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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.

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 'B'

Sunday September 20, 2009

To Live Simply is to Witness Strongly

Our world does not lack witnesses to integrity or martyrs for the cause of truth and justice. They come in different shapes and sizes, male and female, young and old, and from a variety of nations and ethnic mixtures.

A martyr is not necessarily someone who “lays down his or her life for a friend” or even for a cause. ‘Martirion’ is the Greek word for ‘witness.’

Martyrs are people who give testimony by word and deed to what they believe. While every true martyr is a witness, not all witnesses suffer physical death for the sake of their witness.

Authentic ‘martyr-witnesses’ are so in touch with the thinking of God and so in tune with the heartbeat of Christ, that their entire lives are permeated with goodness or ‘Godness.’ Good comes from the word God; to be good is to be God-like.

On the other hand, people who wear a martyr complex are not true witnesses. Neither are rabble-rousers from the right or left who carry placards with hateful epithets that condemn or demonize those who disagree with them. Though not beyond the pale of possibility, you will not ordinarily hear their voices on talk radio or see them on ‘You tube’ productions, ‘face book’ or tweeter.

In the early stages of their witness, martyrs are often admired and respected and even awarded with titles and honors despite their gentle protest against attention or reward. At the outset, people tend to appreciate their simplicity and the authenticity of their life-style.

Over time, though their words may stir up the juices of sympathetic listeners who join them in making the world a better place, their words can also become annoying to some and their ‘witness’ irritating. They become increasingly politically incorrect and may even be considered disrespectful. Because they speak out of the box, as it were, they are counter-cultural and challenge the status quo, and ‘our way of doing things.’ They ruffle feathers and are warned by ‘officials’ against flirting with danger and even the enemy. Some may be assumed to be compliant with evil and even complicit with the enemies of righteousness. How quickly noted author Chris Hedges’ prophetic insights were muted and his book, “War is a force that gives us meaning,” discredited as anti-American.

Picking up on the image of the ‘suffering servant’ from the Prophet Isaiah, the reading from the Book of Wisdom describes such a person: “Let’s get him — the just one because his words and deeds have become obnoxious to us; let’s put him to the test that he may have the opportunity to prove himself. In fact, let us condemn him to death to see if, according to his own words, God will take care of him!”

This description could have fit any one of the many witness-prophets of Israel. Jeremiah, Amos and Micah are among the more widely known, but they are just prototypes of Jesus who fit the description of a martyr to a ‘T.’ Jesus born in poverty was a ‘witness’ from day one, but not a martyr until the end. At the outset, many were attracted to him and his popularity as a wonder-worker spread. He was a personality not easily dismissed. He spoke as one who had the backing of higher authority and therefore someone who might be able to pull a few strings for qualified persons who were looking for an important position in the king’s court.

Jesus’ disciples were not exempt from the temptation to climb the ladder of worldly success. They competed with each other not for the cross but for the crown. How easily we can succumb to the same temptation craving the attention of the crowd and worldly titles.

So where are the witnesses today. It’s very difficult to identify them while they are living because their witness is still clothed in their humanity. Witnesses are not perfect but they live with a vision that does not draw attention to themselves but to a way of life characterized by unselfishness and total trust in the God whose indiscriminate love was manifested so strongly in the life of Jesus.

They are the people who are aware of God’s indiscriminate presence here and everywhere. That was Jesus essential vision, mission and ministry. The ‘kingdom’ of God is within you… and in everyone.

This ‘God-presence’ manifests itself in diverse persons and in diverse ways – in both conservative and liberal clothing and speaks many languages through many cultures. Mahatma Gandhi was a strong witness as was Oscar Romero, Mother Theresa. Many people believe that Vietnam war cricis Berrigan Brothers and liberation theologians Leonard Boff and Ernesto Cardenal were true witnesses to truth and justice in their time.

But what of the men and women from the pew, as it were, of own times who have taken a public stand for truth and justice for the unborn, for migrants, or against the war in Iraq and those who call for greater accountability and transparency in our Church. They continue to pay a high price for their prophetic vocations.

Indeed, each of us has a unique call to witness to goodness and to ‘Godness.’ For most, it will not cost us our lives but for all of us, it will entail sacrifice and for some misunderstanding and even rejection.

We seek not martyrdom but faithfulness, as Jesus was faithful. In the words of the great Ghandi, “We live simply so that others may simply live,” and thus will the love of God become more manifest in a world so taken with greed.

James gives us a description of a church of witnesses truly committed to truth and justice and integrity:

“Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceale, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.”

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