Father Koch: There is more to the life of faith than doing the very least
October 1, 2019 at 3:54 p.m.
Judaism at the time of Jesus was focused on the observance of the Mosaic Law. These laws governed virtually every aspect of one’s personal, social and economic life, as well as specific religious ritual obligations. As with any legal system, there were those who followed the law to the letter, those who disregarded the law in whole or in part, and those who searched for, and often created, loopholes in the law. This last group, likely the plurality of adherents, skirted the law while offering the pretext that they were following it. Throughout his ministry, it was this group – exemplified by the Pharisees – of which Jesus was most critical. Not only did they create many excusing loopholes in the Law, they made sure that these exceptions to the Law did not apply to most of the people. This then placed a heavier burden on those for whom the Law was already cumbersome.
Jesus found this Pharisaical attitude to be most taxing. That is not to say that Jesus did not observe the Law, or that he encouraged others to be lax in their observance, but there were certainly times when Jesus offered instruction on the priority and place of law in people’s lives. While Jesus always demanded moral behavior, he was constant in extending forgiveness, and critical of those who would not do the same.
We often hear the term “Cafeteria Catholics” applied to people such as these in our own Church. They identify as Catholic, but they imagine that their particular view on any given issue is more enlightening or more faithful to the tradition than what the Church actually teaches or requires. Cafeteria Catholics is a pejorative term used by more traditional Catholics, but they are often guilty of the same attitude themselves. Someone might be “pro-life” but only in certain situations; or, they might obey Catholic moral teaching, but find the social gospel to be “meddling in politics,” or they might be judgmental of others while themselves lax in their practice of the faith.
The question that the Gospel places before us is that of the role of faith in our lives. We are reminded that with a faith merely the size of a single mustard seed we can move mountains. Any seed, be it a mustard seed or the seed of the coco de mer tree, only has power when it has been planted and allowed to germinate. A mustard seed can produce a sizeable bush, but only when planted. Left on its own, a mustard seed is merely a speck, and will wither and die.
Jesus challenges us with the image of the mustard seed while placing before us the demands of faith. What are we doing with the faith we have been given? Have we reduced it to a set of simple rules to obey, or the exercise of the barest minimum? Often when dealing with individuals on questions of practice – especially regarding sponsorship for Baptism – the point is made: “just tell me what I have to do.”
The unplanted seed – the false sense that the least is all that is expected – becomes the bane of the Church. Bordering on apathy, this approach to faith leaves us feeling empty and going through the motions because we do not know, or care, about the meaning and purpose of the life of faith.
Indeed, many people keep this attitude through many aspects of life. Teachers identify this tendency in both their students and their parents; this same attitude is prevalent in the workplace, in our attention to civic matters, and even in our care for ourselves. Perhaps we feel too busy, underappreciated, or we just do not understand the importance of matters of life, and especially of eternal life.
It is certainly an attitude that will never get us anywhere, leading only to more frustration and a sense of worthlessness. In matters of faith, this attitude ends up smothering the mustard seed, never allowing us to cast aside mountains.
Jesus poses the challenge in today’s Gospel: on the Day of Judgment do we really want to say the Lord, I did the very least I could with the abundance of grace you bestowed upon me?
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.
Readings for 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time: HB 1:2-31; 2:2-4; 2TM 1:6-8, 13-14; LK 17: 5-10
To view a listing of daily Scripture Readings, visit usccb.org/bible then click on the date on the calendar.
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Judaism at the time of Jesus was focused on the observance of the Mosaic Law. These laws governed virtually every aspect of one’s personal, social and economic life, as well as specific religious ritual obligations. As with any legal system, there were those who followed the law to the letter, those who disregarded the law in whole or in part, and those who searched for, and often created, loopholes in the law. This last group, likely the plurality of adherents, skirted the law while offering the pretext that they were following it. Throughout his ministry, it was this group – exemplified by the Pharisees – of which Jesus was most critical. Not only did they create many excusing loopholes in the Law, they made sure that these exceptions to the Law did not apply to most of the people. This then placed a heavier burden on those for whom the Law was already cumbersome.
Jesus found this Pharisaical attitude to be most taxing. That is not to say that Jesus did not observe the Law, or that he encouraged others to be lax in their observance, but there were certainly times when Jesus offered instruction on the priority and place of law in people’s lives. While Jesus always demanded moral behavior, he was constant in extending forgiveness, and critical of those who would not do the same.
We often hear the term “Cafeteria Catholics” applied to people such as these in our own Church. They identify as Catholic, but they imagine that their particular view on any given issue is more enlightening or more faithful to the tradition than what the Church actually teaches or requires. Cafeteria Catholics is a pejorative term used by more traditional Catholics, but they are often guilty of the same attitude themselves. Someone might be “pro-life” but only in certain situations; or, they might obey Catholic moral teaching, but find the social gospel to be “meddling in politics,” or they might be judgmental of others while themselves lax in their practice of the faith.
The question that the Gospel places before us is that of the role of faith in our lives. We are reminded that with a faith merely the size of a single mustard seed we can move mountains. Any seed, be it a mustard seed or the seed of the coco de mer tree, only has power when it has been planted and allowed to germinate. A mustard seed can produce a sizeable bush, but only when planted. Left on its own, a mustard seed is merely a speck, and will wither and die.
Jesus challenges us with the image of the mustard seed while placing before us the demands of faith. What are we doing with the faith we have been given? Have we reduced it to a set of simple rules to obey, or the exercise of the barest minimum? Often when dealing with individuals on questions of practice – especially regarding sponsorship for Baptism – the point is made: “just tell me what I have to do.”
The unplanted seed – the false sense that the least is all that is expected – becomes the bane of the Church. Bordering on apathy, this approach to faith leaves us feeling empty and going through the motions because we do not know, or care, about the meaning and purpose of the life of faith.
Indeed, many people keep this attitude through many aspects of life. Teachers identify this tendency in both their students and their parents; this same attitude is prevalent in the workplace, in our attention to civic matters, and even in our care for ourselves. Perhaps we feel too busy, underappreciated, or we just do not understand the importance of matters of life, and especially of eternal life.
It is certainly an attitude that will never get us anywhere, leading only to more frustration and a sense of worthlessness. In matters of faith, this attitude ends up smothering the mustard seed, never allowing us to cast aside mountains.
Jesus poses the challenge in today’s Gospel: on the Day of Judgment do we really want to say the Lord, I did the very least I could with the abundance of grace you bestowed upon me?
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.
Readings for 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time: HB 1:2-31; 2:2-4; 2TM 1:6-8, 13-14; LK 17: 5-10
To view a listing of daily Scripture Readings, visit usccb.org/bible then click on the date on the calendar.