Twentieth of Year A - I am better than you!!!
August 2008
One of my less endearing qualities is the belief that my way is the right way; even that my way is the only way.
This is true of all of us.
This is also true of all religions and churches.
Every church, every religion thinks that they have the inside track in one way or another. The ultimate delusion is the belief that we are right and all the other religions are wrong.
The General Council of Vatican 11 went a long way to helping us Catholics to overcome this delusion but it is a tenacious growth and keeps sending up new shoots.
Today’s readings show us that the early church, even Christ himself, had to fight against and learn to abandon exclusivity. The same problem continues to this day and will be with us as long as we are human beings.
This does not mean that we surrender to it. Just as sickness and pain will always be part of the human condition; nevertheless we continually do battle with it and try to alleviate its effects.
The Ecumenical movement is at the forefront of our battle against exclusivity. Ecumenism is not an optional accessory. It is essential if I am to avoid becoming a religious fanatic.
Some people, in all religions, would look on the above attitude as disloyalty towards or even betrayal of, ones church or religion.
But one can be totally loyal to ones mother and love her dearly and yet be aware of her wrinkles, oddities and imperfections.
We all love our Holy Mother the Church and are loyal to her and her total wellbeing but that does not mean that we live with our heads in the sand.
Ones beliefs must always be leavened by common sense. Loyalty must not be confused with sycophancy.