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Avoiding the Religion of Me

Michie

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At any time, we have a tendency I argue to overlook something unique about our human condition. I’m referring to our ability to recognize the presence of someone (Incarnational character) and greet them with the simplest yet most profound of human gestures, a joyful smile-filled “hello.” This is what I would describe as an Incarnational gesture, i.e., a gesture in the name of Jesus Christ because our actions are meant to reflect the words and deeds of Jesus Christ our Lord, Savior, and King.

Sacred Scripture provides us with several joyful “Incarnational gestures” such as Jesus’ greeting to the Apostles and disciples on the Road to Emmaus when upon celebrating the Mass the Apostle's eyes were opened and then Jesus disappeared.[1] The greeting between Mary and Elizabeth led John the Baptist to leap in Elizabeth’s womb.[2] When you consider for example the origin of the Magnificat prayer, it reveals a joyful response to an encounter between human beings rooted in the Divine. Joyful encounters are very important because they remind us of our responsibility to engage one another with joy, gratitude, and humility.

These examples provide us with a glimpse of what discipleship can look like when we choose to profess the faith of Jesus Christ over our own religiously manufactured humanistic attitude. From a practical perspective, it stems from a choice of “The Religion of Me” over the Son of God Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, and the light.[3]

Continued below.