Lay Life in a Year

52 Reflections on JPII's vision for the Laity

Week 8: The Laity Is A Source Of Hope And Love

The challenges are immense, even overwhelming. Facing the sheer depth of despair, anxiety, helplessness, and fear in the world and in the Church can make us discouraged.

Very quickly we begin to hear the lie creep in, “This is all too much. What can you do? You are insignificant and small. Besides, you’re just a lay person, and a sinful one at that.”

But it isn’t up to us! We aren’t being asked to save the world. We are being asked to point to the one who saves the world—Jesus Christ.

Jesus alone can conquer all the misery and brokenness of life, but He invites us to help announce His Good News. In a special way, Jesus calls the lay faithful to be “a sign and source of hope and of love” by living every moment of our lives pointing to Him (CFL, No. 7).

If given completely to God, our everyday, seemingly ordinary life can become a beacon of light that the Lord uses to save those lost in darkness.

Lay Life in a Year Overview

Read the original: CFL Introduction, No. 7
Last week: The World’s Hunger For Truth
This week: The Laity Is A Source of Hope And Love
Next week: The Laity Belong To The Church

Week 38 – How to Respond to a Divided World

Oct 20, 2024

Division is something that seems to grow more each day. Nations, families, and relationships seem to be falling apart. In my own life, I have struggled to find something to hold on to. In weathering the storm, I often find myself grasping for anything to keep me...

Week 37- A Response to Busyness

Oct 13, 2024

In a meeting with my pastor about our parish, he said: “If we don’t fix things, the bishop will close this parish. We have to get more young families engaged.” Caught off guard and growing in concern, I asked him what activities the parish was currently doing....

Week 36 – An Unexpected Discovery from 1979

Oct 6, 2024

When I was a kid, my dad was obsessed with one particular VHS tape—it was like some secret treasure from the past. He held it out with a grin and said, “Now I’ll show you what basketball is supposed to look like.” It was the 1979 NCAA championship game—Larry Bird vs....