After Pope Leo XIV's visit: how to keep the fire burning?

Four days that did France good

From 25 to 28 September, Pope Leo XIV travelled across France, from Paris to Lourdes and then Metz. And what may stay with us most are these images: thousands of young people singing their faith in the streets, on the trains, and all the way to the Stade de France during the great prayer vigil.

We hear so much about crisis, division and gloom that we almost forget France is also home to many Christians who are proud of their faith. Those four days were like a breath of fresh air for the whole country.

So what now?

The Pope has gone home, the stadiums have emptied, and everyday life has resumed. Maybe you've already felt it: the momentum of those first days fades, old habits creep back, and you wonder what will be left of it all a month from now.

It's an honest question, and it deserves a real answer. Because what you experienced was real. The real question is: how can this fire keep from going out, and instead transform your everyday life?

"That the world may have life"

That was the motto of the visit, inspired by the Gospel of John, chapter 6. There Jesus speaks of a life that does not pass away: his own life, which he wants to give to those who follow him.

The songs, the emotion and the joy of being together are precious. But on their own, they cannot carry that life over time. Feelings come and go. What lasts is what God brings to life in us when we truly give him first place.

So real spiritual renewal doesn't begin in a stadium. It begins in each person's heart, when we decide to obey God not only on days of celebration, but also on Monday morning, in the small things, where no one sees us.

How to grow closer to God after the excitement fades

The apostle James gives a simple and powerful promise: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8). God doesn't ask us to be perfect before we come to him. He asks us to truly come, with all that we are.

James also shows what this involves: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. […] Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (James 4:7-10). In practice, this means:

• Being honest with God about what in your life doesn't please him: pride, irritation, jealousy, the desire to be seen.

• Saying no to these temptations the moment they come, instead of letting them have their way.

• Letting God grow in you, even when that means your own "self" has to step aside.

This isn't a gloomy path. As James says, whoever humbles themselves before God is lifted up. The joy that comes from this runs deeper than the joy of a great gathering, because it no longer depends on circumstances.

Going further

In the early 20th century, the Norwegian Johan Oscar Smith wrote many letters to Christians who, like you, wanted to live out their faith fully in everyday life. In one of them, dated 1 July 1906, he writes:

"However, God requires absolute, unconditional obedience and subjection to His will. By being clay in His hands, we receive an amazing power and fullness. This power vanishes if we hold back even the very smallest thing for ourselves.” 

You can read this letter in full, along with many others, in Johan O. Smith's Letters on Hidden Treasures.

And if you want to understand how to live a life of victory over sin, day after day, discover sanctification.org. The fire you felt during those four days can become the beginning of a completely new life.

Photo credit: www.vaticannews.va