Scripture

Many have begun spending an hour on Sunday evenings watching the History Channel’s epic 10-part miniseries, “The Bible”.  Some people have said that this earthy portrayal of stories from Sacred Scripture is helping to bring them closer to the Bible.  Others say that they prefer the well-scrubbed characters in movies like 1956’s “The Ten Commandments.”

Whatever style you like your Bible characters portrayed in, the reality is that most of us know more about Scripture from watching movies or TV series than from actually reading the Bible itself.

Average Catholics asked how often they read the Bible say that they do not read it regularly.  However, if asked how often they read Scripture, the answer would be different.  Practicing Catholics know they read and hear Scripture at every Mass.  Many also recognize that basic prayers Catholics say, such as the Our Father and the Hail Mary, are scriptural.  But for most Catholics, the Scripture they hear and read is not from the Bible.  It is from the missalette in the pew.

Many of us know that we are not to interpret Scripture ourselves, because our understanding of what the Scriptures mean has been handed down to us by the teaching authority of the Church.  But we are encouraged to read and study the Bible.  Pope Leo XIII in 1893 challenged Catholics to take advantage of the truths found in Scripture and to defend it from the attack of those who twist it to fit their meaning.  In his 1943 encyclical titled, Under the Inspiration of the Spirit, Pope Pius XII called Sacred Scripture a “heaven-sent treasure” that the Church has “kept with all care.” 

Scripture awareness grew after the Second Vatican Council.  Mass was celebrated in the vernacular and so the Scripture readings at Mass were read entirely in the language of the people.  Adult faith formation programs began to develop, and the most common program run at a parish was and is Scripture study.  The Charismatic movement and the rise of prayer groups exposed Catholics to Scripture even more.  All of this contributed to Catholics becoming more familiar with the Bible and more interested in reading the Scriptures and praying with them.

We can become uncomfortable when we’re around someone who quotes Bible passages.  Don’t let the ability of people who can quote a dozen or so favorite verses discourage you from opening the Bible.  It’s not about memorizing passages or reading the Bible from front-to-back — it’s about letting God speak to us through Scripture and allowing Him to transform our hearts.

Reverence

We have become a casual society.  It hasn’t been that long ago that people put on their best clothes when preparing to fly, whether they were going for business or on vacation.  Gentlemen removed their hats when entering a building and tipped them when a lady passed them on the street.  Everyone stopped talking and stood for the singing of the National Anthem, and we never addressed anyone older than us by their first name unless we’d been invited by them to do so.

As our society has become more casual, in many ways, so has Sunday Mass.  Not all the casualness is bad or wrong, but much of it can lead to a lack of reverence.

Our worship space is special.  Nowhere else in our weekly travels do we encounter a place like the Sanctuary of the Church.  Unlike the world outside these walls, the church is a place for quiet reflection; a special place that doesn’t resemble the high-pitched staccato cacophony of the world.  Here individuals and families come to pray quietly before Mass and to stay in the quiet presence of the Lord after Mass has ended.  

In addition to quiet, another way we show reverence is by giving a sincere genuflection before we enter our pew at the beginning of Mass, and again when Mass is over.  Many have gotten into the habit of nodding their head and slightly bending their knee – this is not a genuflection.  In reverence we lower ourselves to our right knee and sign ourselves with the cross.

Reverence also dictates that we don’t chew gum, eat snacks, or drink beverages during worship or prayer services.  We know that many of our children have grown-up learning to eat Cheerios in Church before they learned to make the sign of the cross, but unless one has a serious medical condition, food or beverages should not be consumed by older children or adults.  Remember that Catholics are called to fast for one hour before receiving Holy Communion.

Another way we show reverence in Mass is by becoming fully active and conscious in our participation.  We join in the songs and the prayers; we pay attention to the reading of Sacred Scripture and the Homily; and we receive Holy Communion with awe and respect.

Finally, we extend our reverence to the Lord and the community by not leaving before the end of Mass.  Mass is not a “me and God” moment; it is our communal prayer, and it requires all of us from beginning to end. 

Forming our Consciences

          The formation of our conscience is the highest goal for a Christian.  At times we all give into thinking that what we want, or what feels right for me, is conscience.   But conscience is very complex and develops slowly during our lives.  Two major players in the development of our soul are shame and guilt.

          Shame begins with an “S,” as does the word Satan.  This is a good place to start in understanding shame.  Remember in Genesis when God says to Adam & Eve:  “who told you that you were naked?”  This shaming and blaming did not come from God but from the evil one.  Shame can lead us to believe that we are basically bad.  When we do that, we have re-created ourselves into something less than the way God made us.  When we think that we are badly made, the devil has remade us in shame.  Shame, blame, and put downs, are not from God.  This is where lots of gossip, little lies, envy, and so on come from. 

          Guilt on the other hand—starting with a “G”—is from God.   Only with guilt will we have a conscience.   This is the development of the realization that we are created in goodness and are called to do good.   When we are not causing and building good, we’re sinning. 

          Correcting someone saying they are bad as with shame is much different than correcting someone saying that they made a bad decision.  Our identity of holiness will depend on this distinction.  Shame comes from Satan.  Guilt comes from God.

          When we live in shame, we will never feel forgiven.  We cannot take criticism because we are always condemning ourselves or someone else.

 

          When we think everything we do is wrong, that is scrupulosity.  When we think that we can do no wrong, we are a sociopath.   Centered between these two extremes is the healthy place where we are called to live.  It is here that we recognize that we truly are each other’s keeper, and are all called to create and build the common good. 

          The Lenten season is just around the corner calling us home to forgiveness.  Saturday Confessions are being extended from 2:30 until 3:45 PM.   On Friday evenings during Lent all the churches of the Archdiocese will have the light on to welcome us home.  A priest will be available on Friday evenings to hear confessions from 6:30 until 8:00 PM.  Lent is a season of preparation for our journey with Jesus to the great Easter feast.  What a wonderful way to begin our preparation – one in reconciliation with God.

Our Spiritual Resources for Personal Holiness

The late Blessed John Paul II once addressed the avenues available to us for personal holiness.  He said we have confession, spiritual direction and therapy.  He taught that all three of these are good and we need them at different times on life’s journey.  But he went on to say that we should not confuse them.

Confession is the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  This is to be used when grave sin is present.  It is the teaching of the Church to make a confession at least annually when grave sin is not present.

Spiritual direction involves more time than does confession.  Spiritual direction is for sorting out something personal that troubles, confuses, or stalls our trek toward holiness.  Spiritual directors can be priests, deacons, or lay people, and many are specially trained for this.  Usually when the confession line stops, it is because someone has used confession as spiritual direction.  Most spiritual direction sessions are lengthy and, if with a priest, may conclude with confession.

Therapy can be wonderful when faced with life’s bigger challenges.  Here at Risen Savior Parish, we have two licensed councilors on staff.  Therapy is based on recognizing and changing behaviors that hurt us or our loved ones, or hinder our journey toward holiness.  A number of lengthy sessions may be needed to help us work on and through our issues.

In sorting out the distinctions between confession, spiritual direction and therapy, it is also good for us to distinguish how we tick.  We often confuse the differences between desire, temptation and sin.  Desires are part of being human.  Actually to lose our desires, or not have any, would mean we are dead.  Desires can usher us right into temptation but, we have to remember that temptation is not a sin.  Jesus was tempted and never sinned.  Because temptations can be so strong, some interpret them as personal failure.  If we are not tempted, chances are the devil probably has us right where he wants us.  To be tempted means we are fully engaged in spiritual warfare.  Jesus has already won the battle, but we are engaged in our struggles with our earthly distractions and attractions.

The hallmark of the Second Vatican Council is that holiness is not just for a few but for all.  We are all called to sainthood and holiness by our baptism.  We have many tools at our disposal to assist us on our journey of faith, we just have to remember that we are not alone.

Our Catholic Teaching on Sin

We are taught that sin exists within us and around us.  There are many kinds of sin:  original sin, mortal sin, venial sin and systemic sin.

Original sin is the inherited human condition of being flawed.  We are created by God; we are wonderfully made.  Our flawed condition is from us turning from God in our origins.

Mortal sin is a grave, deadly turning from God.  Our teachings tell us the Sacrament of Reconciliation is needed as soon as possible when we have gravely sinned.  The church defines some grave sins:  destruction of human life, willfully not worshiping God on Sunday, dismissing the church’s laws of marriage, etc.

Venial sin is the turning from God in minor ways.  These sins are personal and when identified need an act of sorrow to God.

Systemic sin is likely least known by many but the most difficult sin with which we struggle.  Systemic sins are sins beyond just one person.  These are the sins that keep on giving:  addictions, fraud, political systems, ignorance, etc.  Systemic sins cause and perpetuate the poor, the marginalized; and those we have been taught to ignore or hate.  Flawed systems can be abusive homes which can damage the system of marriage for future generations; they can be political systems.  

Sometimes we excuse ourselves from responsible Christian living by identifying a flawed system, but we are called to literally change the face of the earth.  Fixing systems that we did not break is our call.  Failure to act on God’s grace which perpetuates the sins of our fathers is in itself a sin.  Changing systems presumes the conversion and repentance within our self.  Systemic sin can easily be the sin of omission.

Though we are surrounded and saturated in sin, the grace of God is all the more powerful.  Christ has conquered sin and death.  The Mass begins with us calling to mind our sins.  It continues to call upon the Word of God to be aware of conversion.  The institution narrative over the bread and wine asks for the forgiveness of sins.  The Lamb takes away our sins.  We as Catholics are not obsessed by sin but rather immersed in God’s extravagant love.  We know that we cannot save ourselves.

In this Year of Faith commemorating 50 years since the Second Vatican Council, reconciliation is a huge part of our renewal.  There is an invitation to come home.  You will see billboards stating that the light is on for you.  Each Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 in all parishes of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, confessors are available to welcome folks home.  Here at Risen Savior Parish our Saturday confessions will also be heard from 2:30 until 3:45 PM.

There is a bumper sticker that says:  God Is Not Through With Me Yet.  Our journey of redemption and forgiveness is what we sinners celebrate.