Be radical, crazy, absolutely madly (in the crazy, out of your mind, completely irrational insane way) in love with Jesus Christ. God in infinite, the Absolute, the First and Last, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God loves us infinitely. The only reasonable response to this infinite Love is radical, crazy, absolute love. It is really crazy to love the relative, transitory things of the world with infinite love, in what can only be called idolatry, as it is to Love the Absolute prudently and practically.
Judas was faced with the real presence of Jesus, God, and man, and he chose to reject Jesus. Judas loved practically and prudently, the way the world says we should; and when it called for radical love and sacrifice, he showed total and infinite love for the world. In the presence of Christ, this prudence is madness. The sacrifice of Christ, God Incarnated, on the cross demands from us nothing less than total, absolute, infinite love, adoration, and devotion. This explains and makes rational the radical, totally irrational love and devotion shown by martyrdom, saints, and all holy people who have given their lives over the centuries for Christ. All the Saints lived this. Heard of any ‘crazy’ Saints that did totally insane things for the Love of God, guess what, they were the sane ones.
What does Christ ask of us, nothing! We are free to choose Him or not, we are free to love Him, or not. Jesus loves us, offers us eternity in total bliss, in unity with The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. How can we refuse his love, such infant goodness, and love. He gave everything to save me from my sins and reconcile me to Himself. How can I offer him less than myself, totally. Everything I have is nothing. The only thing I can offer Jesus that has any worth is my free will. To freely join my will to the Divine Will.
Now there are seven precepts or the Catholic Church. These are the minimal things you do to be Catholic, really to be truly Christian. We should do more, clearly, as I said above, saints certainly do. But this is the minimum. They can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Five are in paragraph 2041-2043 and the other two are paragraphs 1031 and 905. They are:
1) Attend Mass on Sunday and holy days of obligation, and rest on those days from our usual work.
2) Confess our sins to a priest at least once a year.
3) Receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist at least once a year, during the Easter season.
4) Observe the days of abstinence and fasting.
5) Contribute to the support of the Church.
6) Obey the laws of the Church concerning matrimony.
7) Participate in the Church’s mission of evangelization of souls.
So, how radical are you? Did you eat meat last Friday? Did you eat at all last Friday? When was the last time you miss a meal? Or is giving up your Starbucks coffee a real hardship? How often do you go to the hospital to visit the sick, the prison, or the homeless shelter? When was the last time you had a homeless person over for supper?
Do something the world considers radical, crazy, for God, and He will make radical changes in your life.
Veni Creator
Come, O Creator Spirit blest!
And in our souls take up your rest;
Come with your grace and heavenly aid,
To fill the hearts which you have made.
Great Comforter! To you we cry,
O highest gift of God Most High!
O Fount of Life! O Fire of Love!
And sweet anointing from above.
You in your many gifts are known,
The finger of God’s hand we owe;
The promise of the Father, thou!
Who does the tongue with power endow.
Kindle our senses from above,
And make our hearts overflow with love;
With patience firm and virtue high,
The weakness of our flesh supply.
Drive far from us the foe we dread,
And grant us your true peace instead;
So shall we not, with you for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.
O may your grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know,
And evermore to hold confessed
Yourself of each the Spirit blest.
All glory while the ages run
Be to the Father and the Son
Who rose from death; the same to thee,
O Holy Ghost, eternally. Amen
The Radical Catholic 