Homily: Thursday - 3rd Week in Ordinary Time - "Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted"

I heard recently of a priest who gave a very clear homily about a somewhat controversial church teaching.  Afterwards, several non-Catholics who happened to be attending Mass that day, approached him, and thanked him, because they never understood the Church’s position.  The priest also received, from several Catholics, members of his parish, letters complaining that the Church’s clear teaching turned people away from the Church, and they wrote letters to the bishop calling for the priest’s removal.

I thinksome lay Catholics, Priests, and even some bishops, sometimes fear our own faith.  They fear that teaching what Jesus taught turns people away from him.  That we have to water down the truth to make it more palatable, and then, maybe several years down the line, eventually, gradually teach the truth.  That in a sense, we need to hide the Church’s clear teaching, because it is too hard.

In the Gospel today, Jesus uses a very clear parable.  You do not light a lamp in order to hide its light.  Don’t obscure the light of revelation.

A few years ago, Pope Benedict spoke to a number of American bishops.   He said, “America's brand of secularism poses a particular problem: it allows for professing belief in God…but reduces religious belief to a lowest common denominator. Faith becomes a passive acceptance that certain things "out there" are true, but without practical relevance for everyday life. The result is a growing separation of faith from life…Is it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs? Is it consistent for practicing Catholics to ignore or exploit the poor and the marginalized, to promote sexual behavior contrary to Catholic moral teaching, or to adopt positions that contradict the right to life of every human being from conception to natural death? Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted.”

Our Catholic faith is beautiful, and illuminating, and clear.  It is attractive, especially in our culture which is dominated by moral and religious relativism—a culture which says, there is no truth, there is no right nor wrong, there are only your emotions. 

I am daily encouraged by our young people who, when the Catholic faith is presented to them in a clear manner, respond so positively.  They love to learn what the Church actually teaches.

Do not be afraid to share the light of faith, do not “hide your lamp” under a bushel basket or under the bed.  The clear light of faith is attractive to those who are looking for truth.

May we be faithful in bearing the light entrusted to us for the glory of God and salvation of souls.