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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.

Palm Sunday 'C'

Saturday March 27, 2010

Anything is better than reform, even denial?

Thirty five years ago we were not as convinced of the danger of cigarette smoking as we are today. It is not that there were no warnings. Indeed studies had already concluded that smoking causes cancer. Some smokers heeded these early warnings; many did.

Shortly thereafter, the inevitable backlash emerged, poking holes in the arguments against smoking. New studies ‘engineered’ for the most part by the tobacco industry produced counter claims. Depending on the strength of personal denial and threats to the economy, the impact of smoking reforms on personal smoking habits and on the tobacco industry was mixed. Tobacco companies issued warnings and contributed large sums of money in health related causes as they simultaneously expanded their marketing to third and fourth world countries where smoking continues on the rise.

The only people who welcome reform are reformers. Everyone else prefers to live or die with culpable or inculpable denial.

I ‘bummed’ my last cigarette on December 6, 1983 at approximately 1:15 PM in the office of the rectory of St Joseph Church in Mendham — cold turkey. It was a menthol cigarette. Somehow I had convinced myself that mentholated cigarettes were not as unhealthy as regular cigarettes. That’s how denial works. It dissipates only in stages and depends less on intelligence as on and irrational psycho-dynamic dependence. In fact menthol and filtered cigarettes were worse than regular cigarettes.

Thirty-five years later most people middle aged and over avoid smoking environments. Unfortunately, smoking is on the increase among teens. They haven’t gotten the message or they don’t want to get the message. They are in the early stages of denial. Personal acceptance and peer pressure are more important than common sense.

Although legislation has capped smoking environments, the heightened awareness of the dangers of smoking has had a greater impact on reform.

A similar phenomenon has taken place regarding the use of alcohol and drugs though there is a lot more denial about substance abuse and its damaging effects. DWI laws have resulted in safer highways but not necessarily in safer drinking habits.

This phenomenon is much more subtle in political arena. From time to time, there have been cries for reform in government from one or another side of the aisle, each presenting a case against a clear and present danger to society unless certain reform measures are accepted and passed through the legislature. Sooner or later, backlash occurs from the opposing party punching holes in the data and citing all the reasons why the reform won’t work. Unfortunately, within the political sphere, the data is often skewed by a hidden agenda that has less to do with the case and cause for reform. Both sides resort eventually to ‘ad hominem’ arguments and name-calling. Don’t confuse the issue with facts. Destroy the opponent at all costs. Kill the messenger. Anything is better than costly reform ‘We have the right to have our cake and the right to eat it too.’ It’s okay to pass on the debt of war to succeeding generations but not the cost of health reform Socialism is okay recovery of financial institutions too large to fail but not for the protective measures for the health and safety of citizens on the brink of bankruptcy.

Even the Church can slip into denial about it’s own need for reform from the top to the bottom. Years ago when the news of the sexual scandal broke in this county, blame was assigned to messengers rather than face the truth of mismanagement and cover-ups. It is time for reform and if it doesen’t come from the top, then it must come from the bottom up.

Jesus was a reformer. He told the truth and challenged the religious and political establishments of his time to act “in spirit and in truth.” He set out to inform his opponents about goodness and’ Godness’ not to destroy them for their badness.

He was popular at first but his popularity peaked and the tide was turned against him. His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and his acceptance as king was not to last. Though some considered his ‘kingship’ a good ruse to depose him through a mockery of a trial, his kingdom was not of this world or on this earth. He was confronted with the inevitable backlash again. He was too good to be true. If people listened to what he said and heeded his call to discipleship, it would lead to personal conversion and religious reform. But anything is better than reform!

The passion narrative can be understood only in the light of the Beatitudes and Jesus’ mission to mercy. He confronted even his opponents with love not hate. He subjected himself to human judgement and eventual degradation because it was only way for humanity to appreciate divine forgiveness. God did not will the death of his son; he willed only that he be faithful to life and to accept the consequences of living faithfully — committed to justice, truth and integrity with a touch of hard nosed compassion — even if it cost him his life.

It was not the Jews who put Jesus to death; it was humanity and its will to power that made Jesus powerless before human pride and the arrogance of earthly rulers and religious rulers too!

This is the mystery into which we are invited this holiest of weeks. But it is important and necessary that we view the crucifixion of Jesus through the lens of the Beatitudes and the miracle stories all of which constitute the meaning of Jesus life and the ultimate reason for his execution.

Too good to be true, he was rejected; too powerless to be defeated, he was raised up in glory. His mission is our mission; his destiny our destiny.