The Choices We Make

I was having a discussion with a friend of mine the other day and we got on to the topic of church choice. It seems that many of my conversations with friends end up having something to do with religion or church or faith. This conversation was very laid back without much contention. I couldn't help but wonder how the conversation would have gone if I had been having it several years ago.

When I first reverted to the Catholic faith, I was very aggressive in the way I discussed issues of faith with friends and family members. You see, for some reason I enjoy debating and arguing. I find a thrill in it the way a boxer finds a thrill in the pugelistic art. I think that ultimately I didn't care as much about the subject of the argument as I did about myself "winning" the argument. In discussions where the subject matter is political or philisophical this attitude can be annoying to the other party. In discussions where the subject matter is Faith and religion, this attitude just causes both parties pain and stands in the way of fruitful dialogue.

I'm glad that the recent conversation with my friend didn't happen 4 years ago. My friend was talking about how he chose the church that he currently goes to. There were a number of reasons given which to me, all seemed to center around the experience of attending Sunday services and personal interaction with other members of the community. All of the things he talked about were in and of themselves good; High quality music, comfortable atmosphere, friendly people, entertaining presentation of a relevant message, exciting fellowship activities throughout the week, personal interaction/interest from the ministry team... You get the picture.

Now, I'm glad my friend is serious about having a relationship with God. I'm happy that he takes seriously the Commandment to Keep Holy the Lords Day. Throughout (Judeo/Christian) history, the manifestation of keeping this Commandment has included attending community worship services on the Lords/Sabbath day. To do otherwise would be less than genuine and lack fidelity to the Gospel. But, his reasons for choosing which Christian community to be part of seemed to lack a very important element of the decision making process. Does the community proclaim the Gospel? Is what they teach true?

It seems at first blush to be a silly question. They use the Bible, it's Sunday, I'm at church listening to an ordained minister preach. I'm hearing the truth. As a new Christian, in the infancy of ones faith, there is a certain lack of perspective and an innocent ignorance that makes even thinking of this question not come to mind. After all, all Christians basically believe the same thing right? My friend was surprised to learn that certain "truths" he had been taught were not the same "truths" that the church accross the street teaches.

As an example, my friend had been instructed that the celebration of the Lords Supper, or Communion, is simply a symbolic rememberence of what took place between the Apostles and Christ. Specifically that the elements of bread and wine (or grape juice in his case), are simply symbolic of Jesus' body and blood and that they remain only bread and wine (juice) throughout the celebration of communion. Across the street, (literally) at the Lutheran Church they teach that it is not simply bread and wine (juice), but that something very remarkable occurs during the celebration of communion and the bread and wine (juice) undergo a transformation of their substance and also become the true body and blood of Jesus! How incredible! That is a significant difference in theology. A mile further up the road, the Catholics hold that not only does the substance of the bread and wine become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, they also cease in substance to be bread and wine while maintaining the appearance of bread and wine. When these differences are taken into account along with the fullness of divine revelation, one is confronted with a decision. What is the truth? This is the same question that Pontious Pilate asked Christ (John 18: 38).

I think too often the answer at which a person arrives is based on what they first were taught. A certain primacy of introduction if you will. Nobody wants to think that they have been wrong. Or perhaps they don't think what they believe to be true regarding a specific theological point is important, as long as they believe in the basic bedrock truths (very ironic).

To me, the answer to Pilate's question has to take in to account what has been professed by the followers of Christ throughout history with a continuity of substance. If a belief doesn't have a historical pedigree it's probably a tradition of men.

I don't want to use the same criteria for choosing a church that I use for choosing a restaurant or a concert or some fraternal community group like a book club or quilters guild. It certainly makes it more pleasant when getting together on Sunday is fun and entertaining but the truth is the real substance and is what matters most. Substance matters more than appearance. The same holds true for the reality of the Eucharist of Communion, the licitness of artificial contraception, and the choosing of a Church.

Quid Est Veritas?

Memorial Day

Today is a day to honor the fallen. Especially those who have fallen in battle in service to America.

I will highlight one such hero today. This hero epitomizes what it means to be an American, and more importantly, what it means to be a Christian. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions taking place in Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, 4 September 1967.

Lt. Vincent Capodanno was a member of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. He was born in N.Y. City in 1929 and was a missionary priest with an religious order that is very active in Southeast Asia. When the United States became involved in the Vietnam War, Fr. Capodanno asked to be released from his missionary work to serve with the Navy Chaplain corps in Vietnam. There is a great book written in 2000 that tells the story of his life. The book is titled "The Grunt Padre" and was written by Fr. Daniel Mode, himself a Navy Chaplain. Below is the citation from his Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor Citation

Awarded Posthumously To Capodanno, Vincent R.

Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, Chaplain Corps, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, 4 September 1967. Entered service at: Staten Island, N.Y. Born: 13 February 1929, Staten Island, N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Chaplain of the 3d Battalion, in connection with operations against enemy forces. In response to reports that the 2d Platoon of M Company was in danger of being overrun by a massed enemy assaulting force, Lt. Capodanno left the relative safety of the company command post and ran through an open area raked with fire, directly to the beleaguered platoon. Disregarding the intense enemy small-arms, automatic-weapons, and mortar fire, he moved about the battlefield administering last rites to the dying and giving medical aid to the wounded. When an exploding mortar round inflicted painful multiple wounds to his arms and legs, and severed a portion of his right hand, he steadfastly refused all medical aid. Instead, he directed the corpsmen to help their wounded comrades and, with calm vigor, continued to move about the battlefield as he provided encouragement by voice and example to the valiant marines. Upon encountering a wounded corpsman in the direct line of fire of an enemy machine gunner positioned approximately 15 yards away, Lt. Capodanno rushed a daring attempt to aid and assist the mortally wounded corpsman. At that instant, only inches from his goal, he was struck down by a burst of machine gun fire. By his heroic conduct on the battlefield, and his inspiring example, Lt. Capodanno upheld the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the cause of freedom.

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The book details the activities on that battlefield from many of the eyewitnesses who are still alive today. One Marine who had been attended to by Fr. Capodanno just prior to Capodanno's death attributes his survival to Fr. Capodanno's assitance, but espescially his praying with him and holding him as the Marine lay wounded on the battlefield. He describes having a sense of peace fall over him as soon as Fr. Capodanno ministered to him.

The cause for Father Capodanno's sainthood was opened on May 21, 2006 when he was declared Servant Of God by the Church.