Fr. Tony's Weekly Homily
6th Sunday in Easter
– 2010
St. Charles Borromeo
“Unity in the Midst of
Diversity…Discerning the Holy Spirit”
Introduction:
An invitation comes
from a newly ordained priest: “You are cordially invited to a
Celebration of the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the
Ordinary Form with Latin propers – Missa Sancta Nicolai.” Rumor
has it that he will say Mass ad orientam, that is with his back
to the congregation. Local Milwaukee clergy respond with
disappointment at the resurgence of extreme conservative
liturgical practices within in our own archdiocese.
Marquette University
rescinds its job offer to Jodi O’Brien, a Lesbian, to become the
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, due to articles she
wrote about marriage that do not meet the University’s Catholic
mission and identity. Students march in protest on campus.
Fr. Dave Verhasselt,
pastor of St. Catherine Parish in Mapleton, is removed from
active ministry upon being charged by a parishioner of breaking
the seal of confession. Parishioners respond with anger and
confusion.
Pope Benedict writes
a letter to the people of Ireland apologizing for the sexual
abuse scandal. Several bishops there resign as evidence points
toward their cover up of abuse cases. Many priests and people
say the Pope is still not taking ownership of his part in the
abuse crisis, and has not gone far enough.
At least two U.S.
bishops have taken action against the dissident women’s
religious communities and the Catholic Health Association who
supported health care reform legislation in defiance of the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. They are denying
them permission to promote vocations to their religious
communities. One blogger’s responded, “It's about time the
Bishops do something about the CINO's (Catholic In Name Only)
religious. Now let’s hope they stand by their guns...”
Like it or not this is who we are as
a Church. A people of God, who are sinners and saints, liberals
and conservatives, gay and straight, lay and ordained, young and
old; all pilgrims on a pilgrim’s journey.
Theological Extension:
Today’s readings tell us this in
nothing new. From the start, the Church has been engulfed in a
diversity of theologies, moralities, and ideologies. Schisms,
heresies, crusades, inquisition, as well as reforms and
councils, have all been a part of our Church’s storied history.
Today’s first reading from the Acts
of the Apostles tells us the same story. The issue there
concerned a disagreement about the requisites for salvation.
How will anyone get to heaven? Some Jewish believers in Jesus
insisted upon maintaining their Mosaic dietary laws and the
traditions of Judaism. Other believers in Jesus insisted that
faith in Jesus was the sole requisite for salvation, which is
God’s gift to all, regardless of their race, nationality, or
social status. When these two groups clashed, both were wise
enough to submit their differences to the power of the Holy
Spirit. We call their meeting, the Council of Jerusalem, and
count it as the first Church council. It was a watershed moment
in the history of the Jesus movement. The early believers
followed the promptings of the Spirit and arrived at a
compromise.
Conclusion:
Given this reality, then and now, of a Church
striving for unity in the midst of diversity how should we
respond? What are we to do in the face of all these hot-button
issues? Do we protest? Do we write letters? Do we ignore
them? Or do we leave the Church altogether?
The answer for us is no different
than it was in the time of the Acts of the Apostles, and
throughout our Church’s history… the Holy Spirit. We need to
remember that the Holy Spirit that guided the Church through its
conception is the same Holy Spirit that sustains its growth.
So when we face these disturbing
issue we have a model. One that we use right here in our own
parish and in parishes across our Archdiocese and our country.
It is called the discernment model. When faced with choices and
decisions we call upon that same Holy Spirit to help and guide
us.
That means when we are called to
confront the tough issues of our church, first of all we need
absolute truth and honesty, spoken in an environment of trust
and confidentiality. The Holy Spirit cannot work in the midst
of lies, cover-ups, and personal agendas. So we need to ask
ourselves what is our reality and what is our truth?
Then we must take that truth to
prayer. Prayer needs to be a part of our lives, personally and
communally. The Holy Spirit cannot work unless we call upon
Him. We need to listen to the Holy Spirit and act accordingly.
Prayer facilitates that. There are actual devotions to the Holy
Spirit that are a part of our tradition and I would encourage
you to use them. So we need to ask ourselves if we pray to the
Holy Spirit? Do we call on him in times of disunity and trial?
Our prayer must deliberately ask the Holy Spirit to be in our
hearts as we consider our reaction.
The next step of the discernment
process calls us to move into dialogue. These truths must be
spoken and heard with an openness of heart and without
judgment. We need to rely on the reality that the Holy Spirit
works through each and every one of us. We each hold a piece of
truth and wisdom. The Holy Spirit cannot work in closed
sessions where there is no room for debate and dialogue. So we
need to ask ourselves do we freely share our wisdom our truth?
Once these things have been done, we
then need to come to consensus and make a decision. Often times
this involves compromise, and even if we disagree with the final
outcome, accepting and living with this decision. We have to go
forth to respect and honor it. The Holy Spirit cannot work in
an environment where we bad mouth the decision or try to
sabotage it’s outcome. So we need to ask ourselves: are we
ready and willing to compromise, for the sake of unity and
consensus? This then is the discernment process… honest
dialogue, prayer, consensus building, and living with the
decision.
This is a tried and true process. We
as a parish have employed it. We wouldn’t be where we are today
without it. I would not be a priest today if I had not properly
discerned my vocation. The Church as a whole would not have
survived all these 2000 years had we not trusted in the Holy
Spirit.
You know there are certain to be hot
topics in the Church until Kingdom come. And each one will call
forth a response from us. We can either respond with fear,
despair, doubt, anger, or with the courage, faith, and hope of
those early disciples who trusted in God. I say: “Veni Sanctu
Spiritu! Come Holy Spirit, Come!”
Blessings,
Fr.
Tony
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