The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
There’s a coffee shop a short drive from my seminary, where I would often go on my weekly free day to sip some delicious matcha, catch up on work or emails, and get a break from campus. So there I was on a muggy September mid-morning, wearing a t-shirt and shorts, laptop out in front of me, water bottle on the table, and some commentaries on scripture sprawled out on the café table. I put on my AirPods, pull up Catholic Lo-Fi on YouTube, and then I lock in.
Then I see out of the corner of my eye, the guy sitting next to me gesturing toward me. Confused, I pause my music, take out an AirPod, and look over at him, as he asks me:
“Hey…are you a Catholic seminarian?” Oh my gosh, I thought, did he just read my soul?
“Uh, yeah. What gave it away?” “Well, for starters, you have bible commentaries on your desk,” as he gestures to my table.
Yep. The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Check.
Also: MacBook Pro with a big ol’ sticker of the hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—Check.
Catholic Society for Sacred Liturgy water bottle with a sticker that says “GOT MASS?”—Check.
Catholic Lo-Fi open on YouTube—Check.
Cool FOCUS t-shirt—Check.
Point taken, random coffee shop man.
Can people tell that you’re Catholic? Now take away all the stickers and t-shirts. Can they still tell? What gives it away? Jesus tells us in the Gospel today that we are salt and light. Jesus even commands us saying, “your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” When I was in high school, I was so afraid of being judged for being Catholic, that I would often hide it by acting like everyone else—at the price of virtue. Then I got tired of pretending and decided to enter seminary, and to my surprise, whenever I told my school friends about me going to seminary, they not only didn’t have a bad reaction, but really opened up about their personal lives, God, and faith. Even now, as a person walking around in the collar, people always surprise me with their hunger for the deeper things of life, beyond superficial, politically correct small talk. It’s like the whole world is screaming out to the Church: Pass the salt!
Deacon Conrad Espino is a transitional deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He is in his final stage of formation before ordination to the priesthood. Please pray for him!
