Dear Lord, “Being a Christian means being in you, thinking like you, acting like
you, loving like you. It means letting you take possession of my life to change it,
transform it and free it from the darkness of evil and sin.”
This is the goal of our daily lives. We intensify this daily effort during the season
of Lent. For forty days we intensify our focus on efforts to be like Jesus. To be a
Christian means to be “Christ-like,” an “Altus Christus,” aka,“Another Christ.”
The challenge for all is not “to be” a Christian. Rather the challenge is “how to
be” a Christian. There are many who claim or support a Christian“WAY” of life. They
can be Congregational, Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, etc. We chose to be Roman
Catholic. Also, we chose to live as brother knights. This choice helps us in our attempts
at “how to be” a Christian, a Roman Catholic.
Our council has specific activities, which support us in our efforts at “how to be” a
Christian. These activities are religious, e.g., Marian Devotion, Right to Life Activities,
Monthly Meetings, Donated Services given to the community and in the parish, visiting
the in-firmed and the grieving, etc. Christ encourages us to be active when he says that,
“when you give a glass of water in my name, you will receive a blessing.” We do all this
so that we can “be in Christ.”
There are many things our society needs, such as, the end of wars, end of poverty,
medical care for all, better education, good paying employment, eradication of drug
addiction, curing of disease, etc.
These are all very important needs. But added to this list is the need for good
Christians in our society. Our society needs Christian role models. These role models
do not need to “registered” Christians. They may not be of the Christian faith. But, their
behaviors and life styles indicate that they are “in Christ.” They are people who are
Christ-like. Like many of you I see this “Christ-like” actions in the lives of many people.
They are people of all ages, all creeds, all nations, male or female, all economic levels,
etc., who live as Jesus teaches, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
This Christ-like life happens in the class room, the hospital ward, the prison cell,
the market place, the family, facilities for the aged and in-firmed, entertainment/artistic
community, etc.
During this season of Lent/Easter, let us pray for a renewal of strength and
enthusiasm for a Christ-like life. We pray also, that more people will follow and listen to
the teachings of Christ as conveyed by the Roman Catholic Church/Community.
Let us not forget to pray for those who are suffering from physical and mental
illnesses. Lets us pray for those who suffer from poverty, denial of human rights, lack of
a decent job, for an end to abortion, etc.

Rev Bernard J Campbell OFM, Cap.

All of creation, which includes ourselves, is a miracle!  When I leave my daily routine and obligations for a vacation I have time to see and become more aware of the miracles that are part of my life.  During a vacation I love to make time to walk in parks, wooded areas, C/C ski trails, the beach, or a secluded garden.  Nature presents a panorama of miracles.  The awareness of the miracle of creation has taken place once again during this vacation. It happened on the first Wednesday of my vacation in Florida.
   Tuesday was a day of rest after a stressful flight.  Since it was a rainy cold Wednesday, I decided to visit the Dali Museum, which is located in St. Petersburg, FL.  The museum is dedicated to only Dali paintings.  During this visit, however, it was my good fortune that the museum had a special exhibition of Andy Warhol's art.  Both artists, by means of their style of art are surrealists artists.
   The definition I chose for the word surrealists is the following:  "The surrealist tries to help us see beyond what we actually see."  What they present us with is the hidden reality of the object of their art.  They base their art on the truths of science, such as, social, psychological, theological, etc.
   Dali's work was influenced by the Quantum Theory and Einstein's theory of Relativity.  Andy Warhol was influenced by social science.  Also both men were influenced by their Catholic heritage.
   Their art, reveals to us the miracle of life or existence.  The message of their art is that what we see is more than what we see.  The same experience happens when I visit a nearby nature preserve, the Millennium Park, which located in Seminole, FL.
   The park I visit and walk through each day reveals the miracle, the wonder of creation.  The wonder I was made aware of is the relationship of the various elements in the park.  Each element in the park has an important relationship with each other element in the park.  The park is more than mangrove trees.  No matter what is in the park, the trees, the soil, the water,  water fowl, etc., they provide an important relationship with each element of the park.  This relationship is the life of the park.
   The same is true of our Catholic faith.   Our faith is more than membership.  It is a relationship.  Our life of faith is a relationship in and with the church, the body of Christ.  Our life in the church is sacramental.  It is the sacraments, Eucharist, Baptism, etc.  It is the community.  It is the teaching.  These maintain and sustain our faith.  Our faith builds and sustains our relationship with God, each other and all of creation.
   The life of the park depends on the relationship of the "parts" of the park.  Our life with God depends on all the parts of the Church, namely, the Sacraments, Community and Teaching of the Church.
   Have a Happy Valentine's day!  Be sure, on this day that celebrates the gift of love, to express your love to all those special ones in your life and to all who by their relationship with you create the miracle of your life!

Rev Bernard J Campbell OFM, Cap.