Charlie Kirk was murdered this past week. We all know about it from various media sources. Now, social media is filled with tributes and memorials, but also anger, finger-pointing, and even celebration. Although the alleged killer has been taken into custody, lines are drawn, and the fight rages on across political and social lines. It’s the human condition. It is human weakness.
I, too, am angered and saddened by it all. I, too, am tempted to take a side and fight like hell. But, then there is this: Charlie Kirk was a Christian who spoke with conviction, clarity, facts, and courage. As a disciple of Christ, he spoke with wisdom and confidence on the issues of today. He spoke with grace, respect, and compassion. As a disciple, he fully accepted the mission to evangelize the culture. He understood the necessity of meeting people where they were at – spiritually, emotionally, mentally. For example, he knew that quoting scripture to a self-professed atheist was not productive. Instead, he understood how to meet folks with logic, statistics, and facts. Seeds were planted, and if any of his opponents opened their minds and hearts just enough, those seeds have a chance to grow. We may never know.
Speaking of open-mindedness, Mr. Kirk demonstrated this through his own faith. As an evangelical, he was brave enough to highlight that Protestants and Evangelicals have overlooked or forgotten the significance of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He regarded her as the model of womanhood. He observed the wave of young adults turning to Catholicism, noting their desire for order and clarity.
He was also human and imperfect, but I would love to have an ounce, just a mustard seed size, of the courage and strength he had to proclaim the truth. I long to live out my womanhood as exemplified by Mary, and to do so with the love and compassion of Christ.
Now that we have seen what modern-day discipleship in the secular world might look like, let us all pray for a mustard-seed of faith, wisdom, knowledge, courage, and compassion to move mountains, as Jesus promised we would. Like Mr. Charlie Kirk did.
Recently, Stephen Colbert in his monologue, talked about the U.S. Catholic bishops denying communion to Catholic politicians as “punishment.” Many recent headlines use the word “denying” in reference to the U.S. Catholic Bishops, communion, and Catholic politicians supporting issues that go against Church teachings, namely abortion rights. Perhaps a better word is “withholding.” Withholding communion is a most compassionate act and showers these politicians with the upmost pastoral care and provides them the opportunity to model exemplary leadership. Likewise, withholding communion demonstrates true pastoral concern on the part of pastors, priests, and bishops.
As Christians, we are called to live out our faith in every facet of our lives. We are also called to go and make disciples of all nations; that is, we are called to evangelize no matter what our state or position in life. Regular prayer and reflection help us to root out those areas where we are not allowing our faith to permeate. Our pastors, priests, and bishops accompany and guide us on that journey.
We have politicians who publicly profess their Catholic faith and at the same time, publicly profess their support for abortion rights because they don’t want to “impose” their faith on others. As public leaders, the message they communicate to their fellow believers as well as all their constituents is that our faith and convictions must be kept to ourselves, that these are not to inform our public decisions for the good of society. These same politicians then go to Mass, receive Communion, and all is well, except, it’s not.
Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, states “Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” (1 Corinthians 11: 28-29). It seems that pastors, priests, and bishops have been turning a blind eye for too long and allowing these men and women to receive judgement on their souls and influence others to do the same, thereby also reflecting poorly on them. “If anyone causes one of these little ones, those who believe in me, to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18: 6).
Imagine someone, a child or adult, riding a bike. To bring it to a stop, the person rams it against a wall, tree or some other obstacle and ends up skinning an elbow or a knee. Now imagine that this person keeps doing this over and over because they don’t know about the brakes, and the injuries keep coming. Would you stand by as they continue hurting themselves and potentially others because you don’t want to interfere with their way of doing things, or you don’t want to hurt their feelings? Or would you tell them about the brakes and encourage them to use them? Better yet, would you offer to teach them to use the brakes?
A good leader would. Faithful pastors, priests, and bishops would. They might suggest you get off your bike for a while or even withhold it from you, so you can learn about these brakes and have some time to contemplate the benefits of using them for yourself and for others. They would guide you, advise you on how to properly use that bike to get you to your destination. Keeping you off it for a while, withholding communion, would give you time to heal and to further reflect on the truth to make the right choices, rather than let you keep on receiving judgement against yourself, rather than standing by watching you hurt yourself over and over.
This is what the U.S. Catholic bishops are trying to do, and these politicians would do well to fully embrace this opportunity. The bishops are not withholding any of them the ability or the right to attend Mass and participate and pray in both the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the two main parts of the Mass. They would only be keeping them off the “bike” for a while providing the opportunity to reflect, learn and properly act on the convictions of their faith. Our Catholic politicians could set the example for the rest of us and refrain from going to Communion instead of scoffing at their pastors, daring them to withhold Communion, and even demanding it as some sort of right.
Much has already been written about the U.S. bishops potentially withholding communion to Catholic politicians supporting abortion rights, analyzing different angles from which to look at this. Looking at it as an act of compassion forces us to reflect deeply on our own faith and our actions in daily life. True compassion can hurt as we grapple with ourselves. President Biden, Speaker Pelosi and Representative Lieu are gifted with an excellent opportunity here; they publicly declare their faith, they publicly support issues that are contrary to their Christian faith, now they can publicly accept their pastors’ withholding of communion and publicly demonstrate mature reflection and growth. They could demonstrate true leadership and concern for the public. Do they have the courage to do so? Do we?
Negativity leads to victimhood, lashing out, placing blame, and, ultimately, stagnation. Lately, I’ve been struggling with my own negativity. I can point to external influences—events, people, and my perceptions—but deep down, I know my responses are my own choices.
So, what has been feeding this negativity, victimhood, and stagnation? Over the past few days, I’ve immersed myself in articles that push a steady stream of headlines about female victimhood and the patriarchy. I’ve dwelled on perceived slights from others. I’ve let negative self-talk convince me that I’m too old, that I have nothing important to say, that I’m becoming irrelevant.
It’s clear that I’ve slipped back into my default mode—allowing my self-worth, actions, and perceptions to be shaped by others and by circumstances beyond my control. It’s a familiar struggle, one rooted in self-doubt and a lack of confidence.
Then, I come across Jesus’ words in Mark 7:14-23:
“Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”
Wow. There it is—truth, plain and simple. It is not the people, events, or even my past that make me negative. Yes, they have an influence, but ultimately, the way I respond, the way I allow these things to shape me—that is my choice.
What does it mean to “defile”? The word carries meanings like to sully, to mar, to spoil. Jesus is saying that it’s not what happens to us, but what flows out from within us—our words, attitudes, and actions—that can truly harm us.
I see it clearly now: I’ve been allowing negativity to spoil my spirit, attitude, and beliefs about myself. But I also recognize that I have a choice. I can choose what I consume—what I read, what I watch, what I internalize. I can choose the way I speak to myself and others. I can choose whether to lift up or tear down, whether to cultivate gratitude or dwell in resentment.
But what about those reactions that seem automatic? Those knee-jerk responses of insecurity, anger, or self-doubt? That’s where awareness begins. The key is recognizing these tendencies and bringing them before God.
So, how do I change what comes from within?
Pray daily, asking for the grace to recognize my choices and how they shape my spirit and those around me.
Seek courage, to face my own thoughts and patterns honestly.
Trust in God, surrendering to Him as He works, layer by layer, to remove what holds me back from fully living in His light.
Negativity may knock at the door, but I don’t have to let it in. With God’s grace, I can choose to walk in truth, in gratitude, and in the confidence of His love.
Sylvia M. Olberding 