Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
It is no more a question of speculation whether organized religion is losing its influence and power in the West. The data that the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has shared in preparation for the implementation of the Beacons of Light initiative is stunning. Moreover, we say can with great certainty that the data about the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is true also of the rest of the country. Data reveals that in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, between 2010-20, Mass attendance declined 22.5%. At the same time, total number of parishioners also declined. People accessing sacraments declined 19.4%. There was a 19% decline in Baptisms, 23.8% decline in First Communions, 21.5% decline in Confirmations, 27.9% decline in weddings, and 4.5% decline in funerals. Enrollment in Catholic schools also declined 13.7%. The data is shocking but not surprising. We have known all along that organized religion was on the decline.
In this context, today’s scripture readings are very relevant because they are about organized religion. The first reading talks about the statutes and decrees that Moses gave to the people to observe. The second reading gives us James’ understanding religion that is pure and undefiled. And in today’s gospel reading, Jesus tries to correct the false religiosity he encountered in Pharisaical Judaism. He juxtaposes authentic religiosity with false religiosity.
Let me offer three points for reflection on organized religion. Both the data and today’s scripture reading lead us to practical implications.
Why Religion?
In its most basic sense, religion regulates the human-divine relationship. Religions have laws, statues, and decrees because religion is not an individual pursuit. Religion primarily regulates God’s relationship with the community, the relationship between members of the community, and the relationship of community members with those outside the community. Laws, decrees, and statutes become important because they guide the community’s actions both spiritual and temporal.
We see the development of formal religion among the Israelites in today’s first reading from Deuteronomy. As a slave people, the Israelites did not have the concept of organized religion. The original Covenant and the consequent laws, statues and decrees we see Moses communicate to the people in today’s first reading was the faith of Abraham being organized into an organized form. This is organized religion.
However, in the Hebraic tradition, religion was not merely a set of laws. Rather, the laws, statues, and decrees revealed God loving care for the people. They were a sign of God’s steadfast love and fidelity. Religion was the formalized living out of a relationship founded in love. For this reason, religion was not meant to be a burden, but rather it an invitation to participate in the very life of God.
For us Christians, this is an important realization. We believe that God‘s love and care far exceeds laws and decrees. We believe that God gave the world not just a religion, but that God gave us Jesus. We also believe that in Jesus we are all God’s daughters and sons. Moreover, we believe that Jesus gave himself gave us more than just a new religion. Jesus gave us his body and blood. Jesus took Moses’ original Covenant to a totally new level.
Today, I want us to become aware of this reality – that our faith, our religion, first and foremost, is a relationship. If we lose this foundation of Catholicism, then there is nothing left to be preserved.
The Power of Religion
Religion is powerful. First, religion is powerful because faith and religion answer our existential questions. They are related to the human quest for meaning, identity, purpose and immortality. Because religion is powerful, it can become a tool that can be misused and manipulated to exercise senseless power over people. Religion has caused more conflicts in the world than we want to admit. Religion is powerful. However, depending on how it is lived out, it can be life-giving or it can be destructive.
Perhaps organized religion is losing it power and influence because some people have used religion for purposes for which it is not intended. When religion becomes a tool to alienate people; when religion becomes legalistic; when religion becomes the domain of the privileged; when religion is used to dominate, divide, and oppress, then religion is no more the domain of the Holy but the work of human deviousness.
This is the precise place that Jesus’ ministry conflicted with the religious authorities of the time. If we take Jesus’ words seriously today, I hear Christ asking us to separate false religiosity from true religion. Quoting Isaiah, Jesus says, “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” Could Christ be saying this about Catholicism as an organized religion?
Let the data about organized religion serve us as a caution.
Religion Pure and Undefiled
There is not doubt about that. However, the challenge is to get back to the original purpose of organized religion. We must strive to keep relationship at the core of organized religion. Today’s second reading from James is insightful. James says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. Jesus, too, offers us a very clear direction. Jesus says, “These people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
Jesus did not merely raise a problem, but he also proposed a solution. From his perspective, Mosaic laws, decrees, and statues had taken a life of its own without any reference to God’s love that generated the laws and decrees of organized Judaic religiosity. Over time, divine laws and decrees got entangled with “human traditions.” Jesus’ solution was simple. He proposed that Judaism get back to the basics; to that which generated all laws and decrees – love. This is the precise reason that in another passage in the gospels, Jesus brought all the commandments, decrees, and statues under one commandment: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Lk 10:27).
From the Christian perspective, then, at the heart of organized Catholicism, there is one motive – love. Everything we are and we do – our institutions, our church, our liturgy, our worship, our gatherings, and our existence must be the fruit of love of God and love of neighbor. This is also true of every Christian. Our daily lives, our families, our relationships, our faith, our Sunday worship, our prayers, our devotions, our charity, our services, our work, our leisure, and indeed every aspect of our life – must be an expression of love for God and our neighbor.
Too many churches strive to increase membership to defy the data without addressing the real issues. I am afraid that unless we stop alienating people, stop being legalistic, stop using religion to oppress and subjugate people, stop becoming exclusive, stop condemning others; and unless our existence becomes an expression of love, the bleeding will continue.
Today, let us listen to Jesus as he says, “Hear me, all of you, and understand” (Mk 7:14). As we celebrate this Eucharist, let us hear Jesus and understand. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph