Blogcast: Do I Follow?

Catholic Apostolate Center Resources

This blogcast explores “Do I Follow?" written by Fr. Andrew P. St. Hilaire and read by Brian Rhude.

Title:

Blogcast: Do I Follow?

Description:

This blogcast explores “Do I Follow?" written by Fr. Andrew P. St. Hilaire and read by Brian Rhude.

In this blog post, Fr. Andrew reflects on St. Andrew’s following of Christ and our own call to follow Christ.

This year’s theme for the 2023 New York Encounter beautifully illustrates our current situation. To paraphrase, the theme highlights that the last few years have strengthened within each of us a desire for authentic community, a community that is truly interdependent. The uncertainty of the past few years (and the feeling of our inadequacy to face said uncertainty) have intensified our desire to be seen, accepted, and affirmed by someone in the flesh. We yearn for the presence of someone in our life who is not scandalized or embarrassed by our brokenness and sins. We desire the presence of someone who understands our life with certainty and accompanies us throughout it. We long for a presence that truly sees us and unconditionally loves us.

This is why Andrew followed Jesus along the road. For the first time, Andrew experienced this presence that saw him, a presence that understood his own life better than he did, a presence that filled this need. This is why Andrew was able to respond with such simplicity and certainty—a simplicity and certainty which would seem absurd to any outsider (think about the absurdity of following someone along the road whom you have barely met!). But the exceptional presence of Christ—the fulfillment of his desire to be seen and loved—draws out this unquestionable attraction and clarity in Andrew.

The season of Advent can draw out this unquestionable attraction and clarity within each one of us. This beautiful yet short liturgical season proposes a time to reawaken this desire and see with renewed eyes the exceptionality of Christ. In our longing to be seen, known, and loved, Advent proposes the coming of the only presence that can fill this need.

Advent gives us, if you will, a space “underneath” in which we can listen close to the song of our heart.

Author:

Fr. Andrew P. St. Hilaire is a priest of the Diocese of Harrisburg, PA. He currently serves as the Director of Campus Ministry at Bloomsburg University and is a collaborator for the Catholic Apostolate Center.

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