Becoming a Christian Doesn't have to be Difficult

It’s easy to “be” called a Christian, but more difficult to “become” Christian. On the day of our Baptism, the minister baptizes us in blessed waters and immediately our sins are washed away. We shine and sparkle like the newly formed followers of the Lord Jesus that we truly are.  But have we become Christian? After our baptism occurs, the difficult part of transforming our lives into dependable disciples of Jesus begins.  When we live our ordinary daily moments with determination, we are doing what the Lord wants us to do. And we are becoming Christian

Oblate Sister St Leonie Aviat, OSFS said “Take delight in the present moment and always find your happiness where God places you and in doing what the moment asks if you.”.   When we do this with “delight, ” we are growing in holiness and realizing quickly  how some days are easy to get through, while  others  are just plain difficult.

Our days bounce between these two prayers: “Help me! Help me! Help me Lord!”  and “Thank You!  Thank You! Thank You! “Lord! says Anne Lamott.  She adds “The Help Me“ prayer is a cry of the heart, acknowledging that we cannot do it alone. And the “Thank You” prayer is our gratitude that God already knows what we need and stands ready to help.

The amazing lesson we begin to grasp is  that asking God for help is never a bother. God likes to be asked for anything we need. And we can call on God anytime at all.  Where we are concerned , God has an open door!

Our  God never sleeps when it comes to taking care of those He loves.   This is the same for Jesus. Pope Francis reminds us  “Whenever we arrive anywhere, Christ is there waiting-Christ is always there first.”

Well with God helping and Jesus on our side ,  maybe it’s not so difficult to “become” a Christian after all. All we have to do is pray “Help Me” and follow it with a  “Thank You.”   And before we know it, -Christ is there waiting to welcome us as his disciple.