1986-1992: Simple Knocks & God’s Gifts: Home Visitation Stories, Part 2
Deacon Tom: One Saturday morning, Mary Jane and I are walking door-to-door about two blocks from our parish. We are greeted at one home by a man who explains that this is not his home; he is there taking care of some household chores for his ex-wife. The ex-wife comes to the door. We introduce ourselves and tell them we are visiting from St. Matthews.
Mary Jane: They invite us in. We learn they are no longer practicing Catholics. They tell us they left the Church because they believe in the Bible. They say Catholics do not read the Bible. They tell us about a prayer group they belong to just a few blocks away. We realize they are using our visit as an opportunity to evangelize us (so they think). And so again, we mentioned that we were visiting homes in the area to invite people to St. Matthew Catholic Church and ask if they had a concern or intention, we could pray with them. Since we didn’t respond by acting surprised at their response, our intention was to capture their interest in hearing more about what we had to share.
Deacon Tom: In this couple’s willingness to discuss their beliefs and knowledge of the Bible, we are able to share our knowledge of the Bible, including how the Catholic Church offers Bible study groups.
We correct their misconception about Catholics and the Bible. We explain that we ourselves belong to a Bible study, and it seems the more we share with them, the more they are willing to listen. We discussed the importance of the sacraments. Three hours later, still standing at their doorstep; they invite us to return to share more!
We visit them regularly, becoming close friends. In time, this couple not only returns to the Catholic faith, but to each other as well, reuniting and renewing their marriage vows.
Deacon Tom and Mary Jane learned that prayer is a vitally important element in discipleship and in reaching people ‘where they are’. Our vocation, whether religious or lay, be it married, single, widowed, divorced, will flourish when we pray and embrace the Truth given to us through God’s Word and will shape how we are called to use the gifts he has given us. If you do not yet enjoy a quiet time of Scripture, prayer and conversation with our Lord, consider just 30 minutes a day of silent contemplation with Him. Our Catholic faith teaches us that God longs to reveal His Will to us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states,
“God, who dwells in unapproachable light, wants to communicate his own divine life […]” (no. 52).
We often hesitate when asked a question about our faith, worried we do not know it all. The Catechism gives us the good news that we are not called to know it all:
“The divine plan of Revelation is realized simultaneously ‘by deeds and words which are intrinsically bound up with each other’ and shed light on each another. It involves a specific divine pedagogy: God communicates himself to man gradually” (no. 53, emphasis added).
The question, “What do you Catholics believe?” is answered with what you already know by heart, because we profess what we believe in the Apostles Creed every Sunday at Holy Mass.
To grow in a deeper understanding of what we Catholics believe, we have the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is available in print, online, and in podcasts. It is best studied gradually, even as little as one paragraph at a time, for the Catechism teaches, “He prepares us to welcome by stages the supernatural Revelation that is to culminate in the person and mission of the incarnate word, Jesus Christ.”
