Bishop Fulton Sheen Believes Life is Worth Living

The late Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, a one-time, popular TV communicator, reminded millions of TV viewers, Catholic and Non-Catholic alike, that “Life is worth living.”

 Bishop Sheen believed: “By our presence (as followers of Jesus and living in the world), we are called to create a society capable of recognizing the dignity of every person and sharing the gift that each person is to the other.”

 As a high school student doing my Tuesday night’s homework, I was watching Bishop Sheen’s TV program and highlighting ten themes from his remarks.  When you’re a high-school freshman, ten themes meant careful attention and serious listening.  Bishop Sheen gave plenty to think about and write.

 Through his inviting smile, humor, and charm, Bishop Sheen declared life is worth living if we allow our soul’s interests to guide our choices rather than our body’s comforts. 

With his graciousness and wit, Bishop Sheen invited his listeners to do this without counting the cost. His reasoning was simple:  We do it because Jesus did it first.

 For Bishop Sheen, Jesus’ love, life, and message show his total commitment. He said, “Why can’t we as Jesus’ disciples also respond no matter the cost? We can’t serve two masters-God and Mammon.” He said, “When we face a choice, simply select Jesus.” He continued with a sentence I have not forgotten: “Christianity is not a religion for the comfortable, except to make them uncomfortable.”   

 Bishop was stating that faith is something more than only attending a Sunday morning service. Yet Bishop Sheen’s joyful demeanor made his challenging words sound easy: “If we follow Jesus, the road may be rocky with many twists and turns.” The Bishop’s honesty and sincerity left his listeners at least pensive. I know he had my rapt attention.

 What Bishop Sheen was asking is still applicable today. He wants Jesus’ followers to give life to Jesus’ message, incarnating it within their daily lives, allowing Jesus’ followers to interact with others as brothers and sisters rather than strangers. 

 Bishop Sheen’s message then and now is clear:  connect human conduct to Jesus’ message, and that difference has the power to make every life worth living. 

 We begin to live differently when we recognize the immensity of our possibilities. Bishop Sheen.