From BUSY to BLESSED: IGNITING your Family and Parish

Recently a man enthusiastically invited me to participate in "That Man is You." I didn't tell him that TMIY founder Steve Bollman is a friend and one of our national partners. I inquired, "So, you've been committed to gathering with men on a weekly basis for three years, being engaged as a man of God in your home? That's real commitment! Let me ask you, how has it practically translated into you leading your family in your home? Do you spend at least as much time talking and praying as a family?" He paused, candidly admitting, "That never occured to me."

Clearly TMIY and other programs are great gifts to our church, resulting in real renewal. Unfortunately, this man's response resonated with many others I've come to know, good people committed to church activities, but simply not making it happen in their marriages and families. There's a disconnect. And a reason many, after awhile of such activity, simply give up.

How might we breach this chasm between momentary conviction and real, life-commitment? How might we re-engage those who've simply given up, or even engage those who are MIA? Here's my take. Please feel free to join in your comments.

We're all busy. We don't have time for just another church activity. Been there, done that. What lasting difference did it make? We don't need another peak just to be dropped back to reality, to face an answer-less, "And then what?"

Thus, our churches are being vacated. More than 75% missing in action. And most of those who may be in the action are missing. Only 13% of these pray before meals.

Church events are populated by the same 8%. They do everything. They are a kind of subculture. To many they are an alien civilization. They're the "religious." More likely, they're "over the top."

The overall, year-after-year decline in most churches pronounces that they're really not taking territory. And if we're not taking territory, territory is being taken.

The current presidential election tells us something about culture around us. People in general are anti-establishment. They're tired of rudderless, impersonal systems whose prominent mission seems to be self perpetuation. As with politics, so with religion. Have we considered that perhaps these so-called "outsiders" have a kind of faith? Perhaps they don't want their faith to be reduced to a club, to mechanics, to mere rules of membership. They don't buy that the measure of their faith is simply occupying space in a pew at another event.

Real people want real.

Here's the big challenge: Does the Holy Communion we receive correspond to a Holy Community we live? If we accept that receiving Holy Communion is, at least in part, a kind of declaration -- "with union" -- does this accurately reflect the reality of our parishes? Really think about it. After any parish activity are those involved more alive in Jesus Christ? Is this fundamental purpose even proclaimed? Does it guide, drive and unite all the activity in the parish.

We all do our best to live our faith. We're good soldiers. But do we really believe in the transforming power of Jesus Christ? Are we experiencing daily growth in virtue and holiness? Are we actively engaged as His instruments in the same for others?

If only those outside our alien civilization understood that many inside are beleaguered. We're also yearning for the real relationship at the heart of religion and ritual. We're looking for alive, dynamic, purpose-driven pastoral leadership that specifies the road of discipleship... for more than a moment, but a life-movement.

While we are busy, we would make time for something that promises to makes a difference. A lasting difference.

I've had this daydream. Before a parish council or other parish meeting, the pastor or leader says: "We're grateful you're here, ready to give an hour of your time. Thank you. But I invite you to think about something: When was the last time you devoted an hour in your home to talking and praying as a family? If you haven't, why not? What's stood in the way? I invite you to think about what other commitments of an hour you've made as a family to sports, or entertainment? And I invite you to consider, what is the higher priority? And what is the value of what we do here, if we're not doing it there?"

"If you don't commit a minimal hour to talking and praying there above your commitment here, you're robbing from them. And if we're not doing it there, what can we really expect of anyone else in this parish?"

As my daydream continues, I imagine the pastor and leaders recommitting to becoming the difference they want to see in their parish.

I imagine them putting a flag in the sand for Jesus Christ-- first and foremost in their homes, in a way that overflows and dignifies their leadership in the parish. I imagine the Holy Spirit moving powerfully, breathing new life into their marriages and families. It becomes more than a good activity. It becomes life changing. It becomes a way of life. I imagine these sharing this life of ever-deepening transformation.

And I imagine this lived pouring over into the community, a living testimony, a Holy Community lived proclaiming the Holy Communion received.

If you share this imagining, it's because you share in the Image of God alive in Jesus Christ. This is the ultimate purpose for our existence. This is what Mass Impact is all about: Uniting people in personal, family and parish discipleship.

If this speaks to you, what can you do right now? Become a Mass Impact Kingdom Builder. It is an occasion for priests and parishioners to be united in personal, family and parish discipleship.

Also, if you want to ignite your parish, introduce your pastor to Core Mission. It's the open door to your entire parish being ignited as a community of missionary disciples.

Oh most Holy Spirit, come and ignite the great Fire of Your Love. Set it ablaze in our minds and hearts!