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Sunday, May 20, 2018

EXPRESSIONS by Father Ed

Holiness

Holiness is not a very popular pursuit nowadays. It has almost no appeal to the young who are more interested in sports, technology, and school. In the past, the approach to holiness signified an abnegation of the world, a belief that reality was bad, if not evil, and giving rise to a dualistic interpretation that separated the sacred from the secular. This perception of holiness did not come from the original church but was derived from later influences such as the ascetic Desert Movement and early monasticism, and dualistic pagan philosophical beliefs, exemplified particularly by St. Augustine in his City Of God and City Of Man treatise but also later by Luther and, in our times, by Pope Benedict XVI. It is not, however, a spirituality suitable for the ordinary lay person. Despising the world or retreating from it are not possible approaches for most people. Furthermore, they would contradict the meaning of the Incarnation and God’s involvement in the world. The big question is how can we develop a more realistic and practical spirituality that balances both worldly life and holiness?

The Gospels offer us insight on how to accomplish this task. First of all, Jesus did not shrink from the world but used the imagery of Nature and ordinary life as themes for his parables, reminding us that mystery and grace permeate all existence. Like Jesus, perhaps we could imagine a faith that encompasses contemporary reality and find God’s message in it. We might treat the environment better if we recognized the world as a divine space. The Gospels also demonstrate the dignity of every human being, especially the needy and unwanted. Faith which is overly-spiritualized can easily forget this central tenet. Taking care of others is not a side-line or an extra but the substance of faith. Christian faith is grounded in the social care of others. Jesus himself said it is the only proof that we love God. Thus, it is impossible to practice faith without being immersed in the world and its problems.

Pope Francis understands this and manifests it in his pastoral style. In his latest exhortation, Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad), Pope Francis outlines a contemporary path to holiness based on the Gospels and the direct requests of Jesus Himself. Holiness, according to the pope, is more than just prayer but necessarily includes compassion and assistance to the poor. “Our Lord made it very clear that holiness cannot be understood or lived apart from these demands.” He warns against two particular dualistic tendencies: Gnosticism, when somebody has an answer for every question and gives excessive importance to rules, and Pelagianism which overvalues human effort. Instead, the pope recommends the Beatitudes which he calls “A Christian’s identity card.” He also proposes simple ways to practice holiness, e.g., listening to others even when we may be tired, smiling, and not gossiping or talking badly about others. Holiness is a daily practice of kindness, “a journey, and an habitual openness to God’s Spirit.”