We Catholics love history and in particular we love our history. To look at the world through Catholic eyes is to see history as a teacher of important lessons and the source of our traditions, the lived experience of faith. But, the Gospel does not change in its essential truth. What does change is the way in which the Church speaks to humanity in the age in which it finds itself. The Council of 1963-65 had as its purpose to speak to the modern world. To coexist in time and space with the pastoral issues of modern man while at the same time respecting and learning from its ancient experience – its history. That is not an easy balance.
But, Jesus in his divine wisdom perceived how important it was and would always be to have someone with a final say; to have some group who would be there to guide, direct and preserve the truth down through the ages. It began with his Apostles yet, he entrusted that ultimate responsibility to flawed human beings. So our colorful history which is marked by both sinners and saints, by spiritual and charitable reforms, by giants and ordinary folk, by sadness, scandal and triumph continues to trump all other human institutions. Despite the attacks, scandals, law suits, etc., the Church carries on with its mission and always must. "What is God asking of us today?" must always be our question.
Today’s first reading relates an event pivotal to the future existence of the infant Christian community. In Acts 15: 1-6 we hear the rumblings of imminent controversy. Without a doubt, the tension between a smaller number of Jewish converts and the explosion of Paul’s success among the non-Jews had the potential to either establish the Church as truly ‘catholic” or to end it as a failed experiment. As Paul and Barnabas travel down to Jerusalem to meet with the gathered Apostles, I would suspect they had mixed feelings of joy and trepidation. Joy and wonder at their success among the Gentile world but trepidation of what the gathered assembly of the Apostles would ultimately decide.
Well, they were “welcomed by the Church” of Jerusalem as well as by the “Apostles and presbyters” (priests). They reported “what God had done with them.” Sounds like things are off to a great start. But, there were some who would pour water on the fire. Some “from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.’” In other words, these law abiding Pharisees, now believers in Jesus, felt that the new Gentile converts must follow the Jewish initiation rites and submit to all that was expected in the law of faithful Jews first before they could proclaim themselves as true followers of Jesus. Tough sell that one.
Jewish first and then Christian or can one bypass a specific Jewish identity (initiation: aka circumcision for men) and still be Christian? The very nature of this new way of life was at stake. What does it mean to be Christian? This was the first major crisis the Church faced and the end result of this Council of Jerusalem hung in the balance. The reading from Acts stops today at a point which leaves us hungry for more: “The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.” It’s a page turner. Stay tuned for the rest of the story.
Is it different today? Not really. In fact, crisis and controversy is the story of Christianity and certainly of the Catholic Church in particular. At the present time there are 5,000 Bishops in the world and 400,000 Catholic priests. A far different story in numbers and culture than what Paul, Barnabas and those assembled in Jerusalem ever faced. But it is the same Church and the same Holy Spirit who continues to guide and direct us.
One more reason we should be confident as Catholics is the recent appointment of Cardinal George Pell from Sydney, Australia as head of the Congregation for Bishops at the Vatican. Why is the appointment of Cardinal Pell a good thing? It is one more indication of Pope Benedict’s global vision. Cardinal Pell never held a Vatican position and it will be his responsibility to oversee the world’s Bishops. Most new Bishops appointed by Pope Benedict are apparently in a position similar to Cardinal Pell -- no Vatican experience and often no specific Rome connection in their past. This from the Pope who some think doesn’t get it! Pope Benedict XVI is intentionally restructuring the Church with a global vision. I personally think it may be a long time before we see another Italian Cardinal elected Pope. They’re in the minority and the needs of the Church are beyond Rome as they were beyond Jerusalem; my personal opinion which is hardly infallible.
Yet, some still stand in judgment and call for the resignation of the world’s Bishops and the Pope over the sexual abuse crisis. At the risk of sounding crass, “It ain’t gonna happen!” though some Bishops have already resigned, the vast majority will not because they don’t need to. Cooler heads will prevail as they eventually did at the Council of Jerusalem. Our history has time and time again showed us the way to reform is through those who are honest but respect authority and the divinely instituted structure of the Church. As always, the Spirit will guide us in our present reform as we continue to sputter along, trip and fall, fumble and stumble, as we fulfill the mission which Christ gave to his Church.
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