Learning to become a fool

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written:  "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate" - 1 Corinthians 1:18-19

Here I am, studying Theology and Catechetics at Franciscan University of Steubenville - we've got the best program there is for this stuff...and Christ has called me to foolishness.  Um...what???

I've worked my tail off for the past four years and God never ceases to surprise me with His infinite wisdom.  He said, "This is all well and good.  Yes get your degree.  But do you know me yet?"

BOOM.

I found myself recollecting the words of the infamous St. Thomas Aquinas, who after studying theology for years and year, declared on his death bed - "All is straw."

So what if I can tell you the 4 pillars of the Catechism and exactly what's in each of them off the top of my head.  If I am not in a relationship with the Lord, then what good is this truth?  This is what St. Thomas was saying...he studied his whole life and barely touched the surface.  What is most important is that we know Christ, as a PERSON, a friend.

Yes, we should learn as much as we can about the Lord while we are on this earth, because to know IS to love.  But we must realize our motives.  Is it just to make ourselves look intelligent?  Or do we want to know Christ on a deeper level?  Do we truly want to bring others to a relationship with Him?

The road to holiness is not dependent on how battered and used your catechism is...but it is however, dependent on how whether or not you are in LOVE!

The world tells us to be the best, to do it all on your own, to know it all.  But Christ tells us to be foolish.   Not in a way that is a cop-out in our studies...rather a stepping-out-of our comfort zones foolishness.  It's about not being afraid to look like a goober if it means that you fall more in love with God or bring another to His love.

Go out on a limb today!  Tell somebody that Christ loves them, no matter what's going on.  Throw out the good 'ol PTL in conversation (Praise the Lord, that is =] ).  Don't be afraid to use the name of Jesus.  There is power in the name of Jesus and we should never be ashamed to use it!

Last thing:

Have you ever seen a couple who are just absolutely and completely in love?  Have you ever SEEN the way they act?  It's like nothing else in the world matters...they look like total goofs!!  They don't even realize that there's a world around them. They're just fixed on each other's eyes.  If we are truly in love with Christ, we should have that same look in our eyes.  Because the truth is that NOTHING else is more important than falling in love with Jesus Christ.  Don't be afraid to seek foolishness, if it means attaining holiness.  This life is too short to not risk being foolish if it means our salvation.  Let's just learn to become a fool for the sake of the Gospel.  Who's with me?!