Christ calls us beyond ourselves and in truth calls us into himself

Fr. James M. Sullivan, O.P. in Magnificat, "One Feast Day Lost, One Feast Day Found." February 22 is usually the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter which we would be remembering if today was not Ash Wednesday. The Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter "recalls not only the relic of that chair, but more importantly we celebrate the 'Holy Spirit-giving' authority which makes that chair unlike any other" (Magnificat, 309). The authority comes from Christ himself and as Father Sullivan goes on to say, "It is this authority alone that can call us to be freed from our sins, to imagine that this Lent can be different. It is this authority of Christ that gives us hope to live a new life in him, to fine for the first time perhaps our place in this world. It is this authority of Christ to take up a difficult penance knowing that we don't have the strength to do it all ourselves. It is this authority of Christ that calls us beyond ourselves and in truth calls us into himself" (309).

This clip from the movie, "Courageous" gives us a glimpse into living lives in this authority of Christ.