A New Hope (or Perhaps an Old One?)

Through the Star Wars saga, those who harbor true love for Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader insist on one fact: "There is still good in him." These are the dying words of his wife, Padme; this is Luke's driving force in seeking him out and, ultimately, redeeming him. The good in him remains - even in the midst of unspeakable horror and crime - and it is that good that is his salvation.

Sunday marked the 30th anniversary of the death of John Paul I. The "smiling pope" steered the Bark of Peter for one short month, yet there is still some wisdom and encouragement to be drawn from his guidance. Today, in a world where every morning brings more news of murder, war, violence and abuse, we might be tempted to become so jaded that we can believe that the world is beyond hope. However, even back in 1978, JPI had words of encouragement for the world. Take a moment to read his last Angelus address from Sept. 24, 1978:

Yesterday afternoon I went to St. John Lateran. Thanks to the Romans, to the kindness of the Mayor and some authorities of the Italian Government, it was a joyful moment for me.

On the contrary, it was not joyful but painful to learn from the newspapers a few days ago that a Roman student had been killed for a trivial reason, in cold blood. It is one of the many cases of violence which are continually afflicting this poor and restless society of ours.

The case of Luca Locci, a seven-year-old boy kidnapped three months ago, has come up again in the last few days. People sometimes say: "we are in a society that is all rotten, all dishonest." That is not true. There are still so many good people, so many honest people. Rather, what can be done to improve society? I would say: let each of us try to be good and to infect others with a goodness imbued with the meekness and love taught by Christ. Christ's golden rule was: "do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself. Do to others what you want done to yourself." 'And he always gave. Put on the cross, not only did he forgive those who crucified him, but he excused them. He said: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." This is Christianity, these are sentiments which, if put into practice would help society so much.

This year is the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Georges Bernanos, a great Catholic writer. One of his best-known works is "Dialogues of the Carmelites". It was published year after his death. He had prepared it working on a story of the German authoress, Gertrud von Le Fort. He had prepared it for the theatre.

It went on the stage. It was set to music and then shown on the screens of the whole world. It became extremely well known. The fact, however, was a historical one. Pius X, in 1906, right here in Rome, had beatified the sixteen Carmelites of Compiègne, martyrs during the French revolution. During the trial they were condemned "to death for fanaticism". And one of them asked in her simplicity: "Your Honour, what does fanaticism mean?" And the judge: "It is your foolish membership of religion." "Oh, Sisters, she then said, did you hear, we are condemned for our attachment to faith. What happiness to die for Jesus Christ!"

They were brought out of the prison of the Conciergerie, and made to climb into the fatal cart. On the way they sang hymns; when they reached the guillotine, one after the other knelt before the Prioress and renewed the vow of obedience. Then they struck up "Veni Creator"; the song, however, became weaker and weaker, as the heads of the poor Sisters fell, one by one, under the guillotine. The Prioress, Sister Theresa of St Augustine, was the last, and her last words were the following: "Love will always be victorious, love can do everything." That was the right word, not violence, but love, can do everything. Let us ask the Lord for the grace that a new wave of love for our neighbour may sweep over this poor world.

Common Ground

I had some nasty stomach bug on Saturday and spent most of the day in bed, with two hours out for Mass at a local parish. But, I was lucky enough to have brought home the final volume in a recently-purchased set of ancient Church Fathers. This particular volume was dedicated to the seven ecumenical councils. (I did say I was sick, didn't I?)

Anyway, it was fun to flip through the conciliar acts and canons - as well as the inter-conciliar synods and lesser councils. These seven ecumenical councils are the foundation for the faith that all Christians profess - all Christians, be they Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Baptist, Lutheran, or Presbyterian. They outline, above all, the implications of the Incarnation and the person of Jesus Christ. As such, these councils lie at the center of the dialogue between East and West in the Church, as we continue to work and pray toward reunification. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (the Eastern equivalent of the Pope), released a book this past year that describes the Orthodox Church in a clear and intelligent way. It's worth checking out.

The quest for unity is a product of dialogue, and dialogue must be founded on common ground. So, as far as East and West go, these seven councils are the starting point. Hopefully, it won't take a stomach flu to get everyone to read them, but then again, at least I have one less book to read now.

In Defense of the Mouse

The other day, a Muslim sheikh apparently called for the execution of Mickey Mouse, calling him "a detestable character" and "a soldier of Satan." Pretty harsh stuff. Now, Muslim scholars are condemning the sheikh's edict, calling it "ridiculous." An Egyptian woman, a scholar rebukes, noting that "real mice should be killed, according to the precepts of Islam, but that [Mickey] is a cartoon character ... so, killing him makes no sense." (Full story, here)

Everyone, breathe with me - whew!

There is fanaticism in every faith; and thank God there are also those who can recognize when their religion is going over the edge. The remedy? Keep a healthy dose of reason along side that faith, realizing that the two are both gifts from God.

Out on a Limb

In ministry, sometimes it is good to step out of your comfort zone for the good of the community. When I was on my "pastoral year" - a year of internship in a parish during seminary training - I spent the weekend after my diaconate ordination promoting our upcoming parish shrimp feast. "Typical parish duty for the deacon," you say? True, I reply. However, it was the social committee's bright idea that I do it, dressed as a shrimp. Yes - I was a 6-foot-tall, pink prawn, with antennae and those little legs as well! (And yes: I do have pictures - so do others, unfortunately!)

It's important to be able to reach out in these ways - not necessarily in crustacean costume, but certainly going out of oneself - in order to reach others for the sake of the message of building one another up - what St. Paul has termed "mutual up-building" (the Greek word he uses is related to that for "household"). In youth ministry, it is particularly helpful, as young people are tuned in to being entertained. Scott Miller, on our High LI program this summer, illustrated this. He reprises his role as Mr. Incredible - for the sake of the mission - this weekend.

A Spirit of Unity

Darth Vader and the Emperor hunted down the Jedi knights almost to extinction. For the final rise of the Sith to be accomplished, the good Jedi needed to be wiped out, so the evil Emperor implemented "Order 66" - the destruction of the Jedi Knight Order. Even when that initial assault had finished and a few of the Jedi remained, it was always driven home to them that they were "the last of their kind." There was no more Jedi Council, no more padawan learners, no future for them - so it seemed.

This would have, indeed, been the end of the Jedi, had not Obi Wan and Yoda held on to the hope that they believed in. They remained faithful to their ideals as Jedi and kept that fire burning, however dimly.

This week, we priests of the Archdiocese of Baltimore have been meeting at our biennial convocation. The theme: Unity in the Presbyterate. Unity is a difficult thing to define, yet we all know it exists when we are together. It is not "created"; it is simply "there." In the face of dwindling numbers of priests, we need to be able to come together and be reminded that our light has not gone out, and that we still can have hope. The sinister spirit would have us believe the opposite: we are a dying breed, there is no future. However, as I sit here and talk with the many wonderful priests from all over our diocese, I am encouraged to continue to remain faithful and true to my priesthood - rather, our priesthood - because it is the priesthood that binds us together and unites us.

Strong are we with this force - it is a force that God has placed and strengthens in us day after day. It is a force - the Spirit - which binds us deeply to each other and the Church. "The Lord be with you. .... And with your Spirit" - it's not just a response, but a promise.

Working and Praying toward Unity

I'm away this week in Cambridge, MD, on our biannual priests' convocation. We are looking at ways of fostering and maintaining unity among the priests and with the bishop. It's a time of meeting, sharing and praying in which we hope to grow closer to one another and share a common vision for the diocese.

Today also begins a period of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, known as "40 Days for Life." More on that, perhaps, when I am back. Talk to you all Thursday!

Staying Alert - Even as We Go to Sleep

Night Prayer (or "Compline") is the prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours that wraps up our day and sends us to sleep. As a priest or a deacon, we promise to make this "prayer of the Church" prayer as well. When done right, I find it a great way to reflect on the blessings and challenges of my day and reaffirm my trust in God's goodness. I must admit, though, that there are many nights when the pillow looks much more enticing than my breviary. Fortunately, there is help too. Over at The Anchoress, Elizabeth has been providing podcasts of Compline and various other parts of the LoH since mid-August. Praying this way from time to time has helped me remember that the LoH is the prayer of the Church, and not just my prayer. Thanks, Elizabeth!

Praying before bed is probably the most common way that young people have told me that they pray. This doesn't surprise me, since that's probably the first and only time of the day that they are able to be quiet and reflective. No one is advertising to them; no one is asking anything of them; no one is there - except them and God. For the young person who wants to start praying, I always recommend that they use that peaceful time before sleep to reflect and thank God for the day, and commit to being aware of His presence in the day to come.

"Are You Jealous...?" Better Not Be!

In the final Pirates of the Caribbean film, James Norrington, the one who hunted Jack Sparrow in the first film and fought him in the second, who loved Elizabeth, but lost her to a pirate, finally redeems himself in helping the group escape from the Flying Dutchman. He dies, not a villain but a hero, and for me, stands beside all the heroes of that saga. It may not be easy to accept - he did only come around at the end - but heroic he remains.

Jesus has something to say about this today. So, we should preach about it.

The idea that God invites people all the time to share in that relationship which we call "grace" is a challenge - not for us to accept that relationship with God - who wouldn't do that? Rather, the challenge is to accept - and rejoice in - the fact that God shares that grace with whomever He wishes. It's not our decision. Our task is to recognize that generosity of God and truly rejoice in it. The first-called in the parable could not do that. The last-called are silent about it. But ultimately that's not what Jesus wants us to think about. He wants us, I think, to consider the challenge of the inclusiveness of God's call - that one of us can be called from the beginning and live a grace-filled life, and another can receive that life so much later, is not our call. It's God's. And that generosity is not cause for jealousy, but happiness.

Keeping Their Interest - Let's Talk About It

Deacon Greg posts a story today about a preaching class that aims to save preachers (and pew-sitters!) from dull homilies. One of the techniques, the dialogue homily, has had its share of criticism and proponents. Personally, I was not a fan of this type of preaching - however, I think this was due to my own unfamiliarity with the proper style for such a homily. Technically speaking, a "homily" can only be given by a bishop, priest or deacon. Further, it should be closely related to the Scriptures just proclaimed or the celebration at hand. Anything outside of that can be termed a "sermon." A dialogue homily cannot be properly called such if it is simply a matter of the preacher saying, "So, what do you all think today?"

In my current assignment at the Newman Center, there had been a long tradition of dialogue homilies - often weekly - with the community assembled there. When I arrived, there was an expectation of me to do the same. Naturally, I was uncomfortable - particularly for a caveat that Jeffery Authors tosses out: it can seem to make the Scripture seem open to acceptance or denial based on personal opinion. Another skill necessary for this style is knowing when to cut it off so that the homily doesn't drag on. That is the task of the presider. However, as I waded into those waters, I found that a guided dialogue homily can be an effective tool for helping everyone see how the Scriptures remain alive in those who hear them and try to live them. We don't all do it perfectly, but we continue to stay on touch with our faith.

From the Lion's Den to...Church?

The devastation of Hurricane Ike drove men and beast alike to seek shelter and ride out the storm. The church seemed like a good place to hunker down - until they saw who they were hunkering down with! Check out this story.

Many years from now, a small group of Hurricane Ike survivors will probably still be telling the story of how, on the night the storm flattened their island, they took sanctuary in a church _ with a lion.

The full-grown lion was from a local zoo, and the owner was trying to drive to safety with the animal when he saw cars and trucks stranded in the rising floodwaters. He knew he and the lion were in trouble.

He headed for the church and was met by a group of residents who helped the lion wade inside, where they locked it in a sanctuary as the storm raged. The water crept up to their waists, and two-by-fours came floating through broken windows. But the lion was as calm as a kitten.

When daylight came, everyone was still alive.

"They worked pretty well together, actually," said the lion's owner, Michael Ray Kujawa. "When you have to swim, the lion doesn't care about eating nobody."

Hakuna Matata, everyone!

37 Years

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Yesterday, a couple of young adult ministry pros asked the question of their blog readers: "What's going right in your youth ministries?" I was pondering this question even before I came across their posts (I find it very helpful to look at what we're doing right, to count our blessings, from time to time - it makes all the struggle worth it). For me, this year (#2 on the campus), I think it's the sense of community and friendship in faith that I can see among the college students that have been packing our chapel these first few weeks. The "old-timers" (a relative term in campus ministry!) have been able to make the newcomers feel at home and comfortable celebrating our faith together. I see freshman who have found a place where they are not trying to fit in artificially, but who are accepted for their faith and can just "be" with the Lord.

On campus, there is a lot that can challenge faith in general. The young people today, I have found in my limited experience, want the Truth - they want what the Church teaches, whether they agree with it or not. They want the opportunity to assess their faith for what it is - not what a creative mind might try to make it to be. Most important, they want a community in which to gather and celebrate that faith. There, they find support and forge friendships; they discover the beauty of a faith life lived with integrity and emerge stronger in their own faith.

A good theme song for this experience has already been taken. Listen along to the words, and imagine, if you will, an 18-year-old, on a Sunday evening, quietly making her way to a small chapel across campus, to connect again with the faith that helped her get there in the first place. She finds - I hope - a place where everybody knows her name: a child of God.

Never Going it Alone

I was dismayed this summer on vacation when I came upstairs and my sister-in-law announced that the next "Harry Potter" film will not come out this November but sometime next year. Lame! Anyway (now that I got that out of my system), in the last film, "The Order of the Phoenix," Harry is going through that teenage stage when he feels that no one is with him, and that he is the only one who knows what is going on. Because of this, Harry wants to go to the Department of Mysteries alone, to face whatever may await him there. However, his friends finally awaken him to the reality: in the struggle against evil, they're in it together. No one goes it alone.

The pope has been in Lourdes for the 150th anniversary of the apparitions that have made that place a site of pilgrimage and healing. Yesterday, he celebrated Mass and anointed several of the sick who had come. The Sacrament of the Sick, I have always found, is more than just a celebration of healing and hope. Rather, I see it as a sacrament of connection. As we pray together with the sick - who may be homebound, in a hospital or nursing home - we are bridging a gap of loneliness and isolation that illness creates. My oil stocks, I always say, is like "Church in a bottle," representing not just healing, but the prayers and community of the parish.

As Christians, we never go it alone. No matter how far into despair we might fall, there is always hope - something to turn toward. Pope Benedict gives us a perspective:

Unfortunately we know only too well: the endurance of suffering can upset life’s most stable equilibrium, it can shake the firmest foundations of confidence, and sometimes even leads people to despair of the meaning and value of life. There are struggles that we cannot sustain alone, without the help of divine grace. When speech can no longer find the right words, the need arises for a loving presence: we seek then the closeness not only of those who share the same blood or are linked to us by friendship, but also the closeness of those who are intimately bound to us by faith. Who could be more intimate to us than Christ and his holy Mother, the Immaculate One? More than any others, they are capable of understanding us and grasping how hard we have to fight against evil and suffering. The Letter to the Hebrews says of Christ that he “is not unable to sympathize with our weaknesses; for in every respect he has been tempted as we are” (cf. Heb 4:15). I would like to say, humbly, to those who suffer and to those who struggle and are tempted to turn their backs on life: turn towards Mary! Within the smile of the Virgin lies mysteriously hidden the strength to fight against sickness, in support of life. With her, equally, is found the grace to accept without fear or bitterness to leave this world at the hour chosen by God.

The last thing we want to do in the face of evil and suffering is allow ourselves to believe that we are alone in that struggle. The Church stands with us as a friend who supports us. When there is suffering around us, we must be extra vigilant on behalf of our friends in faith

Globalizing and Seeing the Diversity

Next year, Disney will be releasing it's latest animated film, "The Princess and the Frog." Finally, a major Disney film will feature a black heroine, and many are cheering the studio for it. The inclusion of a black princess in the pantheon of "Disney Princesses" will now reflect almost the full diversity that our modern world has come to expect from America. This latest addition to Disney's list of films brings us into fuller contact with the diversity that forces us to see the modern phenomenon of "globalization." The Church is keenly aware of this phenomenon, and when his new encyclical is released, Pope Benedict will be addressing it as well.

Globalization means that, as modern communication, travel and awareness continue to improve, we can no longer consider any part of our world isolated or cut off from any other. This is a matter of social justice - that "no man is an island," and yes, we are "our brother's keeper." The fact that we can sit in our living rooms and watch as a tsunami devastates a nation on the other side of the globe, that we can "chat" with people hundreds of miles away as if they were right here, that suffering can be seen like it was right next door thanks to the Internet - all of these are the effects of globalization. It is a small world, after all.

Benedict's encyclical will be entitled The Truth in Love, and will address globalization and social justice from the Catholic Christian perspective. We cannot ignore the truth - and we cannot ignore the suffering we see in the world. Appreciating the diversity of our world means that we are also responsible for seeing in all people something of ourselves, even as we can celebrate the differences. Knowing that when we see someone different from us we can also recognize a common humanity, regardless of race or nationality, we are called to reach out in the best ways we know how to help build a global civilization based on Truth.

A Priest's Prayer, Today

We stand in the shadow of the Cross,

seeing its reach in our lives.

We stand,

having -

needing -

to look upon this

Instrument of our redemption,

aware that there is

Life beyond it.

But first

we must stand

and look.

This Cross,

through which we have been saved,

is our only hope.

This Cross,

upon which we look,

is God's most perfect altar.

And as we approach our altar today,

we kneel -

not only before the altar,

but before the Cross.

For on this altar

we encounter the same sacrifice.

We encounter Christ.

When we kneel before the Cross,

we feel its shadow -

not in the cool darkness,

not in some simple metaphor.

No.

We kneel,

feeling the shadow of our own suffering -

our pain,

our loss,

our failure,

our dysfunction,

our anger,

our disappointment.

And what we feel,

rather than the cold, icy shadow of sin and death,

is the outline

of that same Cross.

This is how we touch the Holy Sacrifice.

We kneel at the altar,

and we encounter the Body and the Blood.

We carry with us our crosses,

and we find their perfection

in their union with

the Cross.

Then,

then, we rise,

and see the light beyond the shadow.

"For God so loved the world

that He gave His only Son" -

for us.

Here,

now.

So now, we stand before the Cross,

and we come to know that Love,

which shows us to that Light.

Sharing the Faith, Building Communion

There is a new website that can help you keep track of all things Catholic. Catholic.net is a place where Catholics can go and get the latest Catholic news, grow in faith, share struggles and triumphs in the faith, learn about devotions and prayers, and much more. I was made aware of it this past week, and I liked what I saw. Check it out, hang around, share your thoughts in the various forums, and see the Communion of the Saints at work in cyberspace!

Catholic.net - Catholics on the Net

Creative Hand

One of my students sent me this a few days ago. It's amazing what can be done with a blacklight, white gloves and a few friends. Enjoy!

In Heaven as it is on Earth?

In the musical version of Wicked, as Elfaba (the Wicked Witch) and Galinda (the Good Witch) discover that they are to be roommates, they criticize one another through their letters home to their parents. "Dearest, darlingest Momsie and Popcicle..." the saccharine Galinda begins, while the dour "Elfie" simply writes, "My dear father..." Their addresses are the epitome of their relationships with their parents. Elfaba's mother died long ago and her father, at least in the book, was austere and strictly religious, never really accepting his "different" daughter.

The tale - particularly in the novel - explores the nature of the Witch's wickedness - is she born that way or is it thrust upon her? Elfie is different. She is gifted too. However, because of her uniqueness she has experienced a difficult life wherein people cannot accept her as she is and are used to treating her as an outcast. It affects her world view, which she takes to school and into her adulthood.

We are not immune to this, and our relationships with our parents is the first step in this process. If we look upon our parents - particularly our fathers - as strict, distant, aloof or even absent, then this will carry into our relationship with God the Father. When we make a point to pray "Our Father..." and our image of fatherhood on earth is poor because our our personal experience, then we need to seek out what this truly means for us. Jesus teaches us to call God "Our Father" for a reason. Not because fathers are better, but because that is the relationship that he shared. It is a challenge to fathers - to all men - to be what we are meant to be and model that love of the Father.

Word Play?

In "The Lion King," the villain, Scar, causes Simba to feel guilty and responsible for the death of his father, suggesting that if Simba hadn't strayed toward the stampede that killed Mufasa, the king would not have died. Technically, that was true, but Scar himself had set the whole scene up. He twisted the reality to mislead the young lion cub.

Again, trying to justify believing one thing and practicing something else, a politician speaks. Sen. Joe Biden, a la Pelosi a few weeks ago, was asked to explain his Catholic belief as it relates to his record - particularly in response to harsh criticism from US bishops, like Cardinal Egan of New York, among others. In essence, he is invited by Tom Brokaw to witness to his faith. Here's some of what he said:

There is a debate in our church, as Cardinal Egan would acknowledge, that's
existed. Back in "Summa Theologia," when Thomas Aquinas wrote "Summa Theologia,"
he said there was no--it didn't occur until quickening, 40 days after
conception. How am I going out and tell you, if you or anyone else that you must
insist upon my view that is based on a matter of faith? And that's the reason I
haven't.

Actually, there has been a debate - or rather, an attempt at explaining the theological idea of when the soul enters the body. As I said a couple weeks ago, much of our history and theology was influenced by dualistic matter-form, body-soul language that struggled to explain the gift that God has given us in our soul. Aquinas inherited this tradition - as we have inherited 700 years more of it after him - and tried to make sense of 13th-century science in light of his understanding of theology. Aquinas was not "debating," but rather, he was attempting to teach an admittedly difficult concept. However, the destruction of an innocent life was never up for debate to him.

Many things have been the subject of theological debate throughout our history. Even the divinity of Christ has been the source of argument. We settled that as a Church in 325 AD at Nicea. The concept of Mary as Mother of God, the ability to create images of Christ, Mary and the saints, and the concept of the Trinity itself have all been debated, and settled. Sen. Biden would not embrace the point of view of, say, Arius, who believed that Jesus was not God but the first of all creation. There is a word for such a position: heresy.

The Church is willing to recognize that there has been debate over various theological - and moral - issues. That is the competence of the Church. We then witness to what we believe - in whatever venue we find ourselves. When we are invited to witness, we have a duty to know that of which we speak and not attempt some sort of sophistic double-speak. Life begins at conception - "for me" and for anyone.

Vapid?

Saturday, as the rain poured and the winds blew while Hanna made her way up the coast, I made it to the movies. Must say: the cinematic offerings right now are pretty slim. So, I ended up watching "House Bunny." Yes, it was a silly movie about an "old" Playboy bunny, Shelley, who is driven out of the mansion (she was 27). She finds herself homeless, searching for the same "sisterhood" that she had in the Playboy mansion. This search takes her to a sorority house on a college campus. She finds a house of "misfits" - girls who are nerdy and "plain," with little hope of receiving pledges and in danger of losing their house.

Shelley (who believed that "vapid" was a compliment) turns her efforts toward helping these girls realize their inner beauty, and makes models out of these school-marm-esque young ladies. The flip side? They become the very thing that they stood firmly against - they became shallow, boy-crazy girls. Fortunately - and this is unique in the realm of really crappy, quickly-produced "American Pie"-type films - they recognize it in the movie and they react against it. They reclaim their individuality and their personal depth. Even Shelley learns that what is inside is what matters, because that is what we actually hold on to.

There is no shortage of crap in film that portrays high school and college kids in pursuit of sex and alcohol. While this also reflects some reality, it nevertheless reinforces such "ideals" for young people. Their self-worth, then, is attached to whether or not they have sex before graduation and can drink more than two beers without passing out. We need, friends, we need to reclaim our individuality and stand for something deeper.

As I pondered this problem, the host of the MTV VMA's was busy mocking the Jonas Brothers for vowing to remain pure. In a shallow world, their depth and commitment is incomprehensible to the truly vapid. God bless Jordan Sparks for her defense of them. These young people recognize the gift of depth that we all have been given, and the are willing to hold on to it.

At Last

Today, Wilmington, DE, gets a new bishop - Fran Malooly. For the past quarter century, "Fran" has been an integral part of the running of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. After an early ministry dedicated, more or less, to youth and young adult ministry, Fran moved to the Catholic Center to serve as Director of Clergy Personnel, steered the diocese's program for dealing with sexual abuse, served as Chancellor, Vicar General and moderator of the Curia. Most of his priesthood, he will tell you, has been spent in some administrative, non-parochial ministry. However, today he assumes the role that he has shown he has a heart for. Today, he is installed as the chief shepherd of the flock of the Diocese of Wilmington.

Congratulations, Fran!

You are finally a pastor.

An Invitation to Come Back

The readings seemed to lend themselves to a teaching moment this Sunday, so I took the occasion to catechize a little in my homily about - of all things - excommunication (cue dark, foreboding music!). Here it is:

“This is gonna hurt me more than it hurts you!” “It’s for your own good!”

Ever heard that before? Ever actually believe it? It seems that parents and authority figures who say such things really are enjoying some sick thrill in punishing. However, anyone who actually has had to discipline someone they love knows how true these words can be.

We’ve been hearing some difficult, even harsh, words from Jesus in Matthew’s gospel of late. Just last week, he calls St. Peter Satan, for cryin’ out loud! Today, we hear more: “If [a sinner] refuses to listen even to the church,then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.” In other words, treat him as an outcast. Tough Jesus!

Is this the Jesus you know? Not terribly tolerant in the end, is he? Where is the unconditional love and forgiveness that he preaches so many times elsewhere? Is this a flaw in the gospel? Is this a contradiction?

I don’t think so (big surprise, huh?).

Jesus is talking about discipline and correction – not punishment, first and foremost. That is the purpose of discipline after all, isn’t it – to correct and rehabilitate the offender? Such an attitude continues in the Church that Jesus establishes as well, in the practice of excommunication – I know, “Oooooo, creepy!” But today’s readings give us the opportunity to understand better this oft-misunderstood concept in the Church.

Technically speaking, excommunication is defined as “a severe ecclesiastical penalty; resulting from grave crimes against the Catholic religion, imposed by ecclesiastical authority or incurred as a direct result of the commission of an offense. Excommunication excludes the offender from taking part in the Eucharist or other sacraments and from the exercise of any ecclesiastical office, ministry or function.” It finds its Scriptural basis in the Gospel reading we just heard. It is not a way of “kicking people out of the Church.” Rather, it is a penalty that arises from a person’s choices and actions.

There are several actions which incur such a penalty. Some excommunications are “imposed” by an ecclesiastical authority, while others are incurred automatically by virtue of the act itself. Such crimes include procuring a direct abortion or participating or facilitating the procurement thereof, a priest who absolves an accomplice in the sin of adultery, apostasy (rejecting the Faith), heresy or schism (breaking with the Church), a direct physical attack on the Holy Father, ordination of a bishop without a mandate from the Holy See, attempting to celebrate Mass or give absolution without the benefit of Holy Orders, the absolution by a priest of an accomplice in the sin of adultery, the direct violation of the seal of confession, or abusing the Eucharist, among a few others.

What excommunication means is that a person is excluded from the sacraments – including the Sacrament of Reconciliation – until the excommunication is lifted (either by the pope, or a local bishop or a priest delegated to do so). A person may not have a Christian burial from Church, not can an excommunicated priest celebrate the sacraments. The purpose of it all is primarily for the correction of the faithful, but also to protect an offender from further sacrilege, and to encourage repentance and unity.

When Jesus talks about correcting a brother who sins, he first and foremost talks about correction in a caring, fraternal way. He does not talk about retribution to “teach him a lesson,” but speaks of going to him, one-on-one, and discussing the matter – offering an opportunity for reconciliation. If, however, he persists (remains obstinate), he asks that one bring in others who can help correct, to convince the offender. If this does not work, he says, “Bring it to the church,” so that the wisdom of the ecclesia, or “assembly,” can help bring him around. When none of this works, Jesus is not “tolerant” anymore: “Treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.” In other words, shun him.

This is what excommunication is about – not bringing down the wrath of God or any sort of “Inquisition” – but rather an attempt to help an offender see the error of their ways and be afforded the opportunity to repent. At the same time, they are also protected from harsher judgment for sacrilege for the hypocrisy of participating in a faith which their actions have rejected. Seeing the error of one’s ways, there is always redemption and room for repentance. An excommunication is only permanent if an offender allows it to be.

Remember, that Jesus also continually reached out to “Gentiles and tax collectors,” reminding them (and us) that they are welcome to embrace the Reign of God as well. After all, excommunication is not what our faith is about – it’s about sharing the love of God and living authentically the faith that we share. Today’s readings, rather than frightening us into blind submission should encourage us to be open to forgiving those who wrong us and inviting them to a real reconciliation. Jesus’ words in the Gospel – as well as Ezekiel’s in the First Reading – also remind us that the reconciliation that He speaks of begins with us. So, when we are aware of anyone who has injured us – against whom we might have some grudge – the Christian response is not vengeance or hard feelings but an invitation to mend a relationship.

Reconciliation starts with each one of us.

"I Thought This Stuff Just Happened to Catholics"

An Arlington, Texas, woman got the surprise of her life when she discovered an image of the Virgin Mary on one of her grapes. Becky Ginn, who is Baptist, said, "I thought this stuff just happened to Catholics. ... I haven't made a shrine to it, nor prayed to it, nor done much of anything except e-mail the picture to a few friends and roll it around in the bowl in the fridge." I must say, this one actually looks like her. Keep an eye out on e-Bay, everyone!

See the full story here.

Giving Voice to the Word

Don LaFontaine passed away on Monday, silencing a voice that most Americans can recognize - even if they don't know the name or face. He's the fellow who does most of the voice-over work for hundreds of television and movie trailers a year. Here is a video tribute to him that was done before he died.



"If you have something of value to people, there is no reason not to share it."

I couldn't help but be struck by his line. Do I have something of value? You better believe I do! I have the charge to preach the Word of God! I truly enjoy the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel - particularly at Mass - and to preach that Word to whoever is open to hearing. "In the beginning was the Word." And then the Word commissioned His disciples to "go and teach all nations." Today, we are the voice that bears the Word to others.

"In a world where so many ache for the touch of God, who will stand forth to speak His Word to them?" Coming this fall!

Not Quite Dead?

It seems that there is more arguing about the definition of death, as far as the Church is concerned. John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter writes:

Debates over when life begins are by now wearily familiar, if no closer to
resolution – witness Democratic presidential candidate Barak Obama’s recent
comment that pegging a precise moment is “above my pay grade.” Yet a Sept. 2
article in L’Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper, suggests that
an equally agonizing debate is brewing at the other end of the biological
continuum – not over when life begins, but when it ends.

The article
strongly challenged the concept of “brain death,” referring to the collapse of
all neurological functions, to certify someone as actually dead.

Just
like debates over the beginning of life, the question of the moment of death has
excruciatingly practical consequences. Because organs such as hearts and lungs
usually must be removed before respiration and circulation cease in order to be
suitable for transplant, going back to cardiopulmonary criteria for death would,
in effect, mean that many organ transplants would become impossible.

At present - and probably for the foreseeable future - the Church's position on the end of life follows the general scientific definition of the cessation of neurological activity. This means that a body can be kept functioning mechanically (heart & lung function) even after death is determined. Upon this basis, we teach that organ donation is permissible and even laudable. So, if you are at the DMV and they ask if you'd like to be a donor, don't think that the Church says no - it's still up to you.

Read Allen's full story here. (And please pardon the language in the clip!)

A Good Question

The university has resumed the school year, and that means that the campus ministry is up and rolling at full steam yet again. Sunday, I celebrated Mass with many new students who found us through our all-out media blitz. (For those who don't know, the Catholic Campus Ministry at Towson is not located on campus, but just adjacent to it, so it can take a little exploring - and careful street crossing!) I must say that I am glad to have the young people back. It means that I can return to a more "regular" schedule (such as that may be). The summer was a time of repair, maintenance and administrative work around the Newman Center, but much of the time, I found myself "making the work up." As a new director, I am not used to not having a pastor over me telling me what to do. But, we forged on, and now all that preparation will be put to the test.

As this year begins, though, it is helpful as a priest to reflect on what one does with one's time. Not only as a priest, but anyone should do this. A fellow Baltimore priest who blogs for his parish asked a good question: "What does a priest do all day?" He then goes on to describe a random, typical day in his life as a parish priest. My days are a little more irregular, but this is a good response to that question. However, at the end of this day, what will your answer be to that question?

Time is a precious gift. What we do with it reflects our gratitude (or ingratitude) for the time we have been given.

Learning from Teaching

In "The Clone Wars," Anakin gets a padawan learner assigned to him - a young girl named Ashoka. He doesn't want her at first, and in time he learns that she is almost as headstrong as he is. They develop a relationship that brings out the strengths of each, as Anakin becomes a mentor to her. That relationship could serve an important purpose for the young Jedi - he learns to be more selfless - to look beyond only his own decisions to how they affect others, and the example they set for the young one.

Teachers - really good ones - will tell you that they learn many things from their students. What I learn from the young ones for whom I am responsible is that the message and the messenger are a package deal. Integrity demands that the way we live and what we preach have to jive. So much criticism that is leveled against Churchmen or politicians who fall into scandal involves this integrity. What is needed to guard against such scandal is continual reflection on the Message - what we want to portray with our words and our actions. Skywalker knew what it took to be a true Jedi and he was one - even when his technique was more "improvised." His role as a mentor, though, brought him to a deeper understanding of the importance of what he himself was taught. That's one of the silent lessons that youth help their teachers to learn.

Rest

"And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work he had done in creation."

The dignity of work is only best appreciated through rest.

And it is good.

Happy Labor Day, everyone.