Are We Vulnerable In Our Security?

“These are times that try men’s souls.”  I hope these words are familiar to you as we move closer to the 4th of July.  They were written in 1776 by Thomas Paine (in “The American Crisis”) as this fledgling country struggled to stand up against the British for independence and liberty.

Paine went on to write, “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

These words were written to inspire those in the colonies whose resolution toward the cause of liberty was quickly slipping.  I wish, however, to apply the same words to us as Catholics in 2016.  I think some will quickly dismiss the notion that these are times of spiritual conflict.  After all, we go to Mass and the parish church is there.  We send our kids to school and the building is there.  What’s the big deal?

As Catholics, 36 percent of us attend Mass regularly in the U.S., with that number rising to 40 percent globally.  Stats on belief in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist are in those ranges somewhere.

Where does that leave this Church that is entrusted to pass along the faith of Christ to the rest of the world?  Where does that leave our Apostolic Mission?  Where does that leave our future generations?

It is almost as if we are most vulnerable when we feel most secure.  Why fast in times of plenty?  Why risk our necks for a cause that isn’t necessarily our own?  Leave the Sacraments to our priests and the Catholic education of our children to our schools.  We volunteer.  We tithe … isn’t that enough?

Well, no … it’s not.  

In our consumer culture, we cannot be simple consumers of our Catholic faith. As countrymen who have worked toward a nation of liberty, we cannot take liberties with our Catholic faith.  Do we dare rebuke the 64 percent of U.S. Catholics who don’t attend Mass regularly?  Do we challenge others and assert that belief in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist – the source and summit of our Catholic faith – is necessary to partake at the table?  Dare we suggest that we reverence God when in His presence and even subjugate ourselves to the One who is greater than we?  

Nah; we wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, would we? We would rather continue on in spiritual tepidity and not rock the boat.

Those who agree with these words will nod their heads in approval; and those who disagree will roll their eyes, and we will continue on our merry way.  I think it fitting that I end this little note, as it was begun, with a quote from Thomas Paine.

“The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”