As I have been reflecting on the state of the Church during the Covid 19 Pandemic, I have been pondering on what the circumstances surrounding the virus have revealed about the Church. By the Church, I am not really focusing on the institutional Church but the people that make up all our parishes and live in our dioceses. I am looking specifically at the baptized believers who make up the majority of our parishes and their reactions to this crisis.
I am fairly certain that most of those who were in our churches went through the basics and received their entrance Sacraments. If not, then it is safe to say that most were at least Baptized. Maybe a lesser amount were instructed and also received their First Communion and First Reconciliation. Quite possibly, an even smaller percentage of those baptized received their Sacrament of Reconciliation. I believe that most people would agree with me that those in our pews have at least been Baptized and received the Holy Spirit.
After all, the Church teaches definitively (CCC 1226) that those who are Baptized receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit.” This is a big deal! So much so that Jesus, in preparation for His passion, death and resurrection, instructed His Apostles with the knowledge that after He is gone, they will receive the Holy Spirit. (John 14:15-17) They were to receive “another Advocate,” who would guide them into all the truth.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-14 NRSV
An Honest Look
Like a profound earthquake revealing something hidden, the Covid 19 crisis has unearthed a view of the true state of our Church – the people and their faith in Jesus. After working in the Church for over thirty years, I have a unique opportunity to look back, with 20/20 vision, and see the fruits of my labor – the fruits of the labors of my co-catechists and all their hard work in local parishes.
As I look over the landscape of how people are responding to the virus there is one question that is staring right at us if we are brave enough to acknowledge it. If the vast number of us received the Holy Spirit, then where is He in the lives of believers? If He is to guide us into all truth then why are so many people leaving our parishes? Why will so many probably not return to Mass after the crisis is over?
Why are the vast majority of baptized “believers” responding to fear rather than the fruits of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, PEACE ….? Isn’t it for such a time as this that we, those who profess to believe in Christ, would rise above those who do not know Christ nor His Spirit, and show the world what faith in Jesus gives us?
Instead, we live and act like the rest of the world who sees their lives as purely earthly, lacking any transcendence. The stark absence of the power of the Holy Spirit operating in the lives of the vast majority of baptized believers is so obvious, how can we not see it? I don’t know about you but this gives me cause to go back and look at the work I have done and see where I may have missed the mark. What must I do differently going forward. However, as bleak as this looks, I am hopeful because this isn’t the first time in the history of the Church (Institution), when the people have gone astray and God has kept a remnant. As one called into the mission field, I must now turn my attention to this remnant and help them draw closer to the Advocate who was given to us for such a time as this. I know that if I can help them draw closer to Him, he will do the rest.
Come Holy Spirit …
Ephisians ch1 vs 13-14. We have to hear and BELIEVE to recieve… going through the motions does not Release Him.
We must avoid the temptation to despair as we look at our fallen world, which seems more fallen than ever. We must remember that God will use the remnant to do His work and draw the fallen away back to Him. Deacon, your counsel to go back and look at where we have “missed the mark” is excellent. What can I do to help restore the Kingdom of God? Help us, Lord, to do you holy will and bring light to this dark world.
Hi Marie, Great Question! I believe that is the question every disciple of Jesus must now ask. “Lord, What must I do to prepare to bring your kingdom to earth?” “Holy Spirit, guide me to the preparation I need to get hungry for souls.” This is the time of the Holy Spirit and we must seek His instruction both for how to grow in faith with Him and how to become an evangelist who leads other people to Christ. The days of waiting for the priest, nun or lay professional parish staff to do it are over. WE MUST RISE AND ENGAGE!
I have read this in other places and your question,
“Why will so many probably not return to Mass after the crisis is over?” prompts me to ask what is the basis for asking that question?
Do we have reason to believe there will be a significant breakdown in Mass attendance?
Great Question Jerry. We already have it. I would ask you to ponder a question in pursuit of this answer. What is the difference between those who have already come back (most of that population are come from older generations who are more at risk from Covid) and those who haven’t? Let me know what you see.
Amen! Come, Holy Spirit! Keep on doing what you’re doing! There is more fruit than you will ever see in your lifetime in the world. However, in heaven the Lord will reveal it when you meet the many people the Lord saved and empowered to influence others through your very important ministry in the Church. You’ll have plenty of time there to celebrate with all of them!
Amen, thank you for doing all that you do