A denomination is really pushing an open door policy. T.V. and radio adds, signs on the church buildings all proclaim that they are open to all. A very nice Catholic sentiment, catholic meaning universal, the Church for all times, all people, and all places.A deeper look however shows that it means something quite a bit different. A good portion of their airtime is spent reciting a list of things that they do not care about. They don’t care what you are wearing, what your marital status is, how you are practicing your particular orientation, what nation you are from, in fact, they don’t seem to care very much about anything. One wonders if they care if you show up.
Who does Jesus become in this scenario? A nice God/man who could not break out of the social constructs of His time. Fortunately He entrusted His Church to people who could get with the times and correct His teaching, which, by the by, just so happens to correspond to modern social morays. By fortunate coincidence that means we have to change very little to follow God. We get together for a collective slap on the back from God once a week (hopefully), feel good about ourselves, and learn that the only real sin is to have judgment.
This is religion reduced to the therapeutic. Does God love you for who and where you are? Yes. Of course He does. But He does not intend to leave you there. He has greater plans for you. He wants to transform you into the best version of yourself you can be. That does not mean giving you some false sense of self-esteem so you can feel good about dong whatever you want but by cooperating with the grace that He gives you through His sacraments, His teachings, His Church, and His call to an authentic freedom, community, and way of living and becoming something greater than yourself and your own concerns to be a beacon for others.
That is the glory of this Feast of All Saints! That we see ordinary people from all walks of life and from every condition imaginable not seeking a God who will accept whatever bone they wish to throw Him but rising to the call of the Divine, to being transformed and breaking out of themselves, to be what He made us to be.
Don’t forget, today is a holy day of obligation.
3 comments:
Bishop Lennon quoted Frank Duff at this morning's Mass at the Cathedral:
Definition of a Saint: "Not necessarily one who does extraordinary things, but one who, with the object of pleasing God, does his ordinary duties extraordinarily well. Such a life may be lived out without a single wonder in it, arouse little notice, be soon forgotten, and yet be the life of one of God's dearest friends."
Lillian Marie
That we see ordinary people from all walks of life and from every condition imaginable not seeking a God who will accept whatever bone they wish to throw Him but rising to the call of the Divine, to being transformed and breaking out of themselves, to be what He made us to be.
Thanks for the inspiration, Fr V.!
LM ~ I came across that very quote today..it was spoken by Matthew Fox. (I'm thinking Father Matthew Fox, the Marian priest, not the other one)
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