Countless Christians are building half-built families, ministries, and churches. We are doing some good things, but it's often too little and too late, "for the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans" (Wis 9:14). We have not faced the reality of how anti-Christian and anti-family our society is. Therefore, we have not calculated the outlay of what we need to build family and church in such a hostile environment (Lk 14:28). This results in half-built families and churches that are unable to withstand the pressures of the world.

To raise a family now, we must have the mentality of Joseph when Herod was planning to kill the Infant Jesus. Joseph had to make a big decision immediately. To save his Foster-Child Jesus, he had to take Mary and the Child to Egypt in the middle of the night (Mt 2:14). Any decision slower or less extreme would not have thwarted Herod.

We, like Joseph, need to make these kind of big decisions to avoid a half-built family. To build a church-family, we need the mentality of Paul. If we're not willing to pour out our lives in evangelization, be persecuted, and lay down our lives, why even try to build the church? If we don't want to have what it takes, or give what it takes, we will have a half-built church which will not give glory to God but be ridiculed.

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 8, 2010

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.