Core Values

Keeping Christ at the center of our life

09/05/2019

Luke 5:1-11 While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. 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. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. 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.

What are your core values? Well, before we answer what our personal core values are, what are these values in general? How do we define them for everyone? Core values are the deepest convictions in our heart of hearts, around which our whole life revolves, our decisions, our emotions, our goals, our passions, and our sense of purpose and peace. Our core values make us jump out of bed every morning. Think of your core values like the sun at the center of the solar system, and all these other aspects of our life – our passions, our purpose, our peace – as so many planets that revolve around the sun. What would happen if the sun stopped shining, or turned into a black hole – the final stage of a star? Our whole life would lose meaning and collapse. When we lose our core values, we have a black hole at the center of our lives.

Last night I had the pleasure to meet and spend several hours with our new associate pastor, Fr. Martin Amaro. It was immediately clear what his core values are, namely, Jesus Christ. The person of Christ is at Fr. Martin’s core, around which everything else revolves. For example, the first question he asked after we unloaded his things was: “Can we go to see the church?” I was very touched, and so I replied: “Let’s eat first; I’m starving.” So, now you see my core values: food. His universe revolves around faith and mine around food. So we ate some leftovers first before I gave him a tour of the church.

Fr. Martin also explained how he has been gone from the United States for 9 years. He studied philosophy in Monterrey, Mexico for 5 years and then cracked open theology books in Rome, Italy for 4 years. He was just ordained this past May 11. What’s even more amazing is that he began this adventure of following Christ when he was merely 17 years old, leaving his family, his friends, and his whole life behind. Why? Simple: Jesus Christ was Fr. Martin’s core value. Peter, James and John did the same in the gospel today: “When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.” Jesus, the Son, was shining brightly in the center of their solar system: for Peter, James, John and Martin.

Fr. Martin also shared a story of his final week in Rome, going out to eat with a priest friend to a restaurant about an hour outside of Rome. By the time they finished supper, they had missed the last bus, they were nowhere near the train station, and even Uber drivers would not give them a ride back that far into town. Throughout it all, though, Fr. Martin remained cool and calm, peaceful and unperturbed. He and his friend struck up a conversation with a couple who ran a coffee shop across the street from the restaurant. When they explained their predicament, the lady who owned the café said she had a friend who was an Uber driver and would be glad to give them a ride home.

Interestingly, St. Peter also ended up in Rome (after fishing in Lake Gennesaret) and had great adventures throughout which he kept calm and cool, until he was finally crucified upside down. How did both Fr. Martin and St. Peter stay so cool in the Roman heat? The sun burning at the center of their solar system was Jesus, the Son of God. Those Christian values at their core gave both fishers of men a formidable sense of peace and purpose.

Folks, let me ask you again now: what are your core values? If we are honest – and it takes a great deal of humility to be really honest – many of us may answer: money, sex and power. In other words, that’s what makes me jump out of bed every morning. Others may answer: my core values are my children and grandchildren. Why do parents and grandparents sacrifice so much for them? And by the way, what else do they sacrifice but money, sex and power? In other words, their kids are at their core. Or perhaps some more altruistic endeavor is at our center, like saving the lives of the unborn, or helping the poor, or protecting the environment. These are all different examples of people’s core values, and some are better than others.

But only if Jesus Christ is the Son who burns brightly at the center of your solar system will all the other planets revolve in perfect peace and harmony. When he is your core value, you find ultimate peace and purpose, even if you’re lost or being crucified in Rome.

Praised be Jesus Christ!