April 19, 2018
by Mitchell Palmquist
Happy Easter, He is risen!
The Inland Catholic keeps trucking along. This month’s magazine features some exciting stories from a parish focusing on evangelization for a year, to a school opening a new building. Not to mention we have just marked five years since Pope Francis’ election to the papacy. And a parish celebrating the burning of their mortgage.
As we enter into the Easter season, it’s worthwhile to reflect on a profound question: what does the resurrection mean for us? Not just what we receive from Christ’s victory over death, but how are we called to respond? I think the resurrection invites us to ask God, “What do you want me to do? Who am I?” I was recently asking my three-year-old what she thinks God wants her to be when she grows up. She quickly responded with a smile, “A nun!” But in the same breath came her rejoinder, “but I don’t want to be!” Her answer, while adorable, illustrates that gap between what we want and what God wants; a gap that runs through all our hearts. I certainly hope she will discern God’s plan for her life as she grows, but asking that question is one that can bring about much change: What do you want me to be Lord? I think the resurrection is calling us to narrow that gap between God’s will and ours.
We are winding down the final year of the Know, Love, Serve process in the diocese. In this final year of KLS, the themes of focus are evangelization, outreach, and ecumenism; these three themes are a great response to the grace received in the resurrection, practical ways to live the life Jesus asks us to live. We are called to evangelize, to bring others to the God who saves. We are called to reach out to the poor, the marginalized and the suffering. Lastly, we are to work for unity in Christ among Christians; seeking to be one body of Christ in service to all.
In this April issue, we are focusing on evangelization; next month, outreach will be our focus, and the June issue will look at ecumenism.