of Opportunity

Frodo: "I wish it need not have happened in my time"

Gandalf: "So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

What a couple of weeks for Catholics. We share God's heavy heart. The Supreme Court presumed to reduce nature and marriage to one's feelings. Planned Parenthood was found harvesting and selling body parts. New stats suggest the Light to be all the more obscured. Less than 25% Catholics attend Mass. Only 13% pray before meals. Most worship more at the altar of pop culture. As a consequence all are suffering.

In my lifetime, the dark/light contrast has never been greater. On his first visit to America, on the occasion of our nation's Bicentennial (1976), the man who would be Pope St. John Paul II prophesied of a "Final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church." (L)

The Gospel writer John established this battlefield from the very beginning:

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. John 3:19-21

Of course, the contrast signals our moment of opportunity: "A light shines brightest in the darkness." Many wounded people living in the shadows are looking for the Answer. They're looking for the Light. That Light is you and me. We are the Church. What we can do, what we are called to do, what we are equipped to do.... is Shine. It doesn't just happen.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5)

In the Catholic Diocese of Toledo in America we are truly blessed to have a successor of the Apostles, Bishop Daniel Thomas, who is taking the lead. He is inviting us to be united in mission: holy disciples, holy families and holy vocations. He is asking us to be engaged for more than a moment, but the Movement. He's asking the faithful in our diocese to help him reach all within our bounds. See Bishop Thomas' short, impactful invitation here.

Mass Impact is blessed to be at the service of our Shepherds. We are a heart-of-the-Church movement that is seeing real transformation in the lives of many thousands. We are committed to a model of dynamic family and parish transformation that can substantially take root in 3-5 years.

Now, more than ever, the continuation of this Catholic movement depends upon your prayers, engagement and generous financial support. Because of the selfless sacrifice of grassroots Catholic faithful, in the past 18 months over 10,000 have newly encountered Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, at over 85 events-- compounded through web, radio and other media.

In spite of the darkness, perhaps because of it-- the Light is breaking out. This is an urgent moment of opportunity for us Catholics. If you are not already, please consider becoming a monthly partner, or a Mass Impact Business Leader. Please advocate to orthodox, motivated Catholic leaders who want their God-given talents and resources to make an eternal difference.

Please keep us in your prayers, and be assured of our daily prayers for you-- particularly before the Blessed Sacrament during our Holy Hour on Fridays at 3:00pm. Please let us know if we can pray for anything in particular.

Ever united in Jesus through Mary,

Greg and Stephanie Schlueter Family
+ Image Trinity | Mass Impact Team

Greg@ImageTrinity.com