The longer this pandemic lingers on, the more vocal some are
becoming, almost demanding, to open our parishes, to allow us to return to
public celebration of Mass, to allow us to physically receive the Eucharist. I’ve been in conversation with many people
who have commented on the blessing, that, in these times of the “stay at home” order,
they’ve rediscovered the importance of the “home church.” There’s been much written and preached on how
the Home is the basic building block of the community and Church.
St. Catherine makes central in her short life, clearly and
consistently through her experience, her complete surrender to Christ. What is most impressive about her is she
learns to view her surrender to her Lord as a goal to be reached through time. The challenge or better yet, the question that
came to me this morning was, in our rush to return to church, has the “obligation”
or desire to return to church become the target of our love, thus just possibly, becoming a
distraction to the real work of our complete surrender to Christ in our everyday lives?
St. Catherine entered the Dominican Third Order at 18. She spent the next three years in seclusion,
prayer, and austerity. Gradually, a
group of followers gathered around her and an active public apostolate grew out
of her contemplative life. Her letters,
mostly for spiritual instruction and encouragement of her followers, began to
take more and more note of public affairs. Opposition and slander resulted from
her mixing fearlessly with the world and speaking with the candor and authority
of one completely committed to Christ.[1]
In Acts we hear how “There broke out a sever persecution of
the Church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside.” (Acts
8:1) St. Catherine lived in the time when the Great Schism began, splitting the
allegiance of Christendom between two, then three, popes and putting even
saints on opposing sides. She spent the
last two years of her life in prayer and pleading on behalf of the cause of
Pope Urban VI and the unity of the Church. Offering herself as a victim for the Church in
its agony.
The Church is in agony today, with many among us feeling our
“obligation”, our “right”, to go to Mass is being unjustly impeded, by the
government and even by church leadership.
Participating in the mystery of Christ is different for us in this
moment in time, and yet the it is the same. Scripture tells us that, “those who had been
scattered went about preaching the word. When [the people] heard it and saw the signs …
there was great joy in that city.” (Acts 8:4-8)
Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever
comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” (Jn
6:35) This is an important time for the strengthening of our home
churches. With great joy, we, who are “scattered
throughout the countryside” and mindful of St. Catherine’s example of complete commitment
to Christ, can, through the building up of our home churches, strengthen the
Catholic Church for future generations to come.
May we use this time wisely in building up the home church,
deepening our relationship, and fully committing our lives to Christ, and to the sharing this gift of joy with our family, friends, and the community we do have access
to now.
