LAYKO CONGRESS: THE ROLE OF THE LAITY

(A reflection by Fr. Allan Joie Nuñez: Part 1  of 3)
In this “year of the laity,” let us reflect on the role that the people of God play in actualizing the reign of God’s Kingdom here on earth. But first, let us correct some of our misconceptions so that we may have a clearer understanding of what we ought to do.
1. As Catholics, we do what God wills. Do we? As a universal Church, we accomplish this by obeying our God-designated leader here on earth: our Pope. Helped by the Holy See, in accordance with the teachings of God in the Bible and the Traditions, he discerns what God wills for the present time, relays the teaching through the Bishop and the Clergy, and the laity act accordingly, as one would follow the very commands of God Himself. It seems simple enough but, actually, many of us have the wrong belief: that obedience is optional. Many of us think that if we don’t personally agree with what the Catholic Church teaches then we can opt not to join its campaigns, Church activities, or ministries. It is a freedom distorted and abused. The Church is a “body,” and so, it cannot possibly be divided or dis-united. The parts of a body cannot be independent. The misconception that lay people hold about their distinction outside of the Church should be corrected because lay people, just like the religious and the Clergy are THE CHURCH!

Why is Obedience such a difficult word for us? It seems human beings are a born-rebels. We hate being told what to do. All we want is just to do what we desire. But isn’t that the very attitude God hated about the Israelites during the Exodus? “Do not harden your heart,” dear lay Catholic faithful. Trust and obey; if you cannot agree then seek first our teachings until you understand. “Seek and you shall find.”
2. We carry our cross. Who said being a Christian is going to be easy? There is always joy, but behind the tears. Cross-carrying means persevering under trials, overcoming the world and the flesh, resisting the call of satan’s evil pride resident within us. This is another wrong belief or misconception that we do not correct to our own harm: the belief that we can continue living un-Christian-like because, anyway, God is good and will always forgive us. Remember that the prodigal son did not return to his father only to resume his old evil ways but to totally change for good, out of gratitude, because he was saved and even accepted back by his father. Gratitude should be our motivation. Imagine: the prodigal son came home, not to reclaim his sonship; but to apply for a job!(as a menial servant in his father’s house!)

We are a people snatched from the fire; saved by God’s love. That is why we love others, because God loved us. (1 Jn.4:19) “We love because He first loved us.” And since we owe God a debt of gratitude we cannot pay, the least we could do is not to go back to being in danger of that fire again. “Faith without works” or “living like a sinner again and again” is “unbelief” or dead faith. The result of believing God’s propitiation for our sins is conversion, not abuse of God’s goodness, or else we mock God’s goodness and love. The cross of attaining holiness (the cross of repentance) is only successfully carried if gratitude is in our hearts.

Now, having placed those two related misconceptions in their proper light, let us come to the role that ought to be played by the lay in these faith-CHALLENGING times. We live in a dispensation where Man, in the midst of material plenty, his soul is actually thirsting for God.