The other day I read a lecture given by theologian Richard Gaillardetz on Jan. 27, to the University of Toledo, Ohio. (http://ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/every-day-chruch-should-give-birth-church)
This was Dr. Gaillardetz' final Murray/Bacik lecture before leaving to take up the Joseph Chair of Catholic Systematic Theology at Boston College in the fall. The lecture was titled “The State of the Church, 2011.” In his lecture he outlined some of the major changes that have transpired in the U.S. church (sic Roman Catholic) following the Second Vatican Council. In asking where the church goes from here, Dr. Gaillardetz outlined two major challenges facing the church today — the flight of Catholics from the church and the use of authority by the hierarchy.
Much of what Dr. Gaillardetz said in his comments echos what I hear from many Roman Catholics in my personal and pastoral conversations with them. Our not-so-new way to be catholic is to strengthen, promote and build the church from below. From a typical United States point of view and framework, the church is of, by and for the people; not the other way around. We should become very suspect when we hear comments like 'being good practicing Catholics faithful to the Church', 'faithful to the Magisterium'. Really! Isn't that exactly what Jesus spoke against? Are not many ecclesial hierarchies of today's Christian churches mere modern reflections of the temple hierarchy of Jesus' time, and the burden they were to the people, their faith and view of God? I think it is interesting that the Jewish church of Jesus' day faced the same two challenges mentioned in Dr. Gaillardetz' lecture; the flight of people from the church and the use of authority by the hierarchy.
Jesus came to establish his kingdom on Earth, to teach of the love of the Father, to awaken us to the Spirit of the Divine that dwells within. He came to show us the way, to change the church in the world, to bring us into a closer relationship with God and our fellow human being. He gave us the model to follow. It is now up to us to rediscover and reclaim the 'new way to be church' that Jesus modeled.
As a priest in the UACC, I pray for the wisdom, courage and strength to be that apostle of Jesus that can follow in his footsteps to not only bring the good news to the people, but be a living example and witness of it. As we enter into the Lenten period, let us turn our focus to Jesus and how he fulfilled his Father's will on earth.
This was Dr. Gaillardetz' final Murray/Bacik lecture before leaving to take up the Joseph Chair of Catholic Systematic Theology at Boston College in the fall. The lecture was titled “The State of the Church, 2011.” In his lecture he outlined some of the major changes that have transpired in the U.S. church (sic Roman Catholic) following the Second Vatican Council. In asking where the church goes from here, Dr. Gaillardetz outlined two major challenges facing the church today — the flight of Catholics from the church and the use of authority by the hierarchy.
Much of what Dr. Gaillardetz said in his comments echos what I hear from many Roman Catholics in my personal and pastoral conversations with them. Our not-so-new way to be catholic is to strengthen, promote and build the church from below. From a typical United States point of view and framework, the church is of, by and for the people; not the other way around. We should become very suspect when we hear comments like 'being good practicing Catholics faithful to the Church', 'faithful to the Magisterium'. Really! Isn't that exactly what Jesus spoke against? Are not many ecclesial hierarchies of today's Christian churches mere modern reflections of the temple hierarchy of Jesus' time, and the burden they were to the people, their faith and view of God? I think it is interesting that the Jewish church of Jesus' day faced the same two challenges mentioned in Dr. Gaillardetz' lecture; the flight of people from the church and the use of authority by the hierarchy.
Jesus came to establish his kingdom on Earth, to teach of the love of the Father, to awaken us to the Spirit of the Divine that dwells within. He came to show us the way, to change the church in the world, to bring us into a closer relationship with God and our fellow human being. He gave us the model to follow. It is now up to us to rediscover and reclaim the 'new way to be church' that Jesus modeled.
As a priest in the UACC, I pray for the wisdom, courage and strength to be that apostle of Jesus that can follow in his footsteps to not only bring the good news to the people, but be a living example and witness of it. As we enter into the Lenten period, let us turn our focus to Jesus and how he fulfilled his Father's will on earth.