The Making of an Evangelist

Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi speaks at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle.

Monsingnor Peter J. Vaghi, pastor at Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda MD, presented a theological reflection titled Encountering Jesus in His Word: The Making of an Evangelist  on Thursday, October 6  at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle.

This was the first of eight monthly reflections which are scheduled to occur on the First Thursday at the Cathedral immediately following the 5:30 P.M. Mass.

"Christian life is essentially marked by an encounter with God asking us to follow him."  explained Monsingnor Vaghi.

There is, within each encounter with God, a challenge for each Christian to be more faithful in his life, to make changes to be more obedient to God.

"Peter is a model for us to follow as we evangelize." stated Monsingnor Vaghi. "Peter is a model for what it means to be an evangelist."

Holy Scripture passage Luke 5:1-11 was read by Monsignor Vaghi.

"Listening to his word, the people encountered Jesus."  said Monsignor Vaghi as he briefly described the day to day ministry of Jesus and the crowds of people who were following him. There is a significance that Jesus chose Peter's boat to get into and to continue teaching the people. There were other boats which he could have used. But Jesus chose to be close to Peter.

Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi listens to a question about evangelization.

 After he had finished talking to the crowd Jesus asked Peter to take his boat out to deep water and lower his nets. Peter said "Master we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing but at your command I will lower the nets."  Peter's response could be interpreted as apostolic toil, working hard as an apostle. Within Peter's response exists a sense of weariness, lack of confidence, sense of defeatism.

"Peter could have rejected the request of Jesus. Peter decided to obey the word of Jesus, the word of God." explained Monsignor Vaghi. "He obeyed the Word of God. He trusted the word of Jesus. He  allowed the movement of the spirit in his life. In the process he became a changed man."

Jesus provided a simple lesson for Peter on being obedient to God. Jesus showed Peter that obeying the word of God could lead to great success.

"We must take risks for Jesus. We are asked to challenge our friends, to challenge our family members to return to Church. We are to challenge their beliefs, to persuade them to believe that to live in such a way that one's life without God does not make sense."

On that fishing boat Peter came to terms with his weakness, with his unworthiness to be an evangelist. He was overwhelmed by his personal sinfulness.

Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi responds to a question about encountering Christ.

"We must pray to come to terms with our own sinfulness to be effective evangelists." said Monsignor Vaghi.

Rosary or Umbrella

Saturday began quietly. There was slight hesitation about whether to go to early Mass or not. The weather forecast was a confusing mixture of clouds and sunshine. A slight debate over which camera, which lenses, which camera bag began. There were more reasons to remain indoors than to leave, there were more reasons to do something else, anything else than to leave and be productive.

Outside there was sunlight caressing one side of the still silent, somehow wonderfully traffic free avenue. There was something gently beautiful about this view, something which provided hope. There was a brief debate over taking photograph or not.

The walk to the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle continued. There were few pedestrians moving about that Saturday morning. There were joggers and cyclists and dogs on leashes. The air was cool, the sky was blank. People looked liked statues or other inanimate objects.

There were trees without leaves, buses without riders, taxicabs without passengers. There were many things to think about, many things to remember. This was a time for silent prayer, silent reflection. This was a time to remember some of the people that I had promised to pray for. This was a time to remember my own search for my personal sense of humanity. This was a time to remember to pray for strangers. Mass had been missed, the second destination was plotted.

Walking on the sidewalks, jaywalking at some intersections provided a crazy sense of anonymity and anxiety. There was a second or two of calm carelessness as I looked at this glass and steel building. There was a second or two of casual thoughtlessness as I darted into traffic.

Walking south there was a moment when I wondered if I had the wrong date, if this event was going to occur on another future time.

Then, I saw them. It was about twenty people of all ages, standing there holding their rosaries. Some were holding sheets of paper.

Their voices were gentle, merciful, loving. Their manner was civil, polite. They were publicly praying in front of the local abortion clinic. There was one police vehicle on the street.

A priest with a microphone was leading those saying the Rosary. This was a moment of reverence. This was a moment of hope. This was a moment of charity. The voices gently said the Rosary, each mystery was clearly announced. Standing on the edge of a sidewalk near the entrance to the abortion clinic, these Christians peacefully, calmly prayed for life, prayed for those thinking about having an abortion, prayed for those who have had an abortion, prayed for those innocent children who were killed by abortion.

The Rosary is powerful. As Catholics we are taught to respect life, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. A sign of that love is supporting life, supporting hope. We must remember God, remember goodness, holiness, and kindness.

We must encourage our friends to help with this fight. All human life is important. All human life contains the potential for beauty, for hope, for love.

All human life deserves a chance.

Joining A Protest Before a Thuder Storm

Today, July 25, 2009, was the Global Day of Action for Human Rights in Iran. Demonstrations were held in major cities around the world. Three events were held in Washington, DC. This event was sponsored and coordinated by Amnesty International and other human rights organizations.

The stated purpose was to display universal solidarity with the Iranian civil rights movement and to demand respect for the human rights of the Iranian people. In Washington, a protest was held at the UN offices, then there was a march to the National Mall, and finally a rally with the U.S. Capitol as a backdrop.

Photographers and writers like any opportunity to observe strangers. A march is a low budget parade without floats or people dressed as clowns. People carry signs and repeat slogans. In many ways a march is very close to a high school pep rally. The only difference is that a pep rally usually lasts for thirty minutes in the gymnasium and a march lasts for a couple.

A march is a moveable pep rally with bullhorns, people cheering, reciting slogans. This march obeyed most traffic rules. Babies in strollers, people in wheelchairs, men and women of all ages, all races were present. This was a solemn occasion.

The Archdiocese of Washington recently celebrated Global Solidarity Month to commemorate the anniversary of the Papal visit. How great it would have been if a march had been held, too! How great it is to participate in this event, to see the expressions, to read the signs and banners! Being Catholic means believing in social justice, working for social justice.

This entry is not about politics. It's about basic human fairness. This is not about the internal political controversies in Iran. This is about individuals around the world through their presence at events like this one, making a statement.

Social justice does not always mean equality. The quest for social justice is a quest for something beyond civil rights. Social justice wants all human beings to have the basics food, clothing, and shelter; all human beings to be treated fairly and with respect; human dignity should not be denied.

Social justice takes time to be achieved. It takes sacrifice, dedication, hard work. Prayer is also very important.

The name Global Day of Action suggests something beyond one issue, one country. Work is needed everywhere to help the homeless, to combat poverty, to develop fair immigration rules. The number of issues which require attention is endless.

Today's events were successful because people took the time to participate. Some brought their children, friends, parents; others brought their cameras and their imaginations.

Everyone left with a measured optimism and an understanding that the journey is just beginning.