Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
I remember learning about Greek mythology in various history and English classes throughout middle school and high school. Reading literary classics such as Homer's Odyssey and learning about the various gods portrayed in them, my 14-year-old mind perceived them as silly fantasy novels, void of truth, archaic, and certainly not relevant to my modern life. Although trying my best to appreciate the poetic and historic elements of these stories, at the end of the day they were just that: stories. It was hard for me to believe that anyone would have sincerely put faith in these mythological gods, who appeared vengeful, vindictive, and violent. As I read today's Mass readings, I reflected on the prevalent misconception to view Catholicism in the same light. Perhaps we know people who view the Catholic faith as archaic and irrelevant or consider the Scriptures to be nothing more than fantasy? Or maybe they see God as vengeful, vindictive, or violent? Obviously, this is not our faith. What's the principle difference between Greek mythology and Catholicism? And what difference does it make? I think today's readings shed some light on these questions.
In today's first reading from Acts of the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul, after facing persecution in Iconium, flee to Lystra where they continue to proclaim the Gospel. After healing a crippled man, the people of Lystra believe that Barnabas is the god Zeus and Paul is the god Hermes. Barnabas and Paul are unrelenting in trying to clear up this misconception and furiously reject any accolades or praise given to them. Instead, they exclaim that the people "should turn from these idols to the living God." Interestingly, in Greek mythology, Zeus was believed to be the father of Hermes, who was considered to be somewhat of an intercessor between humans and the gods. And if you tried hard enough, you might be able to find some other indistinct parallels between Greek mythology and Christianity. For these reasons, many might fall into the temptation to disregard Christianity as simply another type of mythology. But if any similarities exist between Greek mythology and Christianity, the dissimilarities exist all the more.
Although I could cite a seemingly endless list of differences between Greek mythology and Christianity, the principle difference that I want to offer for your reflection today is found in today's Gospel from John. In this relatively short passage, Jesus uses the word "love" seven times- the love that the Father has for the Son, the love that the Son has for the Father, the love that the Father and Son have for us, and our own love for the Father and the Son. In this way, John makes it clear that being a disciple is more than just believing in a story about an arbitrary divine father and an arbitrary divine son, but it's also my story! In this story, there's an invitation to participate in their divine relationship of love. Not only does the Father and Son reveal themselves to humanity, as the people of Lystra thought that Zeus and Hermes had done in today's first reading, but Jesus promises to those who love God and keep His word that God will make His dwelling with them. In the Catholic experience, not only is it God with us, but it's also God in us- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit alive in us, continuing to transform us from the inside out, and making it possible for us to be instruments of God's healing and love.
Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a Confirmation Mass at which six members of our parish youth group were getting Confirmed, receiving that infilling of the Holy Spirit described in today's Gospel. Building a relationship with these 13 or 14-year-old men and women over the past year, I knew this to be true for each of them: for them, Catholicism was not archaic, not a silly fantasy novel, and not lacking in truth, but filled with truth. They knew that the "living God", not a vengeful, vindictive, or violent God, was indeed alive in them! May we too, through lives of service, extinguish the misconceptions of our Catholic faith, acknowledge God's presence in our lives, and more fully participate in His divine relationship of love. Amen.
Ryan J. Mahle