Its funny working for the Catholic Church. I have asked many parents to consider the state of their Catholicism and whether they are striving to live their Christian Faith. I have been called "pompous," "arrogant," "condescending," among other things. My goal as an employee of St. Jude and, more importantly, as a disciple of Jesus Christ is to invite all Christians to deepen the faith they have received. As well, to invite non-Catholics to consider joining the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church which is still guided by the Vicar of Christ - Pope Benedict XVI.
I don't presume to think that everyone will agree with my methodology. I don't know of one job where everyone agrees with all that you do. I have tried, to the best of my ability, to be charitable in all I have written or said, but also to never cease challenging parishoners here. Of course, when it comes to the Faith, passions enter into one's approach in this job much more deeply - both for me and for parents!
What I love about the Catholic Faith is that it is so challenging. It is unfortunate that some here at St. Jude and in parishes across the world lack the understanding of this challenge. St. John in the Book of Revelation writes to seven Churches in varying degrees of understanding regarding this challenge (see chapters 2 & 3). My favorite is the letter to the Church in Laodicea. Not least of which because of this line: "For you say, 'I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,' and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. " I think at a parish like St. Jude, one of the more affluent in this part of Denver, we must question ourselves about how rich we are and what are we rich in? For God does not think as man thinks, but invites us to be set apart from the world by living in the joy and obedience of the Gospel life.
It is easy in our modern world to say, "Yes, I believe in God." But then to just ignore going to Mass or frequenting the sacraments which Jesus Christ himself has established for our salvation - as many people do because they are too busy with baseball games or going to the mountains or whatever on Saturday night and/or Sunday to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
I was recently discussing with someone about the same person's son who has essentially said, "religion is useless" but then that same son also says that he believes in God. This is the unfortunate reality which many people labor under. How does one consider that Jesus, the Son of God, breathed on his disciples and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained (Jn 20: 22-23)." Does one think that this is a useless bit of information? In fact, St. James will later write, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful (James 5:16)." The Sacrament of Confession is not something one can just hickelty-pickelty make up just because one happens to believe in God. Rather, one must have the humility to recognize Jesus Christ did establish a Church upon the rock of St. Peter and one must accept this gift if one is truly to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
The choice of course is yours and mine to make. Whether it is becoming a disciple or remaining a disciple of Jesus Christ, as with the Church of Laodicea, the Catholic Faith is challenging. As one beloved professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville used to frequently say: "The Catholic Faith doesn't give a fig about how you feel in the morning." By this, of course, he meant that it is the same Religion revealed by Jesus Christ whether we accept it or not. The only Triune God has spoke once and spoken perfectly in establishing the Catholic Church, it is mankind that must conform to her teaching beacuse only man can change. God who is eternal is unchangeable by his very nature as God.
Nevertheless, I know that in the years to come I will be called other names and insulted in various ways for challenging people to take their Catholic Faith more seriously. My only sorrow is knowing that others may never be challenged to fully take on the essentially radical Catholic lifestyle. And, as well, my greatest joy is knowing that Christ continues to call others to the radical holiness and obedience of being a Catholic. The only question that remains is where do you, my dear reader, stand?
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Tomas, the people are leaving St. Jude Parish as a result of the autocratic, dogmatic approach, particularly in the religous education department. While St. Jude Parish is busy counting the angels on the head of a pin, the faithful are flooding the parishes that are welcoming and loving and which offer meaningful worship, education, and Christian service. Here are some recent examples from the parish bulletin: "It is liturgically incorrect to applaud at the end of Mass", "It is litrugically incorrect to hold hands during the Our Father". Ask yourself, "Would Jesus also feel this way?" The Parish must begin to meet people where they are, or they will lose them completly. Even if they are sinners and imperfect, you must, like Jesus, dine with them, talk with them and pray to attain some empathy for your brothers and sisters in Christ. I am sure that you will not allow this response to be published, but I pray that you will consider it for yourself and for the sake of the parish. Please call your peers at the surrounding parishes and ask them how many confirmations they have had in the last 2 years, how many adult baptisms? Please compare these to St. Jude and prayerfully consider what this might mean. Yes, Tomas, it is true that we have the fullness of the Catholic faith in the Bible and in Sacred Tradition, but we must approach children and teens at their level if we want to win souls for Christ. Love them, let them be teens, let them see that their Catholic faith does not have to exclude healthy teen activities in school, sports, etc. Show them how to be witnesses to the Faith at baseball, soccer, after-school jobs. Please create a welcoming environment for the kids so that they WANT to come back, every week, to learn more about their fatih in the context of their lives. I will contine to pray for you and St. Jude Parish.
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