The coaches, teachers, and leaders who have made the biggest difference in my life are, without exception, the ones who have communicated clear expectations and held me to a high standard. I will never forget the extra running I had to do because I refused to practice fundamentals in the exchange between glove and throwing hand. I loathed my high school English teachers for both the number of papers and the stringency with which they were graded at the time, but there is no doubt that it made my college career easier. (If you’re reading this, Mr. Krebs, Mr. Langlitz, Dr. Carroll, or Mr. Goldfuss, no hard feelings.) Even my seminary formation was enriched by the priests and professors who really pushed me. All of it speaks to the importance of calling one another to great heights, even if it seems unnecessary or harsh at the time.
 
Time and again in the Gospel we see Jesus expect more from people than was common at the time. He curses the fig tree for not bearing fruit, even though it wasn’t the season for figs. He expects the scribes and pharisees to assist people with the stringent application of the law. He calls his disciples to pray for their enemies, and even to pray when their bodies are worn down and exhausted. Mediocrity is not the way of the Gospel. He concludes this week’s Gospel passage with the ominous warning ,“I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” It was a challenge meant to admonish settling for less at the time, and it still holds true today.

While people appreciate strong leadership in many facets of their life, it is often rejected when it comes to one’s Faith. Our culture has become deeply entrenched in a relativism that dismisses the importance of truth and relegates everything related to God to a completely private sphere of our lives. So, when leaders in the Church, or even just people who love us and hold us accountable, tell us to step up and be stronger in the practice of our Faith, it is difficult to stomach. Our first reaction is to push back and say that they don’t know our hearts and only God can judge us, and any number of other excuses. But the only way to grow in our faith is to be challenged, learn from our shortcomings, and ask for God’s grace to do better.
 
Perhaps those reading this column are not able to hear this from me, for whatever reason. I know that not all criticism that is offered to me is easy to accept, and life is complicated. But even if it’s tough to hear this from our family, loved ones, spiritual director, or anyone else, we still have to hear it from Jesus: you were made for greatness. God is calling you to a deeper relationship with Him in the Church, regardless of where you are right now. We all need healing,  help, and understanding to make this happen, but Jesus stands at the door and knocks and is waiting for us to surrender more fully to Him. The Kingdom of God has been offered to us, and in return, He is expecting us to give Him everything. As Pope St. John Paul II said at the very beginning of his pontificate, “Be not afraid, open wide the doors to Christ.”
 
Prayers always,
Fr. McC