In Season and Out: The Church’s Identity in Christ

Inspired by Bishop Robert Barron’s Seeds of the Word – Finding God in the Culture

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Brothers and sisters in Christ,

We live in a world of constant change. Cultures rise and fall. Movements shift. What is praised today may be forgotten tomorrow. The cathedrals of old, like the majestic Chartres, once raised to the glory of God by the sweat and sacrifice of the faithful, now often serve as scenic stops for tourists rather than sanctuaries of prayer. And yet, we are reminded by Bishop Barron that this pattern is nothing new. “So it goes, and so it has always gone.”

The Church has always journeyed through history not as a monument to the past, but as a living, breathing Body of Christ. Sometimes, the Gospel flows with the cultural tide—when justice, beauty, and truth are upheld. Other times, it must stand firm against the current, when convenience and false freedoms try to drown out the call to holiness. Whether applauded or mocked, the Church remains constant in her witness: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

This is our identity—not worldly success, not cultural dominance, not numbers or power. Our deepest truth is found in the Resurrection. We are not merely a religion among many; we are a people risen with Christ, carrying the light of truth through every generation.

Benedict XVI once said that the Church may increasingly become a “creative minority.” This does not mean we retreat into silence or irrelevance. No! It means we become more intentional, more authentic, more radiant. It means we carry the Cross with courage, not counting the cost, knowing that even when the world forgets, heaven remembers.

As Christians, we are not called to be successful by the world’s standards—we are called to be faithful. Faithful in season and out of season. Faithful when crowds cheer and when they walk away. Faithful when we are in the spotlight, and more so when we are in the shadows.

Let us remember: Christ did not rise from the tomb for a moment of fame. He rose to open for us the gates of eternal life. And now we—His Church—must bear that same resurrected life, not just in stained glass and solemn hymns, but in the streets, in our homes, in our hearts.

So stand firm, beloved. Whether we are the “finest flower” of a golden age or a quiet seed in the soil of suffering, our identity is sure: We are witnesses to Jesus Christ and His Resurrection.

Amen.