Living what you viewed on television

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard's TV retreat, "Disciples, Together in Faith," which was broadcast in three half-hour segments April 10-12, no doubt motivated viewers to deepen their prayer experience, to invite Jesus into their lives and to bring their renewed faith into their everyday life. Holy Week offers the perfect occasion for beginning to do all of those.

Starting this weekend with the celebration of Passion Sunday and continuing through Easter a week later, Catholics can:

* take part in the Stations of the Cross in order to more fully understand the suffering of Christ;

* receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in order to begin their new commitment cleansed of sin;

* listen to the Gospels of Passion and Easter Sunday with more intensity, and supplement those with additional readings from Scripture throughout the week;

* participate in the Chrism Mass (see page 14) at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany and Triduum services in parishes around the Diocese to unite with the Church as it commemorates the life, death and resurrection of Jesus;

* apply their enriched faith to their home, neighborhood, community and work in order to live their faith for others to see in the hopes that they will be inspired to follow suit.

The power of television to change behavior is well known. Advertisers count on 30-second spots to sell their wares; dramatists believe they can inspire with an hour-long story. Even a brief phrase -- "is that your final answer?" -- can sweep the nation because of the immediacy of the tube.

After 90 minutes of "Disciples, Together in Faith," the question for Catholics is this: Are you ready to follow Jesus with more intensity?

The final answer is yours.

(04-13-00)