As we celebrate the risen life of Jesus, the world, so enamored of death, will eventually oppose us. The world will not just be upset about our verbal proclamation of Jesus' resurrection. It will especially convulse when we practice what we preach by changing our lifestyle so as to more powerfully proclaim the resurrection. At this point, the world will pressure us to obey it rather than God. Because Jesus is risen, we may dramatically change our finances so as to free up more money and time to proclaim the resurrection. The world will then tell us to be like "everybody else" by putting our money in the bank, making investments, and being a good "consumer." It will laugh at us when we tithe, give alms, and simplify our lives. If we obey the world, the resurrection message will be stifled. If we obey God, we're gaining momentum in witnessing for the risen Christ.

After we by faith meet the risen King, we may choose to be celibate for the kingdom (see Mt 19:12) or to have a large family. In either case, the world will ridicule such practical acts of faith. The world can tolerate lip-service to Jesus' resurrection, but when we act as if the resurrection demanded a new life, then we threaten the world. If the world doesn't stop us, we may break other unwritten rules in our society by sharing our faith in Jesus on our job and rejecting the world's entertainment. Therefore, the world will try to force us to comply. We'll have to obey someone. Will it be God or the pressures of the world?

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 9, 2009

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