Dear friends,

            What a wake-up call I received when I read Chapter One of Fr. David Knight’s book, His Way, in preparation for a presentation I made at October’s School of Leaders!  Quite a discussion ensued which could have lasted much longer had time allowed.  I’d like to share a bit with you, and welcome you into the discussion - in your homes, friendship groups, ultreyas, etc.

            What does it mean to be a Christian today?  Innocent enough question, eh?  The author points out that all religions, from the simplest to the most complex, have two parts:  code and cult. Natural religions (such as we find in Native American spirituality, in the South Pacific and among indigenous peoples around the world who look to nature for their source of inspiration) and revealed religions (where the message comes through a person such as Jesus, the Buddha, Moses, and Muhammad) follow this pattern. 

            There is a moral code that is “natural” to us; we instinctively know that killing, lying, stealing are wrong.  This code was inscribed in ancient times; the Ten Commandments and the Sumerian Code of Hammurabi are two examples.  Basically, they are ground rules that allow people to live harmoniously together.

            When we use the word “cult” today, we often attach negative connotations, but that is incorrect.  Cult is a manner of worship.  When we realize there is Someone bigger than we are upon whom our existence and life depend, we naturally worship that Someone.  This is true if I am a pagan or a Christian.

            So what does a typical Catholic congregation expect when they come to Mass?  Based on Fr. David’s experience they want to be exhorted to be patient, kind, forgiving, and to observe the Ten Commandments; in other words, to keep the natural moral code.  They also want to know that this is how they are fulfilling their obligation to worship (cult).  What don’t they want?  His observation: To be pushed out to the frontiers of their moral consciousness, beyond the natural moral code; and to be roused out of their liturgical routine.  Are Christians being called to anything more than good paganism as far as their cult and code go?

            The Eucharist celebrates the fact that we are the Body of Christ.  Imagine that!  We are Christ present in the world today. We are called to look and think and act more like Christ all the time.  That’s the on-going conversion we are called to:  to share Jesus’ thinking, choosing, appreciating, knowing, loving, suffering and rejoicing.

            Sadly, Fr. David notices, in our society most of life’s decisions remain outside the influence of religion.  Oh, yes, we believe what we’ve always been taught about right and wrong, based on the Ten Commandments.  We believe in the person of Jesus, the gift of the Eucharist, the Trinity, etc.  But when we need to make a decision today on a new issue, many of us do not turn to our faith for insight.  We try to figure it out ourselves, based on reason, popular opinion or prejudice.  We allow the Church to judge us in simple black-and-white violations of the Ten Commandments, but when it comes to what people really argue about today: politics, economic justice, business practices, immigration, the death penalty, fair trade, etc…. we judge the Church, often claiming the theory of separation of Church and state.  Our being Christian, we say, has nothing to do with this particularly thorny issue.

            Does my faith in Jesus really make a difference in how I make decisions today?  Am I truly thinking and choosing with the mind and heart of Christ?  Or am I simply a good pagan, content with observing the basic rules for harmonious living?  If the latter is true, then I am observing civil religion, but not Christianity.  Civil religion is nice, sounds good, and has some value, for it acknowledges the importance of cult and code.  It is the kind of religion that may freely be practiced on Capital Hill or in our public schools.  However, it has no real challenge, no growing edges, and ultimately, no lasting meaning or worth.  It makes us feel we are a Christian nation without our having to take up the cross and follow Christ, or make difficult decisions about justice and peace as Jesus would.  It allows us to praise and thank God without having to change anything of our comfortable behavior and lifestyle.   Fr. David leaves us with a challenging question:  What if I stopped believing in Jesus… what decisions would I make differently?  Now, remember… we would still have the Ten Commandments!  If I can’t think of anything that I’d do differently, what does that say about the way I am claiming to be a Christian, a follower of Christ?  To what more does Jesus call us?  I’m really challenged by that!  I hope you are, too!

            Love, Sr. Edna