How is it that I made it through 9 years of Catholic grade school and 5 years at Catholic colleges but never knew what a divided Church this is? I tend to think those who ran those institutions were not obsessed with the politics that have become the new catechism for so many. I was blessed in that regard, particularly in college where I first learned that the tenets of social justice included a world peace that was not achieved through arms races, care for creation and care for those less fortunate. Although I never went on a mission trip until well into my adulthood, there were many opportunities in college to travel to Appalachia and try to make life a little better for the poorest of the poor in a span of a weekend. The hope I'm sure was that a spark would be lit to fuel a fiery desire to help the least of our brethren not only in college but throughout the rest of our lives.
In too many churches and among too many bishops and theologians, the thought of helping the less fortunate is limited to filling a backpack for the homeless once a year or hosting a Giving Tree at Christmas. I am well aware that the Catholic Church is one of the world's largest charity providers in the world, but beyond writing a check, just how charitable are we Catholics?
Some have interpreted charity to mean judgment and condemnation of one another. I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say: "Charity compels that you denounce your brother's sin." Do you not think our brothers and sisters are already aware of their sins? Would that we should focus on our beams before reaching over to pull out a speck, no? Christ died for the ungodly, let's not forget and if He was willing to be crucified for them (and us) can't we do better than condemn people and drive them even further away from God?
In today's Gospel by Luke (11:15-26) some in the crowd are convinced Jesus was only able to drive out demons by the power of the Devil. He reminds them that a house divided cannot stand. Notice what He didn't do. He didn't tell the unclean person "Leave and don't come back until you can abide by the Law." He drove out the demons because as the Son of God, He possessed the power to do so but choosing to help the demoniac was an act of love. If Jesus didn't love, He would not have healed and exorcised. Everything He did was rooted in love and mercy.
What's our definition of mercy today? Well for some it seems to be telling you that your sins are forgiven while at the same time ostracizing you or labeling you based on your sins that have been absolved. For others, mercy is inflicting the death penalty in the hope that your compressed lifespan will now impel you toward seeking conversion. Mercy, but only for those who deserve it. And who deserves it? Only those that conform. The rest can literally go to hell.
With the way some of us have defined Jesus, is it any wonder He has so few followers in the world today?
I always bless my parents for two things: sending me to Catholic school where I learned the faith, and sending me to public high school, where I learned to practice the faith. I know it's a scary thing for some to send their kids out into the world but I compare it to learning to fly a plane. If all you ever did was practice in a simulator but never set foot in a cockpit and took control of the rudder, can you really call yourself a pilot? I wonder sometimes about parents who don't want their kids exposed to anything that might prompt them to question.
This is not to say that I think parents should deliberately expose children to those things they know to be harmful like violence and pornography as I am certainly not saying that. What I am saying is that I question the validity of faith that is never tested or truly put into practice by exposure to different faiths, cultures and races. Some might call this insulation xenophobia and they might not be wrong.
I know there are those who long for homilies that call out people for living contrary to what the Church teaches about cohabitation, same-sex relationships, birth control and abortion. While the practice of these things is certainly not what the Church permits, they are not the only sins. However, when it comes to other offenses, the folks who are clamoring to hear condemnation from the pulpit will find every excuse under the sun for why those sins are not as serious or worse, why they are not sins at all. Has anyone suggested that pro-NRA Catholic politicians should refrain from receiving Holy Communion? Or that Catholic politicians who want to make immigration as difficult as possible and want to deport all migrants regardless of their situation should not receive the Eucharist? It's almost as if the message is "just oppose the 4 biggies and you can pretty much get away with everything else." This is not the example of love and mercy left to us by Christ, whatever Bishop Robert Barron thinks. Remember that our former Opus Dei attorney general was rewarded by Barron after ordering the federal executions of at least 9 death row inmates. Barr had a more direct hand in the execution of people than any politician who supports pro-abortion legislation.
If the Son of God was willing to eat with prostitutes and tax collectors, who are we to refuse to do likewise? I know some people think they are more Catholic than the Pope. Do they also believe they are more divine than the Redeemer? Do they believe that a God Who chose to make Himself small is powerless and needs protection from sinners? Because if He is and does, none of us should dare bring ourselves to Mass. Remember what Jesus said: Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick. The Divine Physician reached out to those possessed by demons.
Who have I reached out to lately?
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