it's coming ... opportunity ... He's knocking ...

Christ the King Catholic Church - San Diego

Bombarded with sensational headlines and instant messaging, people take little time to digest quality information to discover its essence.  Like the seed sowed on rocky ground, while being rootless, it lasts only a short while.  We all wish there were formulas to prescribe a means to a stronger faith, similar to a precise mechanic’s manual.   But man is too complex for an “operator’s manual.”  The best men can offer is to be present, to be in touch with one another.

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)  Jesus’ words irritated many in the Jewish community.  Jesus rose from this earth leaving no body to account for the Spirit of God to an unbelieving world … only befuddled, sinful disciples remained, who abandoned Him even denying Him on a cross.

            We are the living remnant, the Body of Christ, Jesus left on earth.  He did not leave an owner’s manual … no “one” way … no “right” way.  But if you want to experience “a way,” come listen to some men’s journeys.  We are the present, the living community to personify, to represent Jesus to the world.  Paul did not say the people of God are “like the Body of Christ.”  Throughout his ministry he said we are the body of Christ.  The Spirit, a gift of the Father dwells among us … and the world knows of the unseen God by our representation of Him, as the extended Body of Christ.

The men of Holy Infant parish invite you to PX-90, 90 minutes in Christ, Sept. 27, to strengthen your faith, to be a formative limb of the Body of Christ.  Men offer a dynamic program actively nurturing each other along the faith journey.

 Necessitating live interaction, men recognize a void and work to fill it; addressing various forms of prayer, learning styles, and spirituality.  Our lay-driven, family-oriented, busy folks apply their creativity, knowledge, and skills in developing topics for our group, Px, chi rho “Christ” in Greek … Px-90, 90 minutes in Christ.  Not to be mistaken for the rigorous exercise program P-90X.   While exercise trains and strengthens muscles, Px-90 develops a disciplined, community approach to strengthening our spirituality and faith.  Unfortunately, faith often gets compartmentalized in our lives rather than integrated.  

For nine to ten Saturdays each Fall and Spring, men gather in our cafeteria at 7:00 AM arriving early for fellowship, food, and coffee.  The early start is an earnest attempt to stay ahead of children’s weekend events.  Children have taken notice of their father’s commitment to grow in faith for their family.  Though many describe early mornings as challenging, the camaraderie makes the venture more than worthwhile.  The format welcomes men from all walks of life … engineers, lawyers, construction supervisors and specialists, business owners, teachers, salesmen, technicians, computer jockeys … retired, in college, with children, empty-nesters, single, divorced … to a non-intimidating environment guiding men at all levels in their faith process. 

Following introductory prayer, a 5-10 minute personal witness follows.  The spiritual journeys men share carry tremendous impact.  So many express that the witness has had the most significance bringing pause to ponder, encouraging further participation from week to week.  They’ve been impressed with the generosity, sincerity, and genuine discovery so many encounter during their journeys. 

Following the brief witness, a 20-30 minute video featuring a specific theme is shown.  In the past, our dedicated core team has developed amazing, discussion-oriented presentations featuring professional sports figures, the “Lead Like Jesus” business videos with Ken Blanchard, series featuring Fr. Larry Richards’ “Be a Man,” and the “Seven Deadly Sins” reality with Fr. Robert Barron … to name a few.  In addition, we host informative guest speakers. 

Each session concludes with a brief discussion over questions derived from the core group or tangential questions that immerge from within the small groups.  Discussions are private matters to be shared with the members in attendance.  Although discussions may continue independently, meetings close strictly at 8:30 AM with a prayer and a positive move forward with the day’s activities. 

With the Spirit dwelling within, we form the Body of Christ, God’s presence in the world.  We choose freely.  Despite sensationalism and distractions, we prioritize quality time in our family lives, in our communities to nurture the living Christ in one another.

In 1980, at Christ the King Catholic Church in San Diego, vandals hammered off the outstretched hands of a statue of Christ welcoming the public.  Despite offers from artisans to perform the delicate task to restore the hands, the parishioners decided to place an inscription at the base of the statue written “I have no hands but yours.”

In another instance, another similar statue standing in a church in Soweto, South Africa, sustained severe damage to its hands by a police attack on a banned church meeting held during apartheid.  There too, people turned away artisans to repair the damaged hands and instead inscribed, “We are Christ’s hands in the world.”

            We are the Body of Christ living in His mystery.  “In him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2.22).

I stand in awe of how God works in the lives of my brothers ….  Stand with us!

Shhhhh …. it’s coming … opportunity … He’s knocking ….