What it means to be a Christian Opening Sharing is at the heart of being a Christian along with loving and believing in Jesus

Christ. Sharing the experiences of the Gospel, Jesus own words and our Catholic faith. Each and everyone of us are on the same journey some say on the top deck of a Clapham omnibus guided by Almighty God. God will never give up on us and if we persevere each and every day we shall become true friends of Jesus Christ. Misconceptions or incomplete notions about Christianity Religious System There are many misconceptions about Christianity. One of the misconceptions about Christianity is that it is merely a religious system, a set of religious practices, rules to be followed and matters of habit rather than the experiences of faith. A presence at Mass once a week, going to holy communion once a year, abstaining from meat at the prescribed times and fasting as well as observing all the other rules and regulations of the Catholic church, dont necessarily bring us closer Christ and such observances are only part of being a Christian. It is often the case that we care very much about whether or not we have observed the required abstentions before receiving holy communion but at the same time our hearts and minds are far from (some say a million miles away) witnessing the real presence of Jesus Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist and thinking about receiving the body and blood of Jesus Christ. In being overly concerned with the rules of the Church without having the intention of Glorifying Jesus Christ we are not fulfilling our role as Christians. And so brothers and sisters merely observing the rules of the Church does not in itself make us Christians. But obeying the rules for the love and glorification of Jesus Christ certainly does help to make us Christians. Moral System Another misconception or incomplete notion is that Christianity is a moral system. Christianity embraces the highest of moral codes but Christianity is not a moral system. Many non Christians also observe high moral standards and on this subject Christians may have little to teach non Christians. It is not enough to claim on the one hand to be a Christian but to show by our actions and words that we are no different from non Christians. All around us must be able to recognise that there is something special about us. In all things we are the representatives of Jesus Christ and must act accordingly. What do we mean when we talk about morals. We mean being honest, truthful, loyal, being generous, treasuring peace, refusing to harm others, supporting friends, relatives and acquaintances etc. These morals are also observed outside of Christianity. However being a Christian requires much more than conforming to a moral system. We need to have Jesus Christ always in mind and offer all of our good deeds to Jesus. People should be able to recognise in us that this person knows the life of Jesus Christ.

Humanitarian System A Christian is sometimes equated to a humanist someone who is good and kind and friendly. To the humanist the world is basically good, a place to be admired for its beauty, the resources of which are to be enjoyed. Man himself is essentially or potentially good, separated from the rest of the world by his reason. The humanist cause finds its way in trying to correct abuses of privilege, fighting for democracy, placing man first in all things, stressing the dignity of man and respect for the individual. Of course as a Christian we also share many of the hopes of the humanist, but a significant difference between someone who is first and foremost a humanist and someone who is a Christian is that a Christian believes that he needs the help and grace of God to make things good. A humanist does not necessarily share this view but believes that man has it within himself to overcome evil. Escape from the realities Another common misconception about Christianity is that it is an escape from the realities of life. The misconception is that Christianity is a dream world of make believe, the opium of the poor. Christianity is not about escaping reality but actively participating in all aspects of life, accepting the joys as well as the sorrows of life for the sake of Jesus Christ. Jesus in his own words tells us in the gospel of St. Luke "If anyone wants to come with me ,he must forget self, take up his cross every day and follow me". St. John again reminds us in his letter that our love should not be just words and talk ;it must be true love, which shows itself in action". Being a Christian is the opposite of escaping from realities, we must always be optimistic and positive in our attitude towards God and our lives. Using the circumstances of everyday life to move closer to Jesus. Being ever loyal to Jesus Christ, our family, our friends, our brothers and sisters in Christ and our Holy Catholic Church and last but not least to be active Christians. What then is Christianity The essence of Christianity is union with God at every level of our being. St. Therese of Lisieux considered by some as the greatest saint of modern times summed up what being a Christian really means when shortly before she died she explained that her little way to heaven "is the way of spiritual childhood and the way of trust and absolute self surrender to Jesus Christ". In her wonderful prayer she again offers inspiration on this subject when she prays "O my God I offer thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the sacred heart of Jesus". Her book the The Story of a Soul provides an insight into what it means to be a Christian. Being a Christian means always trying to imitate Jesus Christ. Jesus himself says to us in the gospel of St. Matthew "You must be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect". Thomas A'Kempis in his compelling book" Imitation of Christ" constantly reminds us of how we are wholly dependent on Jesus for our eventual salvation. He writes this for our inspiration " He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness says Our Lord. In these words Christ counsels us to follow His life and way if we want true enlightenment and freedom from all blindness of heart. Let the life of Jesus Christ, then be our first consideration. The teaching of Jesus far transcends all the teachings of the Saints, and whosoever has His spirit will discover concealed in it heavenly manna. But many people although they often hear the Gospel, feel little desire to follow it, because they lack the spirit of Christ. Whoever desires to understand and take delight in the words of Christ must strive to conform his whole life to Him".

The penny catechism definition of being a Christian is "to serve God in this life and to be with him forever in the next". What makes us Christian is our loving, personal relationship with God and our whole life should become an expression of this relationship. As Christians we know that our lives are full of things passing we are called upon to pray for things eternal. Some Important Truths a) One important truth about our being a Christian is that it is a relationship initiated by God not by ourselves . God has chosen us, we have not chosen God by ourselves. St. Paul makes this very clear to us in his letter to the Ephesians when he writes "For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the results of your own efforts, but God's gift so no one can boast about it". b) Another is that when we are truly converted as Christians we take on a new life as St. Paul explains to us in his letter to the Galatians when he writes "So far as the law is concerned however, I am dead killed by the law itself, in order that I might live for God. I have been put to death with Christ on his cross, so that it is no longer I that live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me". c) Another truth is that we share in the eternal life of Christ. Our life does not end with physical death. In Revelations it says " He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away ". Some of the Practical Implications of being a Christian are: Trust We can trust in God our Father to help us in every way to achieve salvation. Jesus in the gospel of St. Matthew tells us "Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asked for bread? Or would you give him a snake when he asks for fish? Bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more then will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him". Worrying In being a Christian we ought to stop worrying. Jesus reminds us in the parable of the Rich Fool, the futility of worry, when the man told himself I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store my corn and all my other goods. Then I will say to myself lucky man ! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself! But God said to him " You fool ! this very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself? And Jesus concluded, this is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God's sight". Brothers and Sisters We are all brothers and sisters in God's Christian family. There are real opportunities to demonstrate this brother and sisterhood as we move on to join or form prayer groups, bible study groups, lay societies and associations, they abound in our communities. There is the chance to share our time, our joys our sorrows, and common interest in Jesus Christ. Most of us don't find this opportunity for sharing anywhere else.

Peace and Joy It is our faith in Jesus Christ that gives us our identity as Christians. This faith should create for us Peace and Joy in spite of all circumstances. We should be experiencing in our lives Joy, Hope, Trust and Peace if we are truly followers of Jesus Christ and his teachings. St. Paul in his letter to the Hebrews says " Keep your lives free from love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you". So we say with confidence "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me". The Challenge And so my brothers and sisters the challenge of being a Christian is to give your life to God, to live for God and God's plan according to his will. It is important to keep this in mind because God is the source of Christianity. And Jesus words of 2000 years ago have the same meaning today. His truths are enduring and unchanging. They cannot be reduced or watered down to suit man's fancy and convenience. We have to take the word of God as it is and base our life on it. In this we are reminded by St. Paul's letter to the Colossians "You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity. The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful. Christ's message in all it's richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct each other with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts. Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father. St. James, in his epistle poses the question of whether it is enough to be a good and religious person ? When he says " Take the case, my brothers, of someone who has never done a single good act but claims he has faith. Will that faith save him ? If one of the Brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, I wish you well, keep yourself warm and eat plenty, without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is that? Faith is like that, if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead". What good is faith if it does not lead us to reach out to others and to share with others what I have ? Is faith enough, is it really following Jesus, to only sympathise with and to pray for those in need. It does not matter how strong our faith is , it does not matter how much theology or biblical knowledge we have or how orthodox we are , it does not matter how many Masses we attend or how many rosaries we pray or other prayers we say. If we do not reach out in action and share what we have with those who do not have, whether their need be material, emotional or spiritual, then we have not become true followers of Jesus. To be a Christian is not primarily to save our souls and go to heaven but to enter fully into the mainstream of human living, to become part of it through loving and sharing and building, everyday and at every opportunity. We must ask God what do you want of me? Our faith, our prayers, our devotions, our knowledge, using our talents and gifts must produce concrete examples of loving God and loving neighbour.

We must be good and active representatives of Jesus Christ. And finally brothers and sisters " May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts; let the message of Christ find a home with you".