Fr. Kevin's Cluttered Desk
Sunday, November 11, 2018
At a baptism the family is asked “What do you ask of God’s church for your child?” and the family, of course, answers “baptism”. The minister then instructs the family that it will be their duty to bring the child up in the practice of the faith and asks them “if they understand what they are undertaking?” Again they answer “yes”. But you sometimes wonder, do they really understand what they are undertaking? For an answer to this let us look at the reception of an adult into the Church. At the very beginning of the RCIA process (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) we have the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. In this ritual the adult is asked this question, “What do you ask of God’s Church?” and the answer they are expected to give is “faith”, for faith offers us Eternal life. The Church offers faith, parents are to raise their children in the faith, adults are to grow in their faith. So if we again look at the adult coming into the Church, how does the church offer them faith? A simple answer would be “rituals of faith”, worship and prayer and by extension, faith in the Father Son and Holy Spirit which would include the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments. This “faith” would also extend into a way of living one’s life by striving to live out in our daily lives the Corporal and Spiritual works of mercy. “Faith” would also incorporate the understanding that there is a God and God has a set of rules he desires us to live by. These are non-negotiable and are made up of the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus, to love God above all things and before all things and to love our neighbour in the manner Jesus has loved us. “Faith” also incorporates an understanding that Jesus left us the Church and Sacraments as a way to staying connected and united to him. “Faith” also incorporates that we will all die and stand before the power of God and answer for our choices in life, good and bad, and that there is a judgement, but God is merciful and forgiving. “Faith” also respects that we do not take God’s forgiveness and mercy for granted, rather we strive to do our best to follow God’s teachings, accepting the assistance and Sacraments of the Church to help us along the way.
The great blessing we have in the province of Alberta is that the Church and parents are not alone in this. We have the gift of our Catholic schools that become secondary providers of faith teaching. The Schools do not focus on the rituals, but they do use them and teach them. The Schools help to reinforce what the parents and Church are trying to teach. Faith begins in the home but it is lived out in community, school community, parish community, community at large. But it always starts at home. Let us thank God for the gift of our Catholic Schools and may we work hard to support them, assist them, and if necessary fight hard for them. They are a precious gift, we need to care for them.
Peace Fr. Kevin
The great blessing we have in the province of Alberta is that the Church and parents are not alone in this. We have the gift of our Catholic schools that become secondary providers of faith teaching. The Schools do not focus on the rituals, but they do use them and teach them. The Schools help to reinforce what the parents and Church are trying to teach. Faith begins in the home but it is lived out in community, school community, parish community, community at large. But it always starts at home. Let us thank God for the gift of our Catholic Schools and may we work hard to support them, assist them, and if necessary fight hard for them. They are a precious gift, we need to care for them.
Peace Fr. Kevin
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