Thursday of the 3rd Week of Lent
Catholic Charities Board Meeting (Not Delivered)
March 16, 2023
Post-Christian Culture
Most of my life has been spent in what pundits call “the post-Christian culture”. This is not to say that Christianity has disappeared, or has ceased to have any influence on the culture. It does mean that Christianity, over time, has ceased to be a dominant force in shaping the norms, values, and thought-processes of Western society. Not only are there cultural substitutes for Christianity, but also, an increasing hostility to it and by extension, to the person of Christ. Cicero’s words come to mind: “O tempora! O mores!” – which means, “Oh, what terrible times we’re living in! Oh, how morals have collapsed!”
Yet, if we take a second look at today’s Gospel from the 11th Chapter of Luke, we find that resistance to Jesus, his teaching, and his deeds of mercy is nothing new. In fact, the hostility we find there is twofold. No sooner does Jesus cast out an unclean spirit from a man when the crowd insists that he perform a sign to show that he is the Messiah. Restoring a man’s hearing and powers of speech seem to count for nothing, just as the good works of today’s Church often seem count for little or nothing in the wider culture. But an even greater degree of hostility emerges in today’s Gospel. Some accuse Jesus of casting out the unclean spirit by the power of Satan. His work of mercy for a suffering person was not a sign of God’s redemptive love, but rather a demonstration of Satan’s power and his sway over human hearts. Yes, hostility to Christ and to his deeds of mercy is nothing new.
Not Us, Lord!
And we may say to ourselves, “How terrible to accuse Jesus of doing Satan’s bidding!” Terrible it was, but how easy for us to fall into a similar temptation ourselves. It’s not that we are badgering Jesus for yet another sign of his divinity. Nor are we accusing Jesus of doing works of mercy through the power of Satan. These days, the evil one is more subtle. Wormwood has perfected the art of temptation!
These days, the temptation is to advance the works of mercy apart from Christ, or without reference to Christ, or for that matter, in opposition to Christ – the whole attempt to create a compassionate social order devoid of Christian faith, devoid of the teachings of Christ, devoid of God’s grace, and this on the score that religious faith is judgmental and exclusionary, whereas the ambient secular culture is enlightened. Perhaps vestiges of religious faith may remain, but its truth claims are largely discarded and marginalized. In their place are the ideologies and social conventions of the day, combined with stratagems and methods drawn almost solely from secular culture. The result is a false compassion that is anything but merciful.
Gathering with Christ or Scattering
Against all such approaches stands the Person of Christ. Either Christ is the source, inspiration, and goal of what we do, or else he is nothing. Either we are for Christ or against him. Either we root our life and work in him, or we do not. Trying to staddle a middle way doesn’t work. Christ cannot be reduced to a sentimental figure or merely an inspirational figure. He is utterly real and his presence in the world demands of us a decision: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
Lent is decision time, for us as individuals and for us a Church. The point of fasting, praying, and engaging in works of mercy is not self-improvement. It is rather a season rich in grace offered to enable us to adhere to Christ more closely. It is offered to enable us to root our personal and familial lives more deeply in Christ. It is offered to enable our Church to sink the roots of its every ministry and endeavor more solidly in the truth and love of Christ, the sole redeemer of a suffering humanity. Thus does Pope Francis call us not to be mere NGO’s or merely private educators. Thus, he challenges us to reject worldly religiosity. Either we are with Christ, or not.
If we are disciples, our very lives are extensions of Christ. If we are a community of disciples, our parishes extend the healing touch of Christ. If our ministries are rooted in Christ, we too heal by the finger of God, even as we bear witness to the One who alone heals and loves us infinitely. The Church is the Body of Christ and we are members of Christ. Nothing else will do.
Transforming the World by Word, Sacrament, and Charity
There’s no doubt about it, we live in a post-Christian world. Our task, enlivened by word, sacrament, and charity is to be a light brightly visible in that world, transforming it little by little, making it fit for the Kingdom of God, rescuing those in need from poverty, disease, and deprivation to be sure, but also rescuing them from spiritual poverty, disease, and deprivation.
Lent is a season of grace in which to rededicate ourselves to that noble task by entrusting the whole of our lives to Christ our God. Thus do we bear witness to the really real world where Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father, pouring forth upon us and his beloved creation the Spirit of his love. May God bless us and keep us always in his love.