Are you a religious fanatic?

Good News ReflectionMonday of the 28th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 12, 2009
Today's Readings:Rom 1:1-7Ps 98:1-4Luke 11:29-32http://www.usccb.org/nab/101209.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_12.mp3
Are you a religious fanatic?
Today's responsorial Psalm says: "The Lord has made known his salvation." What do you need his salvation for in your life today?
If we want Jesus to save us from whatever evil is going on in our lives, well, what are we waiting for? He's already made his help available to us! If we want him to save us from the inner turmoil or anxieties or addictions or other disabling problems that have a hold on us, why are we still unhealed? He has already offered his power to overcome it!
Do we allow the good news of Jesus to penetrate every area of our lives? Is he really the Lord of our lives – completely?
In the Gospel reading, Jesus warns that the example of repentance given by the Ninevites is a condemnation of those who refuse to avail themselves of his saving power. There are plenty of signs when something's wrong, but unremorseful sinners reject every sign they don't want to see.
The modern-day Ninevites are those of us who have become excited about God's saving love after recognizing our sins and regretting them, having turned to God and finding his forgiveness and mercy. We're so excited that we work very hard to remain in God and to reject unGodly ways. Others call us "religious fanatics", because they feel uncomfortable around our example of holiness. Our zeal for holy living feels like condemnation to those who do not want to live the same way. There is such a thing as being too fanatical. But we'd better not assume we can judge a so-called fanatic's heart, because we might be condemning ourselves! Years ago, I daily witnessed a lady shuffling on her knees through the church on a very hard floor as she prayed all the Stations of the Cross. Was she too fanatical? Or was I merely unwilling to offer this kind of penance myself?
When we sin, we're condemned by the ways that other people avoid the same sin. But if we believe in the sign of Jonah (the death and resurrection of Jesus), we are free from this condemnation. There is no condemnation when we give Christ full Lordship of our lives, increase our zeal for holiness, and practice a faith that's charged up from knowing God's love and power.
A true (healthy and holy) fanatic is a Christian who's excited about the awesome partnership of "God and me" working together to overcome every inner turmoil, every source of anxiety, every addiction, and all other disabling problems, while recognizing that this is a long process, AND without condemning those who don't work on their own purifications faster.
Lord, help me to become more fanatical!
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