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Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

Much ado about nothing or, is there something to it?

Readings: Acts 19:1-8 Psalm 68:2-7 John 16:29-33

Paul traveled through the interior of the country and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” [Acts 19:1-3]

Depending on one’s sacramental theology and pastoral practice, this text has been variously interpreted. For example, those who work with the RCIA (catecheumenate) hold that the sacrament of Confirmation should be administered with Baptism as it was in the early Church. It is one of the sacraments of initiation—Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. The Eastern Rite of the Roman Catholic Church has retained the tradition of administering all three at Baptism. Yes, the infant receives a small piece of the Eucharist bread. And so in the Eastern Rite, there is no formal celebration of First Holy Communion at the age of reason or Confirmation by the bishop at whatever age the local diocese has determined the age of maturity appropriate for Confirmation. All three sacraments are administered shortly after birth.

Others feel that the celebration of First Communion and Confirmation at a later age ensures the participation of youngsters in parish religious education programs – at least until Confirmation. In this case, many Catholics view Confirmation as the completion of or graduation from religious studies.

In recent years I have become convinced that the RCIA folks and the Eastern Rite Catholics have it right. All three sacraments of initiation should be administered together. First Holy Communion and Confirmation have become more social than spiritual. I do not mean to suggest that there is no connection or that there should be no celebration after sacramental ceremonies but for many, the accent is on the wrong syllable.

The path from Baptism to Christian maturity is life-long and the benchmarks for progress are not easily measured by grouping children by age or grade level for a period of preparation that is largely academic.

This is not to suggest that religious education is optional. Faith development is unique to each person within the context first of family and then of parish. Religious education / formation is intended to provide insight into faith development at an age-appropriate level.

Catholicism has become ‘child-centered’ the result of which, we have an adult population whose religious and spiritual development stopped at Confirmation.

The celebration of Eucharist is the primary setting for faith formation. Religious education is a necessary component but detached from Eucharist, it remain just another subject to master.

Of course this all assumes that the parish celebration of the Eucharist is truly inclusive and meaningful rather than just an empty ritual. The parish at worship should be a rendition of a community of faith that strives to live its faith ‘in the town square’ as I mentioned in Sunday’s homily.

Notwithstanding my commitment to religious dialogue, I do believe that effective dialogue is based on the assumption that although both parties are knowledgeable about the topic. Though they may have different perspectives, they are not based on ignorance of the subject.

Feast of Pentecost

Sunday May 31, 2009

Pentecost—An Ongoing Journey

Planning a trip can be an interesting experience. Obviously preparation demands attention to details but the imagination also plays a significant role. We need to ‘dream a little’ about our destination in order to generate the energy required for packing and the enthusiasm necessary to make the journey joyful despite the inevitable inconveniences along the way. If you have ever vacationed with the typical “ugly traveler,” you know what I’m talking about — the perfectionist who travels around the world expecting everyone to speak English, to find a ‘Big Mac’ on every corner and ‘aqua potabile’ (drinkable water) at every fountain. These people view life through a very limited perspective — their own.

Rarely does our destination fulfill our fondest expectations. Despite photos, videos and the descriptions of those who may have been there before us, the images we form about our destination rarely accord with reality. No matter—well-adjusted people adapt, discover unexpected pleasures and make do with the inconveniences and disappointments. They even use their creative ‘juices’ to make lemonade when handed a lemon.

Though it may be an over-used metaphor, “journey” is still a useful simile for our voyage through life.

All huddled together in the upper room in fear following the death of Christ, the disciples of Jesus were devastated. Their expectations for his destiny and theirs had not been fulfilled. Instead, they seemed to have ended up on a dead-end street—disappointed and disillusioned.

Nevertheless, it was in the midst of the darkest night of their despair that the Spirit came to them.

This dramatic account of the Pentecost event must be viewed through the lens of the biblical account of creation. The great wind described by Luke is reminiscent of the ‘ruah’ of God breathing life into the chaos of nothingness and then into the dust of the earth from which emerged man and woman in the image of God.

The image of tongues of fire is reminiscent of the giving of the Torah — the ancient law — to Moses on Sinai. The disciples were the recipients of a new law within the context of a new covenant at Pentecost on the mountain, as it were, of the ‘Upper Room.’

The variety of nations and languages and the ability of each to understand the message “in their own native tongue” bring to mind the story of Babel. But this was the great reversal of Babel.

Whenever humanity boasts of its wisdom, the result is confusion. When God descends to impart life, the result is wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of [awe for] the Lord. Sound familiar?

These are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that we memorized as children. The fruits of the Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, humility, self-control and a chastity, are the qualities of discipleship, proofs, if you will, that the gifts of the Spirit are working. Incidentally, I think it is still helpful for our children to memorize this list of gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. They make a wonderful mantra for prayer and an excellent road map for our spiritual journey.

Saint Paul’s theology of the Holy Spirit is summed up in his first letter to the Corinthians, “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” Though manifested differently in each person, the Spirit unites all of us for service to humanity: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.” In his letter to the Galatians, Paul testifies that he lives no longer alone but Christ lives in him through the power of the Spirit. This is our destiny on earth. We are destined to live in Christ and to become Godlike and in fact, daughters and sons of God in Christ.

It is interesting that John’s description of the descent of the Holy Spirit takes place on Easter Sunday evening reinforcing the notion commonly accepted today that Easter, Ascension and Pentecost are really one event and one reality. The accounts of each have been separated in order for us to ‘ponder the significance of the mystery of Christ’s life, death and resurrection and its impact on us as his faithful followers. Notice that the initial greeting of Christ is “peace”—all will be well.

Our journey through life cannot be blueprinted and rarely does it unfold as planned. Filled with disappointments, disillusionment and moments of despair, the Spirit imparted to us in Baptism, reinforced at Confirmation continues to come to us at unexpected times, — very often in the midst of chaos.

We need to stay alert. Prayer is important because it enables us to recognize the voice of the Spirit. The Sunday gathering at this table is essential because the interface between our human stories and the God stories creates a synergism that generates insight and wisdom.

The sharing of the Eucharist of course is our food for the journey. It quenches our thirst, satisfies our hunger, and empowers us to goodness—transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary opportunities of grace for others. In fact, we become the bread that we eat. That was the teaching of the ancient fathers and mothers of the Church; it remains the core teaching of the Church today.

True Disciples of Christ are ready to travel but without baggage, no sleeping bag, no traveling staff—only sandals for the journey ahead. Disciples of Christ ‘on the move,’ are risk-takers and enthusiasts for life but take responsibility for what they say and do. In fact, the word “enthusiasm” is from the two Greek words, ‘en Theos’ i.e., ‘in God,’ to be in God, to live in God. And so in a very pluralistic society, they are able to stand up conscientiously for what is right and just even in the face of criticism but they avoid any semblance of arrogance or name calling and they do not demonize those who disagree with them. They keep themselves informed of the facts, do their homework before they take their stand and they don’t allow talk radio pundits to write their script or dictate their politics.

Thomas Merton was correct; life is a “seven story mountain.” Near the end of his life journey, though he did not know that his days were numbered, he journeyed to Gal Vihara, a Buddhist shrine in Sri Lanka. He was in awe at what he found and wrote about it in his Asian Journal, published posthumously. “I don’t know what else remains, but I have now seen and have pierced through the surface and have got beyond the shadow and the disguise.” [As quoted in ‘Merton’s Enlightenment’ by Paul Wilkes, COMMONWEAL Magazine, June 2, 2006]

No, I don’t think he was about to become a Buddhist. Through that unique encounter with the divine, East and West met and Babel was once again reversed in the silence of God’s multifaceted and never-ending embrace.

Life can and should be an ongoing Pentecost. It’s worth every mile and every step.

_______________

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