The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, June 20th: Zechariah 12:10-11, 13:1; Galatians 3:26-29; Luke 9:18-24)

NO DENOMINATIONS IN HEAVEN

In this week’s second reading, St. Paul discussed the concept of equality among the believers. He wrote, “Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul then made a bold statement, obliterating all distinctions of race, culture, economic class, and gender. “There is neither Jew nor Greek,” he wrote, “there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

If St. Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians today, maybe he would add, “There is neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant Fundamentalist.”

Paul’s main point was that the distinctions and descriptions we use to identify people here on earth pale compared to the way Heaven identifies people. We are either “children of God in Christ Jesus,” or we are not. If we have been, as Paul said, “baptized into Christ,” we are part of God’s family, and all members of the family are on the same level. In Heaven, God alone is supreme and everyone else joins together as equals to offer praise and honor to God.

Here on earth, of course, we are often dominated by pride and ego, and we are quite aware of personal descriptions and distinctions; the very things Paul said are ultimately meaningless. We focus on these distinctions—race, culture, education, beauty, economic class, gender, and religious denomination—oftentimes so we can feel superior when comparing ourselves to others.

I mentioned two distinct groups a little earlier, Roman Catholics and Protestant Fundamentalists, because over the years I’ve repeatedly come across some rather harsh and uncharitable pronouncements made by Fundamentalists. Some of these statements include: The Catholic Church is the great whore of Babylon described in Revelation, chapter 17; Catholics reject the Bible and teach a false gospel; the Pope is the anti-Christ; the Catholic Church was founded by Satan; and all Catholics are going to Hell.

As someone who believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God (as the Catholic Church teaches), and that Jesus died to pay the price for mankind’s sins (as the Catholic Church teaches), and that He rose from the dead three days later conquering death once and for all (as the Catholic Church teaches), and that salvation is a free gift from the grace of God and something we cannot earn on our own (as the Catholic Church teaches)—I guess I get a little frustrated when I am repeatedly told that I worship each Sunday in a church founded by Satan and this means I am surely going to Hell. I don’t know, maybe I’m just too thin-skinned.

Another point I’ve often heard or read, apparently in an effort to justify the above-mentioned harsh rhetoric, is this: the Catholic Church teaches that all Protestants are going to Hell.

This is yet another statement that could not be more wrong. Section 818 of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” discusses members of Protestant denominations. It says, “The Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers….All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church.”

In section 819 we read, “Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity….Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation.”

When St. Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek,” obviously there were still Jews and Greeks walking around, as is the case today, 20 centuries later. When he wrote, “…there is not male and female,” it’s safe to say the two sexes did not instantly cease to be distinct and different, and everyone suddenly did not look just like Clay Aiken. Paul was saying that in the realm of religious faith, these distinctions are so secondary it is AS IF they don’t exist. Our identity in Christ is so overwhelming, it practically obliterates all these other typical marks of identity.

When I suggest that Paul could’ve written, “There is neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant Fundamentalist,” obviously there are still Catholics and Fundamentalists walking around, and obviously we differ sharply on important doctrinal issues. I’m not saying we should ignore our differences just so we can hold hands and sing “Cumbaya.”

But it would be nice if we did two things. First, let’s remember what beliefs we have in common, including: God is real and He is the Creator of everything; the Trinity, one God in three persons; Jesus is the Incarnate Word of God; He was born of the Virgin Mary; His death on the cross paid the price for mankind’s sins; He rose from the dead three days later; He ascended into Heaven; He will come again; and Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

The second thing we ought to do is take another look at the issues that divide us, and make sure we understand correctly what the other group really believes. Bishop Fulton Sheen once said, “There are not 100 people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are, however, millions who hate what they THINK is the Catholic Church.”

If Fundamentalists takes a little time to investigate some of these rancorous issues—salvation, authority, the Eucharist, Mary, Purgatory, etc.—I’m certain they will discover that what they THINK is the Catholic Church is in fact not the Catholic Church. Then maybe, just maybe, they’ll stop telling people that “Satan founded the Catholic Church and all Catholics are going to Hell.”

Trust me, my goal is not to convert people into the Catholic Church. God has not called me to be a Catholic evangelist and/or apologist. I’m more interested in seeing secular, agnostic folks wake up and realize that God is really God. But in the meantime, I’d like my “separated brethren” to understand what Catholics believe and why; to understand that we are, as St. Paul described, “children of God in Christ Jesus….baptized into Christ.” And if it’s not too much to ask, maybe they could stop insisting that all Catholics are going to Hell.

©2010