ABOUT US

ARCHIVES

CONTACT US

HOME

THE CATHOLIC  DIOCESE OF  RICHMOND

– Necrology

COLUMNS

» Believe as you Pray

» Family Ties

» In Light of Faith

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B), September 20, 2009

by Richard Linneberger

Often when telling a story or describing a situation, the other person has said to me: “Get to the point. Quit beating around the bush.”

Some people just don’t like detail!

The famous phrase currently used is “What’s the bottom line?”

We are a practical people. Keep it simple. Even our newest means of communication, text messaging and emails, use the least amount of letters to convey a message.

“Get to the point!”

The second reading for this weekend’s liturgy is from the Letter of St. James. A mere five chapters in length, it deals primarily with ethical behavior.

In describing James’ letter, Fr. Thomas Leahy, S.J., writes: “The one trait about this letter which gives it its distinctive quality is a concern that the faith of the recipients be not merely theoretical or abstract, but implemented in every aspect of their lives.”

The author of this letter wanted to make sure that our faith was something that touched every aspect of our lives. Faith is not meant to be something purely abstract or theoretical. Faith is put into practice – it is practical.

The opening sentence for today’s second reading says “where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.”

James does not pull any punches! He doesn’t beat around the bush. He makes his point quite clear.

If there is jealousy or selfishness, there is disorder. If a family member exhibits either of these traits, the unity of the family is destroyed.

At work cohesiveness is gone when selfish ambition (looking out only for oneself) takes over.

Each of us then needs to ask the question: “Does jealousy and selfish ambition exist in my life?”

Don’t beat around the bush!

Each of us needs to answer that question honestly. Answering it may be difficult. Most of us don’t want to admit our shortcomings, our errors, or even our sins. I am no exception to this.

If we see disorder at home, at work, at school or wherever it is, we may want to ask ourselves: “Does jealousy and selfish ambition exist in my life?”

True, it is much easier to see these behaviors and traits in others, but asking about our own life is the more difficult task.

In the Gospel reading today Jesus says to us: “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” In proclaiming this, Jesus pulled no punches. Bottom line for Jesus: “Be a servant!”

Three questions then emerge from this reflection on the readings. Take a moment and answer them as honestly as you can.

1) Does jealousy exist in my life?

2) Does selfish ambition exist in my life?

3) Am I a servant to others?

Living as a Christian is neither theoretical nor abstract. The reading from James and the Gospel both tell us: Christian living is to be implemented in every aspect of our lives.

Bottom line: Jealousy and selfishness are non-Christian. Being a servant is Christian.

back to top

Parents should not ignore talk of racism with their children

by Mary Hood Hart

After dropping off one child to his classroom, I was walking down a school corridor holding Anna on my hip. She couldn’t have been more than three at the time.

Approaching from the other direction was an African American man, wearing the uniform of a school maintenance worker.

“Look, Mommy!” Anna exclaimed. “A chocolate man!”

Taken aback, I struggled with how Anna came up with that distinction. Did she somehow confuse the man’s uniform with that of a candy salesman?

But after only a few moments, I realized Anna was referring to the color of the man’s skin.

My observation of toddler Anna’s recognition of racial differences was confirmed recently when I read the Newsweek article “Is Your Baby Racist?”

According to the authors, Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, children as young as six months old can distinguish skin color and begin to draw conclusions about racial differences, even if their parents never call attention to them. According to the authors, children naturally develop “in-group” preferences. Because it’s in their nature to categorize everything, children rely most on what is easily observed.

“Even if no teacher or parent mentions race, kids will use skin color on their own. . .”

The authors suggest that instead of trying to ignore racial differences, parents would do well to discuss them with their children, emphasizing the importance of making friends of all colors and sharing with them the view that no one should be excluded from full participation in life on the basis of race.

Anna’s description of the African American man’s skin color as “chocolate” struck me then, and still does, as a beautiful acceptance of the flavors of diversity. I extended the metaphor with her, suggesting that our skin was like vanilla, and that many flavors make up a wonderful variety.

To pretend that no differences exist or to hush Anna because she spoke aloud something that might have been uncomfortable for adults would have conveyed to her a message that the subject of race was unspeakable, fraught with fear and anxiety.

The word “racism” has been used a lot lately in reference to political divisions polarizing our country.

Many whites become indignant when the word is used. Yet it’s my experience that those who protest the most, claiming no racial bias, are among those most blind to their own prejudices.

To suggest that we are a “color blind” nation denies the real-life experiences of minorities and undermines the painful progress in race relations that has been made thus far.

As I write this, I’m reading the book “Blood Done Sign My Name,” by Timothy Tyson. This true story of a small North Carolina town’s struggle with racial equality after the cold-blooded murder by whites of a 23-year-old black veteran resonates in our current political climate, decades later.

If we claim that our painful history is no longer relevant in today’s political climate, we do so at the risk of ignoring explosive and potentially devastating consequences.

The anger, hatred, disrespect, and threats directed at our African American president by some on the far right are signs of something deeper than political disagreement. To pretend otherwise is to be in denial.

A white member of my local school board, when challenged on the board’s decision to insist on parental permission before schoolchildren could watch the President’s recent speech on education, said if she heard another person suggest that the board’s decision was racially motivated she would “throw up.”

I’ve heard of whites claiming to be “offended” at the suggestion that race was at the heart of some parents’ fear and distrust of the President’s speech.

Rather than take offense or become nauseated by the mention of racism, whites in this country need to at least acknowledge the still-fresh wounds of racial inequality.

Even if their anger with the current administration is purely political, they must denounce those who appear at rallies with guns, whose behavior is uncivil, and who, as Representative Joe Wilson did so publicly, disrespect the office of the presidency.

Political dialogue cannot take place in an environment of hysteria and paranoia.

To suggest that much of this hysteria and paranoia is not partly motivated by our President’s race is dangerously naïve.

back to top

When the Sillies go crazy

by Barbara Hughes

As the debate over health care goes from silly to crazy, some might be inclined to distance themselves or disengage from the debate all together.

However, when town hall meetings lead to shouting matches, finger biting and people toting AKA rifles, it’s more important than ever that thoughtful minds and Godly principles prevail.

Most people would agree that the health care system needs to be reformed, but it’s the how to that seems to have brought out the worst in people.

Though few would intentionally deprive the poor of health care, when it means I have to share the burden for someone else’s care, tempers rage, and the hate fest begins.

Amid accusations of socialism, death panels, increased taxes and monumental deficit spending, people have become fearful and indignant.

Though the issues are different, basic human reactions are not so different from those which inspired Catholic author, artist and activist Caryll Houselander during World War II.

While working as a volunteer in air raid shelters during the bombing of London, she discovered that at the root of all hatred is fear and indignation.

The unbridled emotions about health care may seem a far cry from the kind of hatred that she observed during World War II, but Houselander’s insight may help us better understand the fear and indignation that are fueling the fury that is taking place in the country today.

The economy has given rise to all kinds of fears from job loss to the loss of one’s home. As discretionary spending shrinks, the desire to keep as much as I can for myself is a natural response.

The thought of a tax increase when budgets are already stretched increases fear among those who are already living from pay check to pay check, ultimately, giving rise to indignation which fuels resentment for a system that would require even greater sacrifice.

Others may be indignant because they see government spending out of control and the blame game quickly follows. From Wall Street to the banking industry, to those who profited from the ignorance or trust of others, there is plenty of blame to go around.

With the average credit card debt at an all time high of $10,000 per household, one can hardly discount personal greed. Those who have less, fear losing the little they have, and those who have more are indignant, fearful that big government will impinge on their rights.

So what’s the remedy or is there one? As Houselander suggests, fear needs to be confronted, understood and managed.

While this may sound like pie in the sky to the more cynical, keep in mind the words, “Be not afraid” appear in Scripture over and over. In order to not be afraid, we must look beyond ourselves and see the whole of life, and that includes more than just the physical realm.

While London was being bombed, Houselander discovered that those who were most fearful were those who had nothing to do. The moment they began to concentrate on helping others, they forgot about their own fears.

And so we begin by having a conversation with people who are in a different situation than ours. Knowing they have a voice decreases their fear and when we listen with hearts as well as ears understanding is deepened and indignation decreases.

It’s also important to keep in mind that there is no perfect solution. We are after all an imperfect race as Pope Benedict points out in the book, Jesus of Nazareth. He cautions against utopian dreaming where there is perfect peace and justice for all.

He goes on to ask: “Who is to say what justice is? What serves justice in a particular situation?”

He warns against directing religious efforts towards only political goals.

He wrote that when Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God in our midst, he was telling us that God exists, that God holds the threads of the Kingdom of God in his hands and that “The Kingdom of God is upon you.” (Matt. 12; 28)

Houselander insists that the only remedy for fear is love. Perfect love casts out fear, and as Christians we know that only when we allow God to love through us, can our love be made perfect.

Perfect love involves confronting the grief that comes with fear and indignation, trusting we are in God’s hands.

When Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem, he longed for its well-being. But it was more than just the physical well-being of the people that he desired.

God must always be center-stage and therefore, the Church has a role to play. But the role is not about carrying the banner of a particular political party or being fixated on social issues only; it is about calling people to remember who we are and to Whom we belong. Its mission is to remind people that God exists.

Though we may not understand the fullness of what that means in this life, it is the reality that guides our hope and hopefully ignites the flame of love that inspires us to reach out to one another with genuine concern, dispelling fear and indignation which turns us into ungodly people.

back to top

About Us | Archives | Around | Articles | Contact Us | Editorial | Hispanic Apostolate | Home | Letters | Opportunities | Parish Profile | Shortakes | The Catholic Diocese of Richmond

Copyright © 2009 The Catholic Virginian Press. Articles from Catholic News Services, including Fr. Dietzen’s column, may not be reproduced due to copyright considerations.

The Catholic Virginian is a biweekly publication serving the people of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond. This website includes some, but not all, of the articles from the print version of The Catholic Virginian.

For subscription information Contact Us.