faith – deacon rudy's notes

August 5, 2020July 28, 2020

ATC 18 Wherein Lies Our Faith

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Hola and welcome to another edition of All Things Catholic. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic. If you have a question that you’d like me to address, send it to me. You may use the comment form on the website, or by email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org. I invite you to share this podcast with everyone you know!

On today’s episode, we’re going to talk about where we invest our faith. The fallout over the murder of George Floyd has sparked widespread and sometimes violent protests across the United States. In general, the protests are about addressing systemic racism in the country – especially when it comes to policing. But protestors in several parts of the country have destroyed or attempted to destroy statues that some believe are evidence of institutionalized racism, like statues of notable confederate leaders.

But protestors have also targeted churches and religious statues in various parts of the country. Clearly, at least for some protestors, this is no longer about Black Lives Matter. I think there is a group of people, hopefully it’s a small group, who would like to see the artifacts of Christianity erased from public view. That in itself is an interesting if not frightening idea which we will explore next month when we discuss what it means to be a Christian today. But today I want to focus on how the illegal attacks on churches and religious statues affect our faith.

First, what is faith? C.S. Lewis described faith as, “the art of holding on to things your reason once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”<1> Thomas Aquinas distinguishes between the faith which is an unmerited, undeserved gift from God, and individual faith which is, “the act of the intellect assenting to the truth at the command of the will.”<2> Today when I use the word “faith,” I generally mean individual faith.

Today’s topic, “Wherein Lies Our Faith,” is related to the question, “do Catholics worship saints and statues?” This is a question that I keep coming back to over and over again. Even before I was ordained, I found myself in situations where I had to defend the faith against accusations that Catholics worship the saints or worship statues.

Let me be clear, our faith is in the triune God alone: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit! Period! As Christians, we believe we are saved by the blood of Jesus which he shed on the cross for you and for me. We are saved by Christ Jesus! Period! We are not saved by Mary. We are not saved by the saints. We are not saved by the angels. We are not saved by the Church. We believe that Mary, the saints, the angels, and the Church and all of us cooperate in evangelization – in sharing the Good News with others in order to bring people to Jesus. But only Jesus saves.

We (mainline Christians) believe that Mary and the saints – not just the official saints, but all believers who have passed away – make up the Communion of Saints. The idea about the Communion of Saints or the Cloud of Witness is one of the oldest beliefs in the Christian faith. That we believe in the Communion of Saints has been reflected in the Christian creed since at least the 4th Century.

We believe the saints can intercede for us before God. Now, this idea of intercessory prayer is not as widely accepted by Christians, but this belief is rooted in Scripture. In the Book of Revelation for example, we read, “And another angel came and stood at the altar, with a golden censer; and much incense was given him, for him to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne,” (The Revelation of John 8:4). Not to digress, but this is one of many Scripture passages referring to those who’ve fallen asleep and intercessory prayer. The point is while we believe in Mary and the Communion of Saints, we do not worship any saint, not even Mary. We worship Christ alone.

Now what does this have to do with our topic, “wherein lies our faith?” Mary and the saints are part of our faith – they are elements of our faith tradition, but they do not compose the sum total of our faith. Ok, you might be thinking, “fine, but what does this have to do with protests?” Excellent question!

A few years after 9/11, I asked a group of adult learners in a Church History class to reimagine the tragedy. Instead of the twin towers, what if St. Peter’s Basilica had been destroyed? How would they feel? What would it do to their faith? I put the question to you too.

Even then, a few years after the attacks, there was no surprise at the range of emotions undoubtedly shared by many Americans – from shock to anger to profound sadness. The students said they’d probably experience similar emotions if an icon of the Catholic faith, like St. Peter’s, were destroyed by terrorists. But what surprised me were the number of people who weren’t sure how it would affect their faith. The suggestion was so troubling to some, that they couldn’t comment – they didn’t want their imaginations to go there.

I can certainly understand people’s reluctance to even consider such an awful event! But putting that aside, why would this harm your faith? The problem of pain – why would a good and benevolent God allow such tragedy in this world? – is a question older than the Book of Job. That is a huge question with a wide variety of theological opinions which we could consider in a future episode, but here’s the reader’s digest version. There are two types of evil in this world: moral and physical. A physical evil is like the damage caused by a hurricane. Thomas Aquinas tells us that these sorts of events are not evil in themselves. They are only evil in relation to people and the bad results produced. <3>

The idea of moral evil is rooted in free will. God chose to place us in this imperfect world subject to physical evils, and he gave us free will, which is the freedom to choose the right. When we reject God, we all evil to spread into the world. Why does God allow this to happen? Why does he allow people to commit horrible acts of evil? There is an idea in the lumber industry that the trees which produce the best lumber are those which have been subjected to the elements. Those trees whipped about winds, for example, produce a tough lumber. Those trees which have been sheltered to some extent produce inferior lumber.

There are many examples of this with regard to people. Athletes subject themselves to physical hardship and suffering in order to discipline their bodies for better results. No pain, no gain. The same is true for people of faith. In the early church, when Roman persecution began, many quickly left the church to save themselves while other believers willingly faced martyrdom. How can we know our conversion is firm if we are not tested? That’s not an easy answer to accept, but there you have it.

God gives us free will. Some people abuse free will for their own pursuits which allows evil to gain a foothold in our world. Those whose faith is tested by these evils but cling to God are true believers. Does that mean that God abandons us? No. There are who describe encounters with evil and believe that Jesus is there with them holding them, and in some cases weeping alongside them. It’s a powerful image much like that of a parent who tried to raise their child right, but the child chose a path of drug addiction and violence. All a parent can do sometimes is pray and weep. But like Augustine’s mother, Monica, we hold on to our faith and pray for conversion, consolation and deliverance.

Sadly, this world offers us too many opportunities to test our faith from the current threatened removal of statues like of St. Junipero Serra or St. Louis, to the vandalism of other religious statues to the desecration or even destruction of churches. Make no mistake, these are criminal acts of violence to be sure, but we must remember these buildings and statues can be repaired or replaced. Our faith isn’t in the building or the statue, but in God alone.

The clergy sex abuse scandal and cover-up are another opportunity to test our faith. It’s been disheartening to me that so many people have left the Church. Worse still are those who are so disillusioned that they’ve turned their backs on Jesus. This is why such failures of leadership are so scandalous because it can lead people to apostasy. We can be angry, disappointed, or disillusioned, but our faith can’t be invested in the Church or any priest or holy person. These gifts can help nurture our faith, but our faith has to be in Christ alone despite the presence of evil in the world.

Our faith is in Christ alone. Should we fight or resist evil when it comes to our door, like violent protestors? Should we do nothing to prevent the rising tide of secularism or the dangers of Marxism? Does this mean we should just let them in and destroy what they want?

Well, there is that idea of turning the other cheek. But there is also the axiom that a shepherd must tend to his flock, and at times, fight off the wolves. When does it make sense to make a stand? When we have the greatest opportunity to facilitate an encounter with Jesus Christ. When our actions will spark curiosity and a willingness for dialogue. Buildings and statues destroyed by acts of evil can be replaced. Bringing people to Jesus Christ, that must always come first.

Wherein lies our faith? In Christ alone.

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to All Things Catholic. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment – I’d love to consider what you’re thinking. If you’re on the webpage, just click the title of the podcast, then scroll to the bottom and you should be able to post a comment. Do you have a question that you’d like me to address? Please send it to me using the comment form on the website, or send me an email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org.

This episode was produced by deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal. All Things Catholic will be back next month, and don’t forget to tune in for the weekend edition where we break open the Word. Peace!

Notes:
<1> C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, (New York: HarperCollins, 2009), chap. 11, Kindle.
<2> Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, 2nd, rev. ed., trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province (1920; New Advent, 2008): II-II, Q. 4, a. 2., http://www.newadvent.org/summa/2001.htm.
<3> Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theolgoica, 2nd, rev. ed., trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province (1920; New Advent, 2008): I, Q. 49, https://www.newadvent.org/summa/1049.htm#article1.

References:
1. Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica. 2nd, rev. ed., trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province (1920; New Advent, 2008). Accessed July 27, 2020, https://www.newadvent.org/summa/.
2. Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. New York: HarperCollins, 2009. Kindle.
3. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

October 22, 2019October 22, 2019

A Little Help

picture of people helping each other climb a rocky hill

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Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Exodus 17:8-13
Responsorial: Psalm 121:1-8
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:2
Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102019.cfm

My brothers and sisters, in today’s Gospel Jesus tells us the interesting story about the widow who sought justice from an unjust judge. Jesus says, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says,” (Luke 18:6).

And what does the judge say?

“…because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me down,” (Luke 18:5).

Is his motivation really about justice? No, of course not. The motivation is clearly self-preservation at best. But the judge does give us a glimpse into something very important. His motivation is not based on his faith in the absolute truth upon which the Law based, the inspired Word of God. His comment betrays his lack of real faith. This prompts Jesus to conclude the “Parable of the Persistent Widow” with a question: But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? (Luke 18:8).

But the journey of faith can be difficult. Perhaps a life of hard work can leave a person feeling jaded or cynical. Or perhaps you’ve lived a life filled with chapters you hope are never published. Either way, it’s all too easy to distance ourselves from living a life of faith – from living a life believing in anything other than those things which we define as real for ourselves.

In contrast with this idea, we hear in the first reading the extraordinary story of Israel’s battle against Amalek. Moses believed that as long as he held his arms up holding the staff of God in his hand, Israel would win the day. Indeed, as the battle raged, whenever Moses’ hands were held up, Israel succeeded, but when his arms dropped, Israel suffered. Wow! That’s a story of faith –the belief of the army of Israel that God would stand with them as long as Moses kept his arms up.

Scripture tells us again and again the amazing things we can accomplish with faith – real, absolute, unconditional faith in the God who saves. “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth,” we hear from our Psalmist today.

But Moses could not keep his arms up without help. Scripture tells us that Aaron and Hur each supported one side of Moses until sunset. By the end of the day, Joshua and the army had indeed defeated Amalek. In the end, their faith, Moses’ faith in God and the army’s faith in Moses and God, saved the day. But what would have happened if Moses didn’t have help?

Help. That may be the most difficult word for some of us to speak. How many of us, I wonder, go through life believing we have to do it all on our own? “…be persistent,” we hear in our second reading from 2 Timothy 4:2. Be persistent like the widow in today’s parable.

But I suggest that one idea from our readings today is a reminder that we are in fact not alone. We are part of a community of believers. So, when our arms are tired, figuratively speaking, and we perhaps desire to take the easy path, let persistence nudge us forward and open us up to ask for help. How can we do this? Well, an accountability group like a Bible study with a group of friends might benefit us greatly. Or perhaps we could turn to a spouse or close friend or family member and ask for help. Of course you may ask me for help either by clicking the contact me button on the website or sending me a prayer request from the website and I’ll gladly help.

And we can pray – pray that God will place us in contact with the right person at the right time to help support our faith. I can’t tell you how many times this has happened in my life and continues to happen – the chance meeting with a person who truly is the answer to a prayer. So, we are encouraged by today’s readings to act with faith like Moses and not with selfish motivations like the unjust judge. No matter how difficult the road ahead is, we are reminded to, “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believe…” (2 Timothy 3:14).

Homework! After being nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and in the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions:

Who are your Aaron and Hur? Who are the people who support you in your faith? Thank God for them!
How can you be an Aaron or a Hur for someone this week?

I think by doing our homework, we can better recognize how God is trying to help us in our journey and how we can help others too. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

October 6, 2019October 4, 2019

Lessons on the Road to Jerusalem

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Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4
Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14
Gospel: Luke 17:5-10

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100619.cfm

Before we get started, I’d like to ask how your homework went last week? Did you put yourself in the role of the rich man and write a letter to warn your family and friends? If you did, how did it go? Was it difficult? If you didn’t, why not? I’d love to read your comments. Head over to www.deaconrudysnotes.org and click on the title “The Sin of Pride.” At the bottom of the window, you will check “like” if you like the reflection, and you will also find a comment box. The only way I get better is with your honest feedback. But either way, I do encourage you to complete last week’s homework because it can be very helpful in our spiritual journeys.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is continuing on his journey to Jerusalem. All of these parables that we’ve been hearing over the last several weeks have been given while on the road to Jerusalem. So, after addressing the Pharisees in Luke 16:14-31, he goes back to instructing his disciples like we heard in the beginning of this series, Luke 16:1. When we look at these parables as a whole, there are at least four themes that Jesus is teaching: scandal, forgiveness, faith and service.

First, the word “scandal” refers to a moral stumbling block that leads others to do evil – or to sin (see Catechism 2284). A couple of examples of this are those who act like the dishonest steward we heard about a few weeks ago or the rich man who ignored Lazarus. He emphasizes that leading little ones astray, meaning those weak in faith, see Rom 14:1; or 1 Cor 8:9. Jesus says woe against these people. He says it is better that such a person have a millstone placed around their neck and they be cast into the sea than spending an eternity in torment, Luke 17:2. Therefore beware! He instructs his disciples that they should not be like the Pharisees who cause others to sin.

Next, he talks about forgiveness. We see the need for this in the relationship between the angry older brother and the prodigal son. The older brother in many ways reflects the attitude of the Pharisees who despised tax collectors and sinners, see Luke 18:9. We need to be willing to forgive those who hurt us, but this is much easier said than done, right?

Jesus teaches a different approach. If someone sins, we shouldn’t just ignore it or sweep it under the carpet. Scripture calls for a fraternal rebuke, see Lev 19:17; 2 Tim 3:16; 4:2. But if he repents, if he is willing to say, “I am sorry,” like the prodigal son was willing to, see Luke 15:18, 21; 15:7, 10, then we need to forgive. How many times should we forgive? As many as seven times in one day, see Prov 24:16; Luke 17:4.

For us as Christians and disciples of Christ Jesus, underlining our call to forgive is the petition from the Lord’s Prayer: …forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us…, Luke 11:4. In other words, if we are willing to ask God to forgive us our sins, then we should be ready to forgive others.

Now is this easy? No, and that’s why in today’s Gospel, the disciples closest to Jesus, those who will become the apostles, ask Jesus to increase their faith, Luke 17:5, and this is the third lesson coming from these parables. They don’t think they can measure up to the challenge of forgiveness, isn’t that interesting? Those closest to Jesus didn’t think they could forgive so easily. Sometimes we fall into the trap of feeling unworthy, but passages like this from today’s Gospel remind us that we are not alone in feeling this way. Jesus responds by saying that even faith as small as a mustard seed, one of the tiniest seeds around, has great power. He says this little faith can tell a Mulberry tree, which has an extensive root system, to be uprooted and walk into the sea, Luke 17:6. Jesus tells us that faith, no matter how small, can do the impossible. I think that’s a message we often overlook.

Finally, Jesus talks about service. We hear this really unfortunate story about the ungrateful master who has no sympathy for the work his servant has done in the fields. He tells him to go and make something for him to eat. The master expects the servant to just do his job – the job he was hired to do – no matter how tired he is. The servant must carry on. As disciples, we too must carry on. We must do what God asks us to do.

That’s the lesson Jesus is giving us. This is especially applicable in the missionary work that the apostles will carry out. We see many examples of that, like 2 Corinthians 4:5; plowing to spread the Kingdom of God, Luke 9:62, 1 Corinthians 9:10; tending the sheep as pastors, Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 9:7; and giving them food to eat and drink in the Eucharist, 1 Corinthians 11:25-26. And of course, all these parables leading up to this lesson on service are happening as Jesus is walking to Jerusalem to face his death – and he knows it. The good and faithful servant must fulfil his purposes – he must do what he was created to do.

Homework! Having been nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and, in the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following one question this week, in addition to finishing your homework from last week if you are not done:

As a good and faithful servant, what is God asking you to do with your life? Are you living your purpose?

I think our homework will help develop us to become better disciples of Christ Jesus.

One final request: please join in me in praying for the upcoming Pan-Amazon Synod which begins today, Sunday. Good and gracious God, we thank you for the many blessings you have given us. Please forgive us for those times when we have ignored our role as steward of creation and taken this world for granted. We ask that you send your wisdom to all our elected officials that they may step up the challenges of safeguarding creation for today and for generations to come. We also ask for your blessing upon all those who will participate in the upcoming Pan-Amazon Synod. May all participants be guided by your Truth, and may all of us be guided by your Spirit of unity, fraternity and love. We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ. +Amen!

Well, that’s a wrap! Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Notes: