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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.

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time 'C'

Friday June 18, 2010

Who Is Jesus For You?

There are still some folks who live with the assumption that Jesus was secure in his identity from “the age of reason.” Some go further with their conviction that Jesus was already in touch with his divinity at Bethlehem.

In truth, Jesus had to search for his identity and was not fully aware of his divine nature until the end of his earthly life. This is not to suggest in any sense that Jesus was not in touch with his unique call or that he did not come to an awareness of the gravity of his mission and of its origin in the God whom he came to know as “Father.”

It is difficult for us ‘post graduate’ and I might add, ‘post modern’ Catholics to appreciate fully the identity of Jesus and the implications of his mysterious relationship with “the Father” as well as his unique mission as “Son of God.” We succumb to fundamentalism which keeps us imprisoned in naïve and childish notions of a magical Jesus who keeps his divinity masked in his humanity. On the other hand, we can give into a rationalism that explains away the mystery of his divinity turning miracles into illusions or magical tricks to attract curious crowds. But this is a topic for another homily on another occasion.

I think it’s fair to say that most of us have carved our own icons of Jesus and over time they have changed. No doubt our earliest images were based on bible stories narrated by parents and teachers. They were exaggerated to be sure—something like nursery tales that engendered a sense of ‘at homeness’ as it were. Despite parental warnings that “God sees all things,” our parents did not want their children to be afraid of God or Jesus.

As we grew in age and wisdom—the assistance of God’s grace notwithstanding—we began to experience the effects of ‘original sin’ – oue human inclination to spiritual blindness. The stories changed and with them our images of Jesus. Parents and teachers were not shy about telling us how displeased Jesus was with our behavior and might even use a quote or two—out of context, of course—to demonstrate Jesus’ disappointment with our rebellious attitudes. It’s no wonder that our relationship with Jesus during our teen years was strained or less than comforting. I suppose that’s when we learned to bargain with God for special favors.

Just as the maturing process is never complete, so too our images of Jesus are never complete. Faith is never separate from human experience. As much as faith may shape our human experiences, our human experiences also shape our faith. Perhaps it is more accurate to state that faith provides a lens through which human experiences take on meanings far beyond the human.

Who among us cannot relate to Jesus on the mount of temptation or in the Garden of Gethsemane when faced with life and death decisions, torturous experiences demanding integrity of soul? Or when physical or emotional pain is too much to bear, we turn to the Christ of Calvary. Our identification with the suffering Christ takes the edge off our pain and even makes it redemptive.

God does not will oil spills or suffering or pain—not even the suffering that his Son endured unto death. Rather, God willed that Jesus remain faithful no matter what the cost and that we remain faithful even in the face oil spills and other hardships that strike us with little or no notice. God promised that he would be there for us and he has fulfilled that promise over and over again. The redemptive nature of suffering is not justified by pain but by faith. But if our partnership with God in Christ is real and intact, then in the midst of hardships we need to do all that is humanly moral and possible to make life work for one another. God will do the rest.

But we also look for images of the youthful Jesus who did not disdain play or pleasure. I have a portrait of Jesus, which we used for Antioch youth retreat weekends. I call it the “California Jesus.” It depicts a vibrant Jesus with disheveled hair as if he had just come off a surfboard. I’m not sure Jesus was a surfer but surely he must have enjoyed some downtime with his family and friends. Why not? This is may be the Jesus with whom teens may bargain before exams. “Be there for me Jesus and I’ll be there for you!”

Would it be outrageous to suggest that in this dialogue with Peter and the disciples it was Jesus intent to get feedback on his identity and mission? Or was he just testing them? I think it was a device by Luke to identify Jesus and to give Peter some prominence among the early followers of Christ. Nevertheless, Jesus surely needed feedback.

Would it be too bold to suggest that we like Jesus are in the process of discovering our divinity? Indeed, this is excessive but is not divinity our destiny? The great spiritual writers of our tradition do indeed suggest not only that we are destined to become one with God in heaven but that we have glimpses of that divinity at particular times during our earthly sojourn. “Where sin abounded, God’s grace did more abound.”

The Bible provides a variety of portraits of Jesus—all of them valid—for different times in Jesus life and for different times in our life as individuals and as a community.

Just as Jesus came to image God to humanity, we are called to image Jesus for others. In the words of the hymn attributed to Saint Teresa, “I have no hands but yours…”

Who is your Jesus for you? And who are you for Jesus and for others?