FOUR STEPS TO CHRISTIAN MATURITY AND FREEDOM

 
Four Steps to Christian Maturity
 
Have you ever wondered why those who have just joined the Catholic Church are excited about their faith, are filled with the Spirit, and ready to spread the Word of God?  Sometimes we may say to ourselves, “Wow, I wish I had that kind of zeal!”, yet on other occasions we may say under our breath, “Whatever.  In a few months I hope it wears out.”  I hope we lean toward a desire for the good of another and not toward jealousy or envy because someone has been powerfully blessed.
​I propose to you that there are four clear steps needed for any Christian, male or female, to grow in maturity of their faith and reliance on God. From all that I have read on the live of the saints they have all gone through these four steps that I will outline.  Furthermore, it would be most advantageous for teenagers and the college aged to know that these steps are a prerequisite for a lifetime of spiritual growth in order to make good adult decisions.  These four steps, which are progressively more difficult, will also prepare young people as they consider their career, or court the idea of marriage or the religious life.  Let’s see these four steps and challenges that Jesus presents to Peter in Luke 5:1-11.
​The first step to Christian maturity is to recognize that God is with us at all times, that Jesus has chosen to step into the boat that is our life.  We see that Jesus was already preaching to the crowds when he chose to get into the boat that belonged to Simon Peter who was minding his own business.  This may remind us of the passage from John 15:16, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.”  So, when did Jesus decide to step into your life?  When you were baptized! That’s the day that Jesus most assuredly came into your life, cleansed you from your sins, and opened up the channel to life in the Holy Spirit by a new birth to live a holy life, gave you a mission in life that is irrevocable, incorporated you into the Christian community of faith centered on Christ in the Eucharist, raised you in dignity through his grace, and welcomed you to a place of honor where you shall never be shamed but always treasured.  The first sign of Christian maturity is to “put on Christ”, to embrace Christ, and to be grateful each day that Jesus is in our boat to help us along each day.  Therefore, acknowledge Christ as your Lord and Savior and embrace the gift of your baptism!  If our sons and daughters are not doing this then their confusion and sins will continue to grow exponentially.
The second step of Christian maturity is to listen to the Word of God which parallels Jesus’ request to Peter as “he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.”  Jesus calls Peter to be attentive and to listen to the Word of God as he preached to the multitude.  Jesus was as gentle with Peter at this step as he is with us.  He did not ask too much from Peter, simply to row a short distance from the shore, something ordinary yet will forever change his life.  The Church throughout the centuries has been depicted in art as a boat of salvation.  Jesus calls us to come to step into our local church (boat) on Sunday, a rather simple task, where the Word of God is proclaimed and preached.  We are called to listen to the Word of God, to embrace the Word of God, to have a deeper prayer life and trust in the Lord, to delve into the teaching of Christ as expounded by the Church, and to reflect upon the preaching and the true events that take place at Mass and in the parish.  When we awaken to the true message of Jesus it is liken to the transfiguration when Peter says to Jesus, “It is good that we are here!”  When we look forward to attending and participating in Mass and the parish we are reaching the second level of Christian maturity.
The third level to Christian maturity is much more difficult. It involves personal risk and courage and all too few Catholics are willing to make this level but maybe it’s time to get there. The Gospel continues: “After he had finished speaking he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.”  To help others through small gestures of kindness does not take much risk, but to be willing to say that you are Catholic or Christian in public or to take a stand on a moral issue is to take a huge risk.  You can imagine how James and John probably sat on the shore and laughed at Peter as they watched him cast his nets with Jesus.  But then again, James and John hadn’t caught a thing all night either!  All too often we are embarrassed to share our faith, to respond to the call of Christ to do a particular task, or to take a Christian stand on a particular injustice or against a particular sin in our society.  Peter made the leap of faith, Jesus blessed him with so many gifts that he called over his friends, James and John, and they too began to believe that Jesus is the Christ.  Yes, this type of faith is contagious in all the right ways.  A community of faith like this would light the world on fire!  And this is exactly the faith of the early Church had and it is the same faith Jesus calls us to today, to be a light to the world.  As we reach this level of spiritual maturity we are willing, for example, to also straighten out our life by seeking counseling from an addiction or a troubled past, get our marriage right with the Church, teach our faith to others at work or in the classroom.  For young adults this might mean spending a year in programs like NET, the National Evangelization Team, or attend the diocese’s vocational awareness programs to learn more about their own mission in life to evangelize, teach, serve, and care for others.  Young women at this point may consider the possibility of being called to be a sister or a consecrated lay woman.  Young men may consider a calling from God to be a brother or priest.
The fourth and last step to spiritual maturity is to give our whole life over to Christ who perpetually loves us despite our fallen nature.  “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” … Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.”  St. Paul says it best in 2 Cor. 5:14 “the love of Christ compels us …So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away.”  When we are convinced that Jesus is the only way for our life and we become convicted in our faith, then we, like Peter and the apostles, have reached spiritual maturity while embracing the will of God for our life even though we will still struggle internally to be reformed and conformed in Christ, and even though externally we will be harshly treated and mocked at. Let us not forget all the saints who urge us on the path of Christ which they themselves also chose.
In summary these four steps to spiritual maturity are: Recognize Christ!  Listen to Christ! Proclaim Christ! Give your life to Christ! Then and only then can you reach your full potential as a Christian adult as Christ intends.  Most converts have gone through all four of these stages and hence their joy and excitement of being Catholic can seem over the top, as it should be for all of us.  Where do you see yourself? Let’s all strive to reach that next step as the love of Christ compels us!