Pentecost Sunday this year fell on May 19 which coincidentally is my ordination anniversary. I was ordained in 1972 which seems like a long time in terms of years but a short time in terms of experience. I have learned a great deal from books and lectures but even more from the insights that people have into what it means to believe in Jesus Christ.
For example, one insight that made me stop and think was that it is clear from a close reading of the gospels and Acts of the Apostles that the first believers, the apostles were committed to a living Christ, not the memory of a dead one.
They had seen the Lord risen; they had touched him and eaten with him after his death. He carried the wounds of His torture and death but He was alive. Even though memories are powerful and can sustain us for a long time, I find it hard to believe that the memory of a dead person would sustain generations of people who would commit themselves to martyrdom for a memory.
Pentecost Sunday is the special day when the Holy Spirit arrived like a strong wind filling the hearts of many disciples with the presence of the living Christ, not just a memory. The Acts of the Apostles relates the dramatic episode of people receiving a change of heart, a conversion to the living risen Christ. At the same time, some people laughed it off saying that these people had been drinking too much new wine.
Belief and non-belief go hand in hand. From the earliest days to the present time Christian people have treasured the gift of God's living presence in them even if it meant death. The New Testament relates that Stephen was the first martyr, and he chose death rather than reject his faith in the risen Lord.
We are aware of the declining belief in the risen Lord in Europe in our own countries and among our own families. I see many grandparents bringing their grandchildren to Sunday Mass introducing them to the practice of a faith that their children do not think is important to hand on.
Non-belief which was a sort of sub-text during a time of strong belief, has become visible and sometimes aggressive in the media and in society. It is not a new phenomenon to kick the Catholics but what is new is the whole Christian message is being derided. There is no doubt either that the bigger and stronger that the Catholic Church became, it did not necessarily become better.
Pope Francis has appeared on the scene with an agenda that points to the Church returning to its roots of service and commitment. The Church is learning to be humble; it is a painful lesson but necessary. To return to the main point, we are part of a very long tradition that believes in the living risen Christ, not the memory of a dead one. The scriptures tell us that breakthrough initiatives are always through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are in safe hands.
Fr Gary Walker
director@columban.org.au
Read more from The Far East, May 2013
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LISTEN TO: From the Director - A living person not a memory (Duration: 4.12mins, MP3, 1.9MB) |