What does our faith mean to us – both as individuals and as a Church?
In today’s first reading, we hear the story of the prophet Amos. Amos was called by God, but he didn’t desire to be a prophet. He didn’t know how to prophesy when God called him, but he still said yes. He trusted that God would provide what was necessary. Amos went and told God’s people to reform, turn away from their sins, and be faithful to God. King Amaziah sent Amos away, because like many of us, he didn’t want to hear a challenging message. But Amos never gave up, because he knew God’s call for him was real. Even though it was difficult to pursue God’s calling, Amos stayed faithful.
Today, we go home to people we love. God has given us a memory, an experience, an encounter with Him this weekend, but that isn’t only meant for us. It’s meant for the people in our lives.
We go home to a battle against sin, temptation, self-doubt, guilt. There are wars in our relationships, schools, homes, and hearts. God called us here like a boot camp, preparing us to go home and fight for the people we love.
During the Battle of Hacksaw Ridge, a medic named Desmond Doss single handedly saved 75 men by running back into the battle and asking God, “Please Lord, help me save one more.”
These humans are attending their 15th Steubenville conference, but this year is different from all the others. Since 2008, they’ve been coming each summer as the Youth Minister and her an amazing husband. Now, Sandy has taken a new role at their parish, so they joined our volunteer team on speaker hospitality! When they aren’t on a Steubenville conference, they love spending time as a family, going for walks, traveling, and going out for dinner.
Here’s what they had to say about Steubenville.
Chris is a popular speaker, musician, and author who has traveled around the world for over 20 years giving concerts, talks, parish missions and retreats to all ages about the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. He currently teaches with Catholic Distance University. He and his wife, Linda, began a nonprofit ministry to encourage, equip, and empower families and marriages. The Padgetts live in Central New York in a nine sided home with a donkey, goats, chickens, and too many rabbits. To learn more about Chris, check out www.chrispadgett.com.
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