| "This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true." John 21:24 |
** A friend once told me he didn’t believe in “organized religion,” so I asked him if he would consider the Catholic Church.
The encounter is a familiar one: I don’t believe in organized religion. I’m spiritual but not religious, etc. We’ve had these conversations:
with loved ones, neighbors, and co-workers. They raise some questions.
Perhaps it’s a good thing to return and review the basics: Who is Jesus Christ? St. Paul writes that he is the only mediator between God and
man. Is that right? What did Jesus do? What is the Church? Is it the trustworthy guardian of the things of God, both great and small, as the
Gospel seems to imply?
** Who is Jesus Christ? He is the eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. He is true God, alpha and omega –
beginning and end – of all things. And, yet, he became a man. He became Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary and foster son of Joseph, the
carpenter. Jesus Christ is both truly God and truly man. His two natures - human and divine – exist within his one being without tension or
confusion.
His coming was expected. It was a fulfillment of prophecy. The Hebrew people waited millennia for God to fulfill his promises. The Lord
came – and his coming was to seek and to save what was lost.
Everyone who is saved is saved only through him, through Jesus Christ. Consciously or not, salvation is won only through the Lord Jesus.
Even the person far in the Amazon, who – through no fault of their own – has never heard the Gospel, yet follows the dictates of their
conscience, we believe that even that person can be saved. But his or her salvation is only through Jesus Christ (even if they don’t know it).
It had to be through Christ. The world was caught in slavery, the gates of heaven were closed. To quote St. Paul, we were all enemies of
God. Heaven was open, freedom was assured, through Christ. And so, all salvation is through Christ alone, the one mediator between God
and man.
** While on earth, the Gospels tell us that “crowds” followed Jesus. From these crowds, seventy-two disciples emerged. And from these
seventy-two, the Lord Jesus after an intense night of prayer – chose twelve. He named them “apostles,” literally those who would be “sent.”
He gave these apostles a special mission and mandate. He specifically gave St. Peter, the chief of these apostles, a specific office and task.
The Lord Jesus told these apostles, those who “hear you, hear me” and those who “reject you, reject me.” He intimately connected himself
with the work of these twelve apostles. He told St. Peter, you are the “rock” upon which I will build my Church. And the early Christians
understood how important St. Peter was: the Acts of the Apostles tell us that they would line the streets with the hope that at least Peter’s
shadow would fall upon them.
Around these twelve apostles, the Lord Jesus would found his Church, which is the fulfillment of Israel, and would be the continuer of his
work of redemption, until the Lord returns in glory.
** After his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension to the Father, the Lord Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide and protect his Church. He sent
the Holy Spirit to specifically watch over and instruct the apostle and their successors (whom we call Bishops). From the time the Lord
Jesus walked the earth until now, the Bishops continue to speak in Christ’s holy Name and by his authority. Their teachings, guided by the
Holy Spirit, are the teachings of Christ. And the Lord Jesus says to them, as he said to the apostles, those who “hear you, hear me” and those
who “reject you, reject me.” The bishops are called and given the grace to teach, govern, and sanctify in Christ’s Name.
This is not to say that the Bishops cannot make mistakes in their prudential judgments. They can be terrible administrators. But, when the
Church teaches on faith and morals, she cannot make an error. In fact, the Holy Spirit secures a special grace for the Bishop of Rome (who
is the successor of St. Peter, and whom we now call “pope”) that when he teaches, he can use a distinct charism called infallibility. This
means that he cannot make a mistake.
Now, does the Pope have this grace because he is a very holy person? No. In fact, in our history, we’ve had some real sinners as popes.
The papacy is given this special grace because Christ does not want his faithful to be lost or confused. To be left seeking answers without a
way to them. To be left to figure things out on their own, or to cause division, or even to follow a path which will lead to eternal damnation.
Christ wants his faithful to know him, to know with clarity his teachings and expectations.
** There is one mediator, one Church – led by the Bishops – who teach, sanctify, and govern until the Lord Jesus returns.
Is this a new belief? No, it is found through the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The letters of St. Paul and St. John depend on this
foundation of the apostles and their successors.
How is it, then, that this might seem so new to many of us? Well, for many decades, some well-intentioned (seriously well-intentioned)
people slowly became self-hating Catholics. They began to seek and implement the lowest common denominator to our Church. They
approached Catholic things and teachings of the Church with embarrassment, avoidance, and sinful neglect.
But our distinctiveness is important – it’s our Catholic identity. Our differences are important (and honest): the way we read the Scriptures,
our understanding of the Incarnation, of Baptism and the Eucharist, of the priesthood, of Mary, and so many other doctrines and traditions.
These are not icing on the cake, but essential to the life of a disciple, and essential to the life of the Church. They are means of salvation and
instruments of grace, so essential, that those who do not have them, we say they are lacking something in their discipleship.
We do not say this in pride, but in gratitude for what the Lord has given us, and we say it because it is the truth, and the truth will set us free.
Some might try to tell you or argue for belief: do whatever you want, follow whatever you want to believe, do what fits for you, etc. But
these thoughts are contrary to the Gospel and the teachings of Christ, they are contrary to the Lord’s understanding of the Church, and to the
Church as it is seen in the New Testament.
The Lord Jesus has given us the Church so that we might always have an avenue to the truth, of true knowledge of him, and of the means
which truly save our souls. He promised us that he would not leave us orphaned, and that he would send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to
teach us.
** But, how, you might wonder, does all of this apply to me? Why is this important? Is there any practical application of all this to my life?
Yes. When we see the Church in this way, in the way Christ sees her, we begin to understand our connection with Christ more intimately,
and in a radically more personal and communal way. The Lord seems so close. We wonder: was it really 2,000 years ago that the Master
walked the earth? Because he seems so close, his teachings so relevant, and his love so apparent. We start to see Christ speaking to us,
guiding us, and teaching us in and through his Church. We begin to see Christ the Head, and the Church his Body, as one, indivisible being.
Tension disappears, spiritual Marxism and supposed class struggle is deflated, and Rome is seen as our friend, as our greatest insurance
policy that what he believe is true, reliable, and credible. That what we believe can truly save us.
** But I ran the risk of still remaining in the abstract. Perhaps we need some specifics. Let’s hit real life with these beliefs. Of the many
areas, I’ll address only three:
** Sunday worship. Christ teaches through is Church that Sunday Mass is obligatory. As disciples of Christ, we are expected to be at the
Sunday sacrifice. As people of the New Covenant, we are called to come together and offer our gratitude and praise to God. We offer him
our week, its work, struggles, and joys. The Lord calls us to worship.
** Our sexual lives. Our discipleship doesn’t end at our bedroom doors. Christ teaches us through is Church that even our sexual lives must
be ordered to his teachings. Christ and the Church aren’t joking when they teach about pornography, masturbation, fornication, adultery,
homosexual acts, and artificial contraception. The Lord calls us to give him everything, including the intimate realms of our sexuality.
** Forgiveness. The Lord Jesus teaches through is Church that we must freely give the forgiveness that we receive. We do not have the
option of withholding forgiveness from others. As disciples of Christ, we forego that option.
** But who am I? And who is the Church to tell anyone what to believe? Or how to live? Or what Jesus teaches and doesn’t teach? St.
Paul answers those questions today. The Church says, with him, that she is a “preacher and apostle,” a “teacher in faith and truth.” The
Church is the God-given instrument to teach and interpret, exhort and encourage the disciples of Christ. His teachings are clear. Will we
accept them?
** The Lord Jesus wasn’t trying to fool us. He never lied. He told those who desired to be his disciples, “take up your Cross.” Yes, it’s a
cross, not a lawn chair or a Lazy Boy. Jesus offers the Cross because it strengthens us, orders us and our lives to him, and it has the solemn
promise of Resurrection.
** Give me a repentant disciple over an obstinate one any day. The repentant sinner, even if it’s the same sin, every day, is nevertheless
open to God’s grace and he or she will become a saint and truly “shine like the starts in the heavens.” The obstinate sinner, who believes that
he or she knows more than the Church of Christ, who chooses to rebel and follow their own path, they dam-up the grace of God, God
cannot work, and they may well be on the road to perdition. To live only for oneself is a hell not only in eternity, but even now, here on this
earth.
** The Lord Jesus calls us to repentance. He calls us to follow him, to hear his voice, and heed his counsel. As we assemble around God’s
altar, let us pray for the faith and grace to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, to accept it, and work to live it in our lives.
The encounter is a familiar one: I don’t believe in organized religion. I’m spiritual but not religious, etc. We’ve had these conversations:
with loved ones, neighbors, and co-workers. They raise some questions.
Perhaps it’s a good thing to return and review the basics: Who is Jesus Christ? St. Paul writes that he is the only mediator between God and
man. Is that right? What did Jesus do? What is the Church? Is it the trustworthy guardian of the things of God, both great and small, as the
Gospel seems to imply?
** Who is Jesus Christ? He is the eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. He is true God, alpha and omega –
beginning and end – of all things. And, yet, he became a man. He became Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary and foster son of Joseph, the
carpenter. Jesus Christ is both truly God and truly man. His two natures - human and divine – exist within his one being without tension or
confusion.
His coming was expected. It was a fulfillment of prophecy. The Hebrew people waited millennia for God to fulfill his promises. The Lord
came – and his coming was to seek and to save what was lost.
Everyone who is saved is saved only through him, through Jesus Christ. Consciously or not, salvation is won only through the Lord Jesus.
Even the person far in the Amazon, who – through no fault of their own – has never heard the Gospel, yet follows the dictates of their
conscience, we believe that even that person can be saved. But his or her salvation is only through Jesus Christ (even if they don’t know it).
It had to be through Christ. The world was caught in slavery, the gates of heaven were closed. To quote St. Paul, we were all enemies of
God. Heaven was open, freedom was assured, through Christ. And so, all salvation is through Christ alone, the one mediator between God
and man.
** While on earth, the Gospels tell us that “crowds” followed Jesus. From these crowds, seventy-two disciples emerged. And from these
seventy-two, the Lord Jesus after an intense night of prayer – chose twelve. He named them “apostles,” literally those who would be “sent.”
He gave these apostles a special mission and mandate. He specifically gave St. Peter, the chief of these apostles, a specific office and task.
The Lord Jesus told these apostles, those who “hear you, hear me” and those who “reject you, reject me.” He intimately connected himself
with the work of these twelve apostles. He told St. Peter, you are the “rock” upon which I will build my Church. And the early Christians
understood how important St. Peter was: the Acts of the Apostles tell us that they would line the streets with the hope that at least Peter’s
shadow would fall upon them.
Around these twelve apostles, the Lord Jesus would found his Church, which is the fulfillment of Israel, and would be the continuer of his
work of redemption, until the Lord returns in glory.
** After his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension to the Father, the Lord Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide and protect his Church. He sent
the Holy Spirit to specifically watch over and instruct the apostle and their successors (whom we call Bishops). From the time the Lord
Jesus walked the earth until now, the Bishops continue to speak in Christ’s holy Name and by his authority. Their teachings, guided by the
Holy Spirit, are the teachings of Christ. And the Lord Jesus says to them, as he said to the apostles, those who “hear you, hear me” and those
who “reject you, reject me.” The bishops are called and given the grace to teach, govern, and sanctify in Christ’s Name.
This is not to say that the Bishops cannot make mistakes in their prudential judgments. They can be terrible administrators. But, when the
Church teaches on faith and morals, she cannot make an error. In fact, the Holy Spirit secures a special grace for the Bishop of Rome (who
is the successor of St. Peter, and whom we now call “pope”) that when he teaches, he can use a distinct charism called infallibility. This
means that he cannot make a mistake.
Now, does the Pope have this grace because he is a very holy person? No. In fact, in our history, we’ve had some real sinners as popes.
The papacy is given this special grace because Christ does not want his faithful to be lost or confused. To be left seeking answers without a
way to them. To be left to figure things out on their own, or to cause division, or even to follow a path which will lead to eternal damnation.
Christ wants his faithful to know him, to know with clarity his teachings and expectations.
** There is one mediator, one Church – led by the Bishops – who teach, sanctify, and govern until the Lord Jesus returns.
Is this a new belief? No, it is found through the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The letters of St. Paul and St. John depend on this
foundation of the apostles and their successors.
How is it, then, that this might seem so new to many of us? Well, for many decades, some well-intentioned (seriously well-intentioned)
people slowly became self-hating Catholics. They began to seek and implement the lowest common denominator to our Church. They
approached Catholic things and teachings of the Church with embarrassment, avoidance, and sinful neglect.
But our distinctiveness is important – it’s our Catholic identity. Our differences are important (and honest): the way we read the Scriptures,
our understanding of the Incarnation, of Baptism and the Eucharist, of the priesthood, of Mary, and so many other doctrines and traditions.
These are not icing on the cake, but essential to the life of a disciple, and essential to the life of the Church. They are means of salvation and
instruments of grace, so essential, that those who do not have them, we say they are lacking something in their discipleship.
We do not say this in pride, but in gratitude for what the Lord has given us, and we say it because it is the truth, and the truth will set us free.
Some might try to tell you or argue for belief: do whatever you want, follow whatever you want to believe, do what fits for you, etc. But
these thoughts are contrary to the Gospel and the teachings of Christ, they are contrary to the Lord’s understanding of the Church, and to the
Church as it is seen in the New Testament.
The Lord Jesus has given us the Church so that we might always have an avenue to the truth, of true knowledge of him, and of the means
which truly save our souls. He promised us that he would not leave us orphaned, and that he would send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to
teach us.
** But, how, you might wonder, does all of this apply to me? Why is this important? Is there any practical application of all this to my life?
Yes. When we see the Church in this way, in the way Christ sees her, we begin to understand our connection with Christ more intimately,
and in a radically more personal and communal way. The Lord seems so close. We wonder: was it really 2,000 years ago that the Master
walked the earth? Because he seems so close, his teachings so relevant, and his love so apparent. We start to see Christ speaking to us,
guiding us, and teaching us in and through his Church. We begin to see Christ the Head, and the Church his Body, as one, indivisible being.
Tension disappears, spiritual Marxism and supposed class struggle is deflated, and Rome is seen as our friend, as our greatest insurance
policy that what he believe is true, reliable, and credible. That what we believe can truly save us.
** But I ran the risk of still remaining in the abstract. Perhaps we need some specifics. Let’s hit real life with these beliefs. Of the many
areas, I’ll address only three:
** Sunday worship. Christ teaches through is Church that Sunday Mass is obligatory. As disciples of Christ, we are expected to be at the
Sunday sacrifice. As people of the New Covenant, we are called to come together and offer our gratitude and praise to God. We offer him
our week, its work, struggles, and joys. The Lord calls us to worship.
** Our sexual lives. Our discipleship doesn’t end at our bedroom doors. Christ teaches us through is Church that even our sexual lives must
be ordered to his teachings. Christ and the Church aren’t joking when they teach about pornography, masturbation, fornication, adultery,
homosexual acts, and artificial contraception. The Lord calls us to give him everything, including the intimate realms of our sexuality.
** Forgiveness. The Lord Jesus teaches through is Church that we must freely give the forgiveness that we receive. We do not have the
option of withholding forgiveness from others. As disciples of Christ, we forego that option.
** But who am I? And who is the Church to tell anyone what to believe? Or how to live? Or what Jesus teaches and doesn’t teach? St.
Paul answers those questions today. The Church says, with him, that she is a “preacher and apostle,” a “teacher in faith and truth.” The
Church is the God-given instrument to teach and interpret, exhort and encourage the disciples of Christ. His teachings are clear. Will we
accept them?
** The Lord Jesus wasn’t trying to fool us. He never lied. He told those who desired to be his disciples, “take up your Cross.” Yes, it’s a
cross, not a lawn chair or a Lazy Boy. Jesus offers the Cross because it strengthens us, orders us and our lives to him, and it has the solemn
promise of Resurrection.
** Give me a repentant disciple over an obstinate one any day. The repentant sinner, even if it’s the same sin, every day, is nevertheless
open to God’s grace and he or she will become a saint and truly “shine like the starts in the heavens.” The obstinate sinner, who believes that
he or she knows more than the Church of Christ, who chooses to rebel and follow their own path, they dam-up the grace of God, God
cannot work, and they may well be on the road to perdition. To live only for oneself is a hell not only in eternity, but even now, here on this
earth.
** The Lord Jesus calls us to repentance. He calls us to follow him, to hear his voice, and heed his counsel. As we assemble around God’s
altar, let us pray for the faith and grace to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, to accept it, and work to live it in our lives.
| Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle “C”) Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113; 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 16:1-13 “To Know Christ Jesus” September 23, 2007 St. Andrew’s Catholic Church Clemson, South Carolina The Rev. Jeffrey Kirby |