Spirituality

SIMON HELP JESUS TO CARRY HIS CROSS; THE KNIGHTHOOD AS A PARTICIPATION IN THE MISSION OF CHRIST. BY REV. FR. MICHAEL UMAMEH Introduction: Isaiah had foretold that “His government would be on his shoulders”, it is now clear that the Cross was his government or law of life. He had said that anyone who was to be his disciples must take up his cross and follow Him. In every Knights of this Order; I see a Simon Helping Jesus carry His Cross, I see in The Knights of St.John International a Simon Helping Jesus carry His government on his Shoulders. That Government is our participation in the mission of Christ. From the uniform you wear the knighthood already portray you as a semi-military order carrying swords as marks of courage and valor, not to fight the infidels but to defend the altar of Christ, the Eucharist, the clergy and the hierarchy. The Maltese cross worn on your left side near your heart calls you to everlasting vigilance at your master’s duty post. Yet today God is asking you a question for self-examination; “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? I answered, “Here I am Send Me”. {Isa: 6:8} Like Simon whichever way the Lord has used to bring you into the Knighthood it is no mistake; the Lord Calls you into a participation in His mission. And Jesus who began the Missions, said; As the Father sent me, so Am I Sending you: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all Creation. (Mark 16:15-20). Hence the obligation of spreading the faith is imposed on every disciple of Christ according to his ability (LG, 17) Hence the goals of Missions and the participation of the members of this noble Order in the Missionary Works of Christ and the Church are; 1. To bring about in all Catholic Churches a fresh fire in faith, living their faith and to share it with others. 2. To invite all people whatever their social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, so that they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic Faith. 3. To foster gospel values in ours society, promoting, the dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good of our society, so that our nation may continue to be transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ. So our aims must be: to believe, to share and to transform: as we are animated by the Holy Spirit to animate others. 4. A worthy knight vows to give aids to the widows and orphans; to undertake no hostility without just cause; to favour no injustice, but to protect the innocent and oppressed; to be humble and disciplined in all things and to live responsibly before God and man. Questions for Our New Missions 1. In our day, what has happened to that hidden energy of the Good News, which is able to have a powerful effect on a person’s conscience? 1a. Which Churches are growing and Why? • Why are there divisions among us knights, Priests and Catechist and society? • Why the Scandal of Christian disunity, loss of sense of Sins. • In the past Priest and Sisters where sons and daughters of Knights, Fr’s. Cook. Catechist and Choirmaster, so what happened in our time?. 2. To what extent and in what way is your participation in the missions a force capable of really transforming the people of this era? 3. What method should be allowed in order that the power of the gospel may have its effects? 4. Why are the divisions between the rich and poor, powerful and weak, exploiting and exploited widening in the face of Church unity? 5. Is the Eucharist a sacrament of unity or division in our own time? 6. Has the Church listen to the cries of the world enough to speak to God for it?

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Are we the Knights of this noble Order converted enough to speak for Christ? Missions in the Church must now begin in the Church, with myself and family and immediate environment and not being limited to bringing God to a godless people. We must now listen more dearly to God and the world around us and stand as a bridge of unity between God and Man.

Our Participation The major focus of Missions and your Participation as Knights is To awaken an interest in the worldwide evangelizations in all sections of the people of God, families, basic community, parishes, schools, movements, associations so that each (Diocese, Catholic) may become aware at all levels of it universal vocation. This would necessarily include the task of promoting missionary awareness, the education, information, and formation of our people. We must use all means at our disposal to keep the missionary spirit alive and afire in them and above all promote missionary vocation of all kinds at all levels among ourselves. For it is only in the Christian message that modern man can find the answer to his questions and the energy of persevering the heritage of faith in its untouchable purity and of faith in preaching it to the people of our time in a way that is as understandable and persuasive as possible. In accepting this mission, everyone should keep in mind that the vital core of the new evangelization must be a clear and unequivocal proclamation of the person of Jesus Christ, that is, the preaching of his name, his teaching, his life, his promises and the kingdom which he has gained for us by his Paschal Mystery. The challenge of this call is – fully living and freely sharing our Catholic faith. We must gain new impetus in Christian living making it a force which inspires our journey of faith. For such Pastoral revitalization and animation, the Valour, courage and vigilance of the Knight are most needed in our time than ever. These must be our priorities. Universal call to Holiness, the need for Prayer, participation – in the Sunday Eucharist; the sacrament of reconciliation; a clear, honest dependence on God’s help and grace, especially listening to the word and proclaiming the word in Holiness and Prayer. We must rekindle in ourselves the impetus of the beginnings and allow ourselves to be filled with the ardor of the apostolic preaching which followed Pentecost. We must revive in ourselves the burning conviction of Paul; who cried out: Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel (1Cor 9:16). So we have the call; we have the urgency. We have the means. We have the challenge and it stems indeed from the life and mission of Jesus Christ our Saviour who gave us the Church. To us though unlike Simon who was forced to carry the Cross we are willingly putting in a helping shoulder for the Government of Christ. It is a rare task and privilege given to us. We are the Church, summoned today to a new evangelization. This evangelization is the responsibility of every member of the Church. We are all involved by virtue of our baptism and Knighthood which brings us dignity and responsibility. Points of Participation A. We have come to a time in our society when many Catholics use secular values (values of other Churches) to critique the Churches teachings instead of using gospel values and the teaching of the Church to critique secular values. The question how do we create that kind of Catholic Community? That will ignite the fire of enthusiasm in the Hearts of Catholics. Relying on the Holy Spirit, the principal agent of evangelization we can be impel to become that kind of community around the Eucharist, the Priesthood and the Sacraments.

Our Parish Community must participate in worship, receive the sacraments, care for one another, and reach out to the poor and we must build a sense of unity and not uniformity. We must look to our Pastors and other Parish Minister to inspire us from the Pulpit, to give leadership and motivation, it is only then we can see mission animation as living and sharing this great gift of faith with fire. It means truly accepting Jesus Christ and sharing him with others; sharing his life, his love, his truth, his goodness, his values, his compassion and his integrity. As we foster a deepening conversion to Christ in our own lives, we can joyfully promote a new mentality, openness, a desire, a willingness to bring to the entire world what we Catholic followers of Jesus Christ have to offer. This means being a new Simon to help in carrying His Cross 2. Devotional Practices and Para-liturgical activities Devotion to Blessed Virgin Mary, Praying rosaries, Sacred Heart, St. Anthony, Stations of the Cross, to teach faith and express them. 3. Ritual and Symbolism of our celebrations -inculturation. 4. Use of schools and educational institutions’ 5. Use of Health and Medical institutions’ B. Who are we to Evangelize? 1. The Active Catholics 2. The Inactive Catholics 3. The Unchurched 4. The Protestants/Pentecostals 5. The Non-Christians. C. Steps to Animations 1. Becoming Disciples: your faith must be genuine. You can’t make disciples until you are one. 2. Befriending People 3. Sharing your faith 4. Proclaiming the Gospel 5. Inviting others to conversion 6. Integrating New People into the Community D. Employing the Charisms In doing all these, a Sacramental Parish becomes Missionary. In Conclusion: To be Christians means to be a Missionary, to be Apostles. It is not enough to discover Christ – you must bring him to others! You must have the courage to speak about Christ, to bear witness to your faith through a lifestyle inspired by the Gospel . . . The harvest is great indeed for a new missionary animation and so many workers are needed. Christ trusts you and counts on your collaboration. As we respond with generosity, may the Holy Spirit increase our awareness deepen our commitment and strengthen our involvement in Mission. Mary Star of Evangelization, Pray for Us. References 1. S. Karotemprel (et al): Following Christ in Mission, 1995. 2. Martin, R (et al): John Paul II and the New Evangelization, 2006. 3. Ndiokwere, N.L. The Third Millennium Church,1998. 4. Dodd C, Called to Mission, 1991 5. Flannery. A OP, Vatican II Documents, 1988. 6. Unegbu R.O., Knighthood in Nigeria, 2002. 7. “Knights” The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia, 1994. Being a Talk to Knights of St.John International,St.Patrick’s commandery 494,B/City. As part of 2008 Lenten Retreat (15th March, 2008).