'What's the Buzz?'

In the rock-opera Jesus Christ Superstar from the early 1970s there is a catchy tune where the apostles ask Jesus, "What’s the buzz? Tell us what’s a-happening." As followers of Jesus they want to know where their ministry is heading, what they will be doing as members of his Church, how will history treat them, and who gets to sit at the right hand of the Lord.

Two thousand years later, Pope Francis is letting us know what the "buzz" is. The Pope has adopted as his motto "Follow Me," taken from the Gospel of Matthew 9:9: Jesus saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.

Pope Francis has stated on more than one occasion that he wants to see a poorer Church serving the poor. If we are to follow Jesus it has to be with a renewed emphasis on serving the poor. "How I would like a Church that is poor and for the poor," said Pope Francis to a gathering of journalists after his election.

This year, the Diocese of Salt Lake Development Drive’s (DDD) theme is "Follow Me." What a wonderful opportunity for us as members of His Church here in the state of Utah to catch the "buzz," to truly follow Jesus by supporting such wonderful programs that serve the poor as the Peace and Justice Commission, ethnic ministries, Catholic Community Services, Persons with Disabilities, and Prison and Detention, along with numerous other ministries, programs and services.

Of course we all know that this emphasis on the poor is not new! In the New Testament Letter of James we hear: If a brother or sister is without clothes and without food for the day, and you say to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and well fed," without giving them those things needed for the body, what help is that? He goes on: Faith, if it has not works, is dead.

In the 2002 10th anniversary edition of Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, developed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the bishops state: What then are we as Christians to do? Of course people’s lives as stewards take countless forms, according to their unique vocations and circumstances. Still, the fundamental pattern in every case is simple and changeless: "Serve one another through love, … bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Gal 5:13, 6:2)

Supporting the DDD is an excellent way to catch the "buzz." Supporting Bishop Wester and the good works all the ministries and programs accomplish is a privilege we all share. This opportunity is open to all Catholics in the state of Utah.

However, the bigger challenge for all of us is: What can we do within our parish community? How can we roll up our sleeves and get our shoes dirty in our own neighborhoods? There is so much we must do other than just writing a check and mailing it in. That must be the beginning, not the end, of our journey to love our neighbor.

Catch the "buzz." Follow Him.

Mark Neisen is a member of the Diocese of Salt Lake City Peace & Justice Commission.