2nd Sunday of Easter
Cycle C
April 7, 2013 4pm, 10:30am and 12 noon
Saint Margaret Parish, Bel Air
Faith and Religion
There
is a recent report by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life that really has
my attention.
This
study shows that 1 in 5 of all Americans now has no religious affiliation. 1 in 3 of all young adults – ages 20 to 29 –
1in 3 of this group claims no religious affiliation and this number is growing.
Of
the 20% with no religious affiliation, 6% say that they are atheist or
agnostic. The other 14% say that they
believe but are not affiliated.
In
fact, many of those unaffiliated with any church say that they are spiritual
but not religious. This is a fairly new
trend – being spiritual but not religious.
Some
other findings tell us that many turn off to religion or change their church affiliation
because of a church’s involvement in politics.
What they want is spiritual nourishment and often they are not getting
it.
These
findings definitely include the Catholic Church. These trends have definitely affected us.
Thomas
I have to say that all of this concerns me very much.
It is something I have been thinking about a
lot. I ask myself: what should we be
doing in our ministry?
I do see some direction in how to approach this in
today’s gospel – in the encounter between Thomas and the risen Jesus. And the direction I see is centered on Jesus’
wounds.
Our Woundedness
As you recall, Thomas wants to be sure that this person really
is Jesus. He wants to be sure that the
man appearing before him is really the one who was nailed to the cross and
crucified.
So, Thomas sees the wounds of Jesus and then he
believes. He gives that great statement
of faith: “My Lord and my God.”
What I see here is that it is important for me and all of
us to admit of our woundedness, just as Jesus does with Thomas and the
others. I and we need to admit that life
is not always easy and faith is not always easy.
Some things in life can be messy and some things are
complicated and it is not always clear what to do. I don’t always succeed in living the gospel
well and I also struggle with certain issues
These are the kinds of wounds that the wounds of Jesus in
today’s gospel call me and maybe all of us to bear and admit. And if we do that in a real and authentic
way, then maybe some of those distanced from faith or religion will be able to
respond as Thomas does today.
Their Woundedness
That takes me to the need to
accept the woundedness of others. Jesus
consistently does this.
Jesus takes people where they are
and does not judge or condemn, no matter what their wounds are and what they have
done. He takes Thomas right where he is
today – notice, Jesus doesn’t label him “doubting” Thomas.
Jesus’ approach brings healing
and leads to faith. Well, in the same
way, I as priest and we as Church need to accept the wounds and imperfections
of others.
As I said, our admission of our
own woundedness and then our acceptance of the woundedness of others can help
all of us either to come to faith or to grow in our faith. Patience, empathy, welcoming, and humility –
these traits need to characterize our ministry and approach today.
And of course, with our
woundedness, we come to the Eucharist. After
all, this sacrament is intended to bring us communion with the Lord, life in
the Lord, and through that, the healing of our wounds.
Conclusion
So, these are some basic
directions I see in today’s gospel.
I know that there are many other
things we have to do in today’s situation, but these approaches need to be the
foundation of all that we do. I believe
the woundedness of Jesus unlocks for us how to invite others to faith and to
church in this day and age.
