10th Sunday Understanding the Faith

In seminary there seemed to be three types of students: those hungry and excited for the challenge and learning of theology; those ambivalent about it, just getting through classes; and those who were upset because what they thought they knew was being challenged. This last group of guys tended to have a more difficult time during seminary. One particular man in my class was a convert from Presbyterianism. He had been raised as a biblical literalist; an older fellow for seminary, maybe late 30’s early 40’s. Nice guy. We took our first Scripture class and all the assumptions he had were being destroyed. The profs told him that this was our Catholic understanding and what he thought he knew, he misunderstood. The poor guy was devastated. He ended up taking a year and more off to grasp the situation, and he never was quite the same.

One theme I continually raise in homilies is the need to continue to grow in our understanding of God and of our Catholic Faith. The more we understand, the more we can grow and know of God. Often when I do Q&A’s with groups, adults and youth, some questions betray or reveal a lack of understanding of God and our faith; and then when I answer with the Catholic teaching, at times either the defenses come up and the hostility comes out, or they get silent. Their assumptions do not connect to teachings; they have misunderstood; but they often assume the teachings are wrong, and they are right.

How do we fall into this?

Adam and Eve made a decision after being led to a misunderstanding. We can often hear this story as a deliberate act of disobedience, but not really. Now understand that the serpent originally was a symbol of worldly wisdom, especially in Babylon where this story was rewritten and edited. Adam and Eve were led to misunderstand God and their role with God; they took it upon themselves to do what God would have done for them. This was the Sin. And with their relationship with God ruptured, the effects are immediate; Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the snake. Neither accept the blame, neither ask for forgiveness and the rest is history.

Jesus understood the Father, clearly. He also understood the human heart. And here he is confronting people, two groups who misunderstood him and his mission and God. The two groups being religious leaders and his own family.

The leaders thought him in league with evil and his family thought him crazy. They have a conflict with him; one that threatens to rupture fundamental relationships of family and community. Jesus counters both. Jesus will also have to deal with this again and again; with his own disciples who will misunderstand him, misunderstand the mission. It took the resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit for them to grasp, to be open to understanding, to gain true wisdom.

As faithful disciples we must always be ready to be challenged in our assumptions, and be ready to grow. We cannot become complacent or ambivalent in what we think we know, or defiant in our assumptions, it will only lead to disaster.

How many stories exist of well meaning people unintentionally hurting others with their misguided faith and grasp of Church? I have heard of couples who did not get married in the church because some person, a secretary or parent or friend, and at times even misinformed priests, said it was impossible because one partner was not a Catholic. Or cannot baptize a child because of some issue, and they left, hurt… whereas in reality that issue was nothing. How many think Jesus - God hates them because of their lives, after being told this by others?

I find it makes me sad and angry.

Also people just in their own lives, misunderstanding God and the faith; fearful God is out to get them for any misstep; fearful of being condemned to hell; thinking of only the rules and regulations, not experiencing the love, the joy of what it all means. And then some people just off completely. Once we took a call from a man at the Chancery office. He was concerned because all the church vacuums would be picking up tiny bits of the consecrated hosts that may have fallen, and were placed into the dumpsters and eventually taken to the landfill, so we ought to genuflect as we pass by the landfill…do you see?

We need the attitude of humility, to assume we are loved by God and yet we don’t know it all. Humility to acknowledge that God is mystery, there is so much nuance and sophistication to what we believe. Humility to recognize that maybe, just maybe our own assumptions may not be correct, and so maybe just maybe we can listen to another idea.

And the good part too is that God will pester us, never leave us alone, God wants us to know God more and more. When Adam and Eve had to leave paradise, God was still there with them, with their family, God remained with Israel in slavery, in exile, even when they accepted other Gods, calling them back into a correct misunderstanding.

Finally the Son comes, the source of divine wisdom, who leads us to the Father; who reveals to us the wonder of the Father. If we are willing to listen; if we are willing to surrender and listen to, and believe and trust, in this divine wisdom.