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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 the Holy Trinity 'C'

Saturday May 29, 2010

Fides quaerens intellectum
(_Faith seeking understanding_)

Young people are far more advanced intellectually today than I was when I was their age. They are able to deal with complex abstractions and ask questions we would not dare to ask about life and even about God.

In many parishes at this time of the year teens completing their elementary education or their freshman year of high school are invited to participate in the Christian formation process leading to the Sacrament of Confirmation. Prospective candidates and their parents are invited an orientation session during which the Confirmation formation team explains the meaning of the Sacrament in the life of the Catholic and the details of the process leading to the celebration of Confirmation. This meeting provides the ingredients necessary for teens and parents to make an enlightened decision to participate or postpone their Confirmation to a later time. Readiness is important. It is not true that Catholics cannot be married in the Church if they have not received Confirmation.

If after a fruitful family discussion, prospective candidates decide to participate, they are asked to complete an application form accompanied by a personal letter of introduction containing a very brief biography with an expression of their general interests and hobbies. Some go on for two pages; others state it in two sentences. The application form requests information about their school life and contains multiple-choice questions about their relationship with God and their faith practice. There is also a section for parents to sign indicating that they will support the formation process and commit themselves to regular worship.

Teens are usually assertive in their self-disclosure and expression of opinion. For example, to the multiple choice questions about God and the practice of their faith, many teens check the phrase, “I believe in God but God is not an important part of my life right now.” No need to be shocked. At their age God is an abstract concept. They may have learned about God in catechism but they are only waking up to faith and religious practice. They haven’t lived long enough to have experienced a deep need for God – except before exams or an important athletic event.

To the options on Mass attendance, increasing numbers respond: occasionally or seldom. Many are twice a month. Less than a third attend on a weekly basis. This seems to correspond to national statistics. The reasons are diverse: sports, travel, church scandals and “my parents don’t go.”

In any event, the Confirmation process seeks to provide exposure to the best in religious practice at an age appropriate level so that in a safe and open environment teens may ask questions and search for meaning through the lens of their emerging faith. It is more experiential than academic – more like an extended Antioch weekend or Cornerstone retreat. It is not CCD or a course in graduate catechetics. Faith is caught not taught! Young people need to be carefully mentored and gently monitored. They don’t need to be corralled or controlled. It is our hope that at the end of the process, they will be able to say that they are glad they participated despite the fact that they were nudged into the process. This is why parental participation is so important. “It’s a family affair!”

From those teens who participate fully, feedback tends to be very positive. Community service has been a strong quality of the Confirmation process. It’s what we call “hands-on” Christianity. We learn by doing—and doing it for the right reasons.

As an erudite young priest I thought simplistically that faith was imparted by through education. I couldn’t wait to explain all the complex theological mysteries of our faith, not the least of which is the Holy Trinity. Of course I failed miserably. The congregation went to sleep.

The theological definition of the Trinity was the result of four centuries of discussion and debate among early theologians known as the “Church Fathers” and in some circles appropriately as the “Church Fathers and Mothers” as they attempted to explain the inner life of God as it was manifested in creation, then in Christ—the living Word and wisdom of God in human form and ultimately in the followers of Christ who Paul calls the Body of Christ—people animated by the Spirit of Christ, animators of the living Word of God.

Now more than ever we need responsible Catholics who think through their life decisions through the lens of faith. We do not need robot Catholics. It is more important to live the mystery of the triune God than to define or explain it. Once we have lived the mystery, then we can pursue understanding.

People who have gone through tough times know who God is because that’s when they needed God the most and God did not disappoint them.

From the very moment of our existence we were destined to see God’s face in creation and to live God’s love in Christ on this earth and to be animated by the Spirit of God’s wisdom in all the decisions of life. There is no better way than the daily commitment to seek God in all things under all circumstances.

The Holy Trinity remains an abstract concept as long as we try to explain it. Those who embrace life with faith despite periodic doubts come to know God in a personal way, smell God’s breath in the air and swim in the sea of God’s grace without drowning. They flourish in faith, and revel in the pursuit of the mystery through contemplation, prayer and celebration.

This is the faith we want to pass on to our young people.