Fr. Thomas M. Pastorius
March 1, 2015
Spiritual Ponderings
Spiritual Warriors

One of the earliest images of a life of disciple is that of a Christian being called a “soldier of Christ.” When you think about the term “gospel,” which means “the Good News of a military victory” and the meaning of the term “sacrament” which comes from the Latin word for the oath that a soldier took to the join the Roman Army, one can begin to see the strong foundation the term “soldier of Christ” has in our Church’s history. With this in mind, I would like to reflect on what it takes to be a soldier of Christ. For help with this reflection, I would like to turn the following article “10 Life Lessons from A Navy Seal. I will Always Remember #4” which was published in the Business Insider. The article will be in bold and my reflection will be in regular font.

Naval Admiral William H. McRaven returned to his alma mater last week and spoke to the graduates with lessons he learned from his basic SEAL training. Here’s his amazing Commencement Address at University of Texas at Austin 2014 from Business Insider. The University’s slogan is, “What starts here changes the world.” I have to admit—I kinda like it. “What starts here changes the world.”

Tonight there are almost 8,000 students graduating from UT. That great paragon of analytical rigor, Ask.Com says that the average American will meet 10,000 people in their lifetime. That’s a lot of folks. But, if every one of you changed the lives of just ten people—and each one of those folks changed the lives of another ten people—just ten—then in five generations—125 years—the class of 2014 will have changed the lives of 800 million people. 800 million people—think of it—over twice the population of the United States. Go one more generation and you can change the entire population of the world—8 billion people. If you think it’s hard to change the lives of ten people—change their lives forever—you’re wrong. I saw it happen every day in Iraq and Afghanistan. A young Army officer makes a decision to go left instead of right down a road in Baghdad and the ten soldiers in his squad are saved from close-in ambush. In Kandahar province, Afghanistan, a non-commissioned officer from the Female Engagement Team senses something isn’t right and directs the infantry platoon away from a 500 pound IED, saving the lives of a dozen soldiers. But, if you think about it, not only were these soldiers saved by the decisions of one person, but their children yet unborn—were also saved. And their children’s children—were saved. Generations were saved by one decision—by one person. But changing the world can happen anywhere and anyone can do it. So, what starts here can indeed change the world, but the question is… what will the world look like after you change it? Well, I am confident that it will look much, much better, but if you will humor this old sailor for just a moment, I have a few suggestions that may help you on your way to a better a world.

And while these lessons were learned during my time in the military, I can assure you that it matters not whether you ever served a day in uniform. It matters not your gender, your ethnic or religious background, your orientation, or your social status. Our struggles in this world are similar and the lessons to overcome those struggles and to move forward—changing ourselves and the world around us—will apply equally to all.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5). As Catholics we believe that each person was created by God out of love and He desires each of us to participate in His Divine Plan. The consequence of this is that each person is supposed to play a vital part in God’s plan. We have been literally created to change the world!!! As we learn from the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” we have all touched the life of another in some positive way whether we or they know it or not simply by our mere existence. Sadly though in our world today there are many who are not given that opportunity because of abortion.

Finally when we think of all of Jesus’ teachings, are they not all about changing the world? In Mathew 25 and the story of the Last Judgment is it not amazing that Jesus’ focuses on little things. These “little things” though do change the world if done with great love.

Spiritual Exercise: Name 10 people whose world you are going to change because you are going to share your faith with them.