Competing for the faith: Putting God first

	Word to Life  Sharon Perkins

At this time of year, our household, along with hundreds of others in America, is consumed with children's activities as programs begin anew.

For my eighth-grader, these consist of a new school term, soccer season, and, this year, Confirmation preparation. Each has its own set of registration forms, permission slips, participation fees, and schedules of meetings and practices.

Given the way these things work and the busyness of our family's life, it's pretty easy to take the path of least resistance and treat preparation for the sacrament as simply one more extracurricular activity. Unfortunately, having observed other families in my situation, it seems that the enthusiasm for competitive sports at any level often far outweighs that for sacramental catechesis.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007) Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Psalms 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31

Without picking on overextended parents, criticizing particular parish programs, or denigrating youth sports programs and their benefits, I must admit that the idea of "competing" for the faith and "laying hold of eternal life," featured in the reading from 1 Timothy, makes me pause.

What would it be like if Christians really and truly "laid hold of" the gift of faith and its sacramental confession made "in the presence of many witnesses," with the same fervor that we bring to our many entertainments and creature comforts?

What if the complacency of consumerist America, like that of the Zion of Amos or the Palestine of Jesus, were supplanted with zeal for the justice and mercy of the Lord? What if I personally allowed that kind of enthusiasm to break through the barricade of my own narrow concerns?

	Reflection questions • In what ways have you become too complacent or absorbed in your own narrow concerns to appreciate the gift of faith you've been given? • What is God calling you to become more enthusiastic about?

The word "enthusiasm," according to its Greek roots, means "in possession by a god." I've also heard it explained this way: "en" + "theos" (in God) ending with I.A.S.M. (I am sold myself).

May we be so thoroughly "sold" on God's reign and so possessed by God's spirit that the daily disposition of all our time and resources - from children's soccer practices to caring for the poor in our midst - truly becomes the stuff of eternal life to which we lay claim.

This column is offered in cooperation with the North Texas Catholic of Fort Worth, Texas.