What Does It Mean to Be Christian?
Living the Gospel in Everyday Life
This question sits at the heart of Christian discipleship. It’s not just about the cross around our necks, the church we attend, or the rules we follow. It’s about whether our daily choices, words, and reactions reflect the heart of Jesus.
A New York Deli and a Giant Cross
When I lived in New York, I visited a local deli. Everyone was in a hurry—typical New York. In front of me stood a man wearing a huge cross around his neck. It wasn’t a subtle piece of jewelry; it was the kind of cross that loudly announces, “I’m a Christian.”
When the cashier handed him his change in one of those mixed piles of bills and coins, he realized a small mistake had been made—just a few coins off. But his entire demeanor changed. His voice got sharp. He called her an idiot and loudly questioned whether she could count at all.
I cringed.
I wasn’t embarrassed just for him; I was embarrassed for all of us who call ourselves Christian. That young cashier didn’t just see an angry customer—she saw an angry customer with a huge cross on his chest. He didn’t just represent himself; in her eyes, he represented Christians.
In that moment, the cross on his chest preached a completely different message than the Christ of the Gospel.
And it made me ask myself: What do people see when they see me? Do they see someone just like everyone else—or do they see even a small reflection of Jesus?
Why Matthew’s Gospel Still Confronts Us Today
In this Sunday’s reading from Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus speaks directly to people who already know the Law, love the Scriptures, and understand religious rules. Matthew writes to a Jewish community steeped in the Hebrew Scriptures, struggling with a real question: “Why do we need Jesus if we already have the Law and the Prophets?”
Jesus answers clearly:“I have come not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.”
He doesn’t throw out the commandments; He raises the standard. He isn’t content with a checkbox spirituality where we say, “I’m fine—I haven’t killed anybody.” He drills down into the heart:
• “You shall not kill” becomes a call to deal with anger, resentment, and the words that wound.
• External obedience becomes internal transformation.
• Rules become relationship.
Jesus wants more than rule-followers. He wants hearts so transformed by love that the rules become almost unnecessary—because our instinct is mercy, not revenge; compassion, not contempt.
When Christianity Becomes a Minimum Requirement
Many of us grew up with a minimum-standards mentality toward faith:
• “As long as I get to Mass before the Gospel, it counts.”
• “As long as I stay through Communion, I’m good.”
• “As long as I don’t do anything really bad, I’m fine.”
We learned how to “fulfill our obligation” with as little engagement as possible. Find the fastest Mass.
Come in late, leave early. Get it over with.
But is that really the life Jesus died to give us?
Jesus doesn’t invite us to a legalistic relationship where we ask, “What’s the minimum I have to do so
God won’t be mad?” He calls us into a love relationship where we say, “I get to go. I get to worship. I get to serve. I get to be part of building the Kingdom of God.”
Rules alone don’t change hearts. Love does.
A Higher Standard for Anyone Who Bears the Name “Christian”
Whether you’re a priest, a plumber, a teacher, a nurse, a retiree, a stay-at-home parent, or a cashier, if you call yourself Christian, people expect something different from you.
• If a plumber advertises as a “Christian plumber,” people expect honesty, fairness, and integrity.
• If someone wears a cross, people expect patience, kindness, and mercy.
• If a parish calls itself a Christian community, people expect us to show up where Christ would show up.The name “Christian” comes with a higher standard, not because we’re perfect, but because we represent Christ in a world desperate to see Him.
Where Would Christ Be?
If we truly believe we are the Body of Christ, then we must ask: Where would Christ be today?
• Christ would be with the poor, the hungry, and the forgotten.
• Christ would be where people suffer injustice.
• Christ would be near those who are condemned and discarded—even those on death row.
• Christ would be with grieving families, struggling parents, lonely seniors, and frightened children.
As a parish or faith community, that means:
• Showing up to feed the hungry and support local outreach.
• Standing up for the dignity of every human life.
• Working with other churches and community partners to seek justice in our city and county.
• Choosing service over comfort when the opportunity arises.
Our calendars and our checkbooks often reveal what we value most. If our faith never costs us our time, convenience, or comfort, we must ask whether we are really letting Jesus set the agenda.
“Make Us Signs of Your Kingdom”
At the end of this reflection, we can turn everything we’ve heard into a simple, powerful prayer:
When the world is divided and angry…
Make us signs of your kingdom.
When words are cheap and promises are broken…
Make us signs of your kingdom.
When people expect Christians to be no different than anyone else…
Make us signs of your kingdom.
When we are tempted to settle for the minimum…
Make us signs of your kingdom.When reconciliation feels harder than staying apart…
Make us signs of your kingdom.
May our lives make the Gospel believable.
A Simple Challenge for This Week
If you want to live this out in a concrete way, try this:
1. Choose one relationship where your words or attitude have not reflected Christ.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to respond with mercy, patience, or forgiveness.
3. Take one visible step: apologize, forgive, listen more deeply, or offer unexpected kindness.
4. At the end of the week, ask again: “What did people see in me?”
You may be the only Jesus someone encounters this week. Let the cross not just rest on your chest, but live in your words, your choices, and your heart.
