Encountering Christ.
The Way, and the Truth, and the Life.
Saturday, in his address to the young people assembled at Dunwoodie in New York, the Holy Father pretty much described my conversion experience in 1972:
“Dear friends, truth is not an imposition. Nor is it simply a set of rules. It is a discovery of the One who never fails us; the One whom we can always trust. In seeking truth we come to live by belief because ultimately truth is a person: Jesus Christ. That is why authentic freedom is not an opting out. It is an opting in; nothing less than letting go of self and allowing oneself to be drawn into Christ’s very being for others.” - Rorate Caeli
And I can affirm, what I refer to as my “second conversion” was a radical deepening of this truth.
I am convinced this is why I can attend Mass in either the extraordinary or the ordinary form with devotion, and still encounter, no - feed upon the living Jesus. This is why I could live through years of liturgical abuse, and endure bad priests - as well as good priests… because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” And by sheer grace, my eyes are fixed upon him.
The Gospel is forever young. Thanks be to God.
[Fr. Zuhlsdorf has a very good commentary on the Holy Father's address.]
