We usually like things hot or cold. Coffee and soup should be hot. Beer and soda should be cold. We don’t like lukewarmness.
Apparently, neither does Jesus. In the Book of Revelation, He says, “Because you are neither hot or cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.”
Lukewarmness is one of the greatest enemies of the spiritual life.
Known as acedia in the experience of the vowed Religious in the early Church, this indifference or apathy towards holy things can afflict all of us.
We can easily settle for the minimal, allowing Sunday Mass to become a distracted obligation, rushing through our prayers with little thought, avoiding Confession or spiritual reading, and just going through the motions without much interior change.
All of us experience dry spells in our path of discipleship, when God can feel distant, we have little passion for holy things, and the state of our soul is like many days in Wisconsin: Partly cloudy and cool.
What to do about it
The question is: What do we do about it when acedia hits us with its enervating lethargy?
Remembering the words of Jesus just mentioned, we know that how we overcome lukewarmness is a matter of great spiritual urgency. The eternal salvation of our souls depend on it.
When I feel dispassionate about the things of God, I seek to stir up my heart by meditating on two realities: The Passion and crucifixion of Christ and my own mortality.
Every crucifix shouts out the love of Jesus for us!
We see the Lord with His head bent to kiss us, His arms open to embrace us, and His feet nailed fast to pardon our sins.
When I prayerfully meditate on the horrific death of Christ and realize that, out of love for me and my eternal salvation, He took my place on the Cross and died for my sins, how can I remain cold or indifferent?
The suffering of the Lord never fails to stir my heart towards greater devotion, sacrifice, and love, to enkindle my spiritual passion, in gratitude for the Passion of God.
When I ponder the Cross, I am struck by how my sins must grieve the Lord, if the death of Christ was the remedy for my sin and how precious my soul must be to Him because He considered the sacrifice of His Son to be worth it.
Contemplating one’s own death may seem like a morbid exercise, but I have found it to be tremendously motivating.
In light of eternity, this earthly life is a wisp of smoke, a flash of light, a few minutes in time.
St. Teresa of Avila compared it to one night in a bad inn.
In a very short amount of time, I will pass from this life toward the judgment seat of Christ.
This reality both sobers and inspires me. I discover the urgent need for conversion in this present moment and I feel energized to be more serious about purposeful growth in holiness, prayer, virtue, and faith.
Time to wake up!
Based on Mass attendance alone, the majority of Catholics in our diocese are spiritually asleep.
Go Make Disciples has been fruitful in many hearts as we seek the fire of the Holy Spirit and pray for interior conversion and transformation.
Last spring, our Go Make Disciples Live event saw hundreds of people commit themselves to Christ as missionary disciples.
Our recent Eucharistic Congress was powerful and moving.
Family catechesis has proved successful in many of our parishes.
Into the Deep is unfolding, as we move forward in our strategic plan.
Nevertheless, thousands and thousands of Baptized Catholics in our diocese still need to hear the Good News of salvation, be convicted of their need for Christ, and make a personal decision for Him as their Lord and Savior.
I encourage all of us, most especially myself, to push past lukewarmness and apathy, to drink deeply of the Holy Spirit, and to continue on the path of conversion!
Who are the people in your life who need to hear:
The Gospel, to really hear it?
The truth of their identity as beloved children of God?
The destructive power of sin and death, not as an abstraction, but as a truly negative force in their lives?
The rescue mission of Jesus Christ, in His Incarnation, ministry, miracles, suffering, death, and resurrection?
Our response to the Gospel, to live in an entirely new way, in the communion of the Church, wrapped in Scripture and prayer, abiding in the Lord through the sacraments, witnessing the power of Christ through my words, actions, values, and presence?
God wants to heat us up, set us on fire, to go forth with the joy and conviction of Pentecost, and light up the world for Christ!