A Religious Life is a Challenging Yet Fulfilled Life

The following guest sermon was submitted by ULC Minister Steven Kaszab. All ULC Ministers are invited to contribute their own sermons for consideration/publication. To submit a sermon, please email it to sermons@ulc.org.

Is the Habit wearing fellow below of a Religious Order or a character from Assassins Creed? Once seemingly ages ago society saw Religious of all sorts travelling among them. Dominicans, Jesuits, Augustinians and my favorite Franciscans. Teachers, social workers, social justice activists, nurses, doctors and of course educators all. In every parish you could find these hard working men and women serving your community, the Church and their deity faithfully. 

Todays generation may see a robbed character as a person of violence in a game, or view this person as a odd ball at best. If you are not attending a place of education or social work you may never see a Religious in person. I was educated in a school where the Sister of The Sacred Heart ruled the day, teaching, advising and eliciting obedience the best they could. Perhaps our present day generation would have difficulty imaging a man or woman vowing themselves before the Church and God to vows of Poverty, Celibacy and Obedience, living in community or within a isolated hermitage by one's self most of the time. Just God and his Servant. 

The common attitude regarding Religious is that they live closured, safe lives, perhaps even considered boring to the lay folk. This misconception cannot be further from the truth. Religious are and always will be a part of this world, and as such have been protectors of the earth and their brothers and sisters no matter their faith, creed, color or political attitudes. In Latin America dozens of Religious are arrested and often disappeared by such Tyrannical Governments as Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Cuba and many more. These Religious stand up for the little person, the workers and farmers who are not represented by the government, governments that rob these people of their land, crops and revenue often. In Mexico since 2012 over 23 Priests have been murdered by corrupt officials and Cartels. Estimates show that approximately 125 Religious Men and Women have died at the hands of Gangsters, Corrupt Politicians and Corporations all attempting to drive the Church away from its mission to represent the poor and forgotten. 

The Election of Pope Leo is very significant. Leo is the name of a Pope who first instituted and initiated Vatican Policy towards the importance of Social Justice in Catholic Doctrine. The Church calls these Religious towards a righteous war against falsehoods, corruption, deceit, oppression and hate. You cannot be a faithful Christian and advocate for hateful, racist or socially oppressiveness. 

Religious work within every avenue of our society aiding the poor, handicapped, mentally challenged, addicted and misrepresented in society. That is why Religious challenge the Federal Authorities in their policy of deportation of migrants and the unwanted in society. Religious are lawyers, theologians, professors and educators on all levels and scales. Psychologists, councilors and artists as well. They are every people like you and me except they have dedicated themselves to a purpose. The purpose is both social and very personal. They have vowed themselves to a lived faith in God and the Godly Community of Humanity. That is their home, their special place. Therefore they serve the community far and wide, challenging those with immorality on their minds. So yes a Religious can be seen as something of a hero, someone special. 

The Religious life sets an example to the rest of humanity, just as religion does daily. Albert Einstein once said "science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind" Religion is a part of our world, and our world is good, so protecting the world by being an important part of it is essential. 

Sure they look different when they wear their traditional outfits, their habits and garments, but isn't it true that their actions should speak louder then their appearance? Prayer is to a Religious like drinking water is to a millennial. Necessary and habit forming :)  The Religious advocates vocations to all, a call to seek and fulfill yourselves by find God in whatever way you can. They are there to assist your search through advice, example and learning. 

"Religious life ought to promote growth in the Church through attraction. The Church must be attractive to humanity, Waking the World Up" (Pope Francis)

The Test a persons religious life and character lies in what they do in extraordinary times.