23rd Sunday - Planning for our Mission

During the Engaged Encounter weekends one of the themes is family traditions. The couples reflect upon what family traditions they have and what are they bringing to the marriage. The goal, reflect now, so that future conflicts can be avoided.

Growing up, our family almost always ate dinner around 5:30pm. To this very day, that is my preferred time to eat. So when I need to eat later (like tonight)...I can get just a bit stressed.

Of course, that is a benign tradition. Some traditions and customs, maybe need some more reflection.

A favorite penance I like to give...btw, penance is not about punishment for sins, it is a tool to either make amends or move forward...anyway, a penance I like to give, especially to young persons...I tell them to reflect on what kind of person they want to be as they become adults.

Not what occupation..but the quality of the person they want to be. Do they wish to be trustworthy, well liked, at peace, respected… Then I tell them that to achieve this goal, they, as do all of us, need to make the correct choices now that make that happen. I also have them write it down, so that they can always go back to it.

Long term planning demonstrates a level of maturity. Can we give up a short term pleasure for the good of something that will happen later. Psychologists test children on this with cookies and such. If the child, who is left alone with one cookie, can resist not eating it while alone in a room, they can get two later. Some children will, some will not. If were me and a chocolate chip cookie (especially a homemade one from my mom)...soooo hard!

Financial planners also tells us to work now for our retirement.

When we declare, as we do each week, that we believe in Jesus Christ, we declare before all others here, that we believe in something bigger and greater than ourselves.

We declare our belief in a way of life that builds up this world, in which all people can experience the fullness of life.

We declare that we will participate in this way of life to the best of our abilities. We will hope in this mission, even though we make not completion of this, because we know it is for the good of all.

Everyone now and then we all need to sit back, reflect on that mission.

We ask ourselves what hinders our participation.

Jesus brings up family. Not that we are to literally “hate” family, but sometimes our family customs and traditions, which we mostly unconsciously absorb, can hinder this. Like prejudices, that subtle sexism, selfish attitudes...these can hurt us in the long run.

If I insisted on eating dinner every day at 5:30pm, that would mean I could not do the 5pm masses, and I could only accept dinner invites as long as they were for 5:30pm. Really, not acceptable, and it is not really who I am (at least I hope).

Even our family from church  I have encountered people, converts and such, from more fundamentalistic christian faiths, and they bring this black and white attitude, a high degree of rigor with them. It ended up hurting their adult relationships, some it hindered their acceptance of the Catholic faith...remaining literalistic when we are not.  

Recently when I was at the Shakespeare festival I was at a seminar; people asked why in Utah musicals, in particular, “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat”were so popular. The answer was proposed that because “family” is a value in Utah and that musicals tend to be family friendly. Yet within the same seminar, discussion on a play about suicide and depression also occurred (Every Brilliant Thing”). It was mentioned that this play would be toured throughout high schools in Utah, because apparently Utah has one of the highest rates of teen suicide. Seems to me there is a contradiction??

Likewise, I encounter a lot of Catholic who feel it is fine to show up every now and then, get their kids through first communion and/or confirmation, and call it good. God forbid the matter be raised about bringing the child to mass on weekends.

Many priests will share the basic story of being called to anoint someone who is dying. The person was baptized catholic, but hasn’t practiced the faith for decades, and yet they need to get that prayer and little bit of oil on their head…

What is our long term planning as Catholics? How are we involved?

I have repeated often that we are losing our young people from the Catholic faith.  They do not reject God, but they do not see our way of believing in God making any difference, they do not see the relevance, they do not see us making it our mission to help make this world a better place.  So they go elsewhere, where they can make a difference.  Yet, we do make and can make a difference.

Believing in Christ and his way; the way of love, the way of living with mercy, compassion, humility, the way of giving of ourselves for the good of others, the way of giving of ourselves to help create a world of justice…

For centuries, Catholics created hospitals and schools, orphanages and care centers.

It was belief in Christ that spurred Theresa of Calcutta to care for the poorest of the poor.

It was belief in Christ that spurred Damien to go and care for lepers in Hawaii.

It was belief in Christ the moved Oscar Romero to speak out for the dignity of the poor in El Salvador.

It was love of Christ that motivated Dorothy Day to work for the workers in this country.

It is the belief in Christ that moves others to care for the environment, to end homelessness, to end the killing of life through abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia; 

Belief in Christ is why we have Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada.

Belief in the way of Christ that we speak up for immigrants and their protection.

Belief in Christ that we forgive those who hurt us.

That we give with generosity.

That as families, faith and family time is placed first. Sports, leisure move down the list.

Our mission remains the same since the very beginning. God created all to be one with heaven. God created us to help make that happen.

How will we make it happen?