Pastor's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (6/22/2008)

Dear People of Holy Name,

The first disciples met with opposition and harassment as they moved from small town to small town to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus. Jesus encouraged them to proclaim the Word without fear, to speak in the light and proclaim as if on the housetops.

As we strive to live like Jesus, the likelihood of meeting with opposition and harassment becomes real for us as well. To be a prophet in any sense of the word means we will be articulating truths people will not want to hear, in doing so we will meet with real opposition and harassment.

At the risk of being unpopular we may need to voice a minority opinion about a policy or a person’s behavior. What we must be careful of is how we do it. Sometimes we can hurt our cause more than helping it by the way we go about things. For example, if someone has hurt me, I need to address them from my pain, not my anger. If I begin by saying, “You always…,” then I’ve put the person on the defensive.

In doing so I am acting out of my anger and not my pain. It would be better if in acknowledging my pain I would say, “This is how I feel when you…,” then, I am calling the person to respond to me and how I feel.

Responding out of one’s pain opens the door for honest dialogue that may be beneficial for both persons. Sometimes we find others were not aware or never intended us to read their behavior in a certain way. This kind of honest conversation can bring us closer together as we realize the love and concern we have for others and that they have for us.

One of the more difficult times to speak the truth is when we see someone we love living in a way that is injurious to their health. This is often the case when we deal with people suffering from addiction. Speaking to them will certainly raise their ire, but is there a way to speak in love that will call the person to embrace change? Because addiction comes with a huge amount of denial, we will probably meet with opposition and harassment, but if we love the person can we remain silent?

The prophet’s role is to speak the truth, not hit people over the head with it. This respects the Gospel we proclaim. It is a Gospel of love and forgiveness for all people, with the grace to change lives for the better, not to condemn someone and walk away. The Gospel isn’t to be part of a hit and run tactic, if it is, we are more than likely using the Gospel to express anger and hate, not love, the kind of love that lays down one’s life for one’s enemies.

What if the table was turned, and at sometime it will be, how would we want people to approach us in our weakness? Wouldn’t we want them to believe in our basic good ness and our gifts and talents, while challenging us to grow, or would we want them to be mean and judgmental and walk away? If we aren’t willing to walk with a person, and even imagine what it is like to walk in their shoes, then we aren’t called to be their prophet.

It is easy for me to condemn bad behavior in people. What is hard, is to understand the environment they have come from in order to understand their behavior. When that happens, an appropriate response can be made that might help them in an understanding of their behavior. I may not like the loud and confrontational style of communication of some people in my neighborhood, but I need to understand that that is all they know, and I need to think of what changes could be made in our community to change that in the future.

Here is where Risen Christ School is a way of making the systemic changes needed to bring another generation to a better place. The children of our school will have more opportunities, and will be able to make better choices and live fuller lives. Being a prophet is signing on with our time, talent and treasure, to make a difference that will help people live better lives, not in judgment and condemnation, for then we are not true prophets, but become part of the problem.

Let us pray that we may be true prophets of Christ, and proclaim his presence in word and deed in a way that makes his Spirit known. The power of God can change all things and we can be part of that process by striving to live as Christ, for the Christ in others. Let us not forget his mercy and love and his ultimate desire to redeem all things and make all things one in his love.

In Christ’s peace, Fr. Leo