Beyond the Familiar: Beyond the Familiar

“God is eternal newness. God impels us constantly to set out anew, to pass beyond what is familiar, to the fringes and beyond. God takes us to where humanity is most wounded, where men and women … seek an answer to the questions of life’s meaning. God is not afraid! God is fearless! God is always greater than out plans and schemes … So if we dare to go to the fringes, we will find God there”. (Pope Francis, On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World, 135)

In the midst of individualism, addiction, the rejection of new ideas and approaches, dogmatism, nostalgia, pessimism, and hiding behind rules and regulations, Pope Francis challenges us to live with boldness and passion. Of course, we never do it alone: God makes us new and fearless; God beckons us forward; God is “always greater than our plans and schemes”.

Application for Ministry: Often within our teaching ministry, we go beyond what is familiar: learning imaginative ways to effectively catechise, walking with those who have searching questions, and being attentive to the sufferings of those who cross our paths as well as those who might be nameless to us.

Meditative Musing: Within my life, where might the fringes be? What is one thing I could do today to go beyond my own experiences?

Prayer: God of eternal newness, push me beyond the familiar into the fringes where you are. Guide me as I share your call, pushing my learners into the fringes. Amen.