During this season of Lent, when Christians tend to pause a bit, we might find ourselves gathering around a dinner table to ask one another, “Why do you believe in Jesus Christ?”

Someone might say because he or she had always believed, as though faith were part of one’s DNA, or a cherished piece of jewelry inherited and held safe from all harm.

For others, Christ’s compassion drew them into a Divine embrace from which they could, but would not, escape.

Still others found Christ’s miracles as a basis for faith, lived out in decades and decades of their lives.
Me?  When I was old enough to question, I found it was not one miracle, nor even a dozen that drew me to Christ, but the entire miracle of His life, that there was no contradiction between what He preached and the way He lived.  His life was of a piece, like the seamless garment bartered away on the roll of the dice at the foot of the cross.

This is the Christ of miracles and quiet walks by the shores of Galilee whom the Dominican missionary to South Africa, Father Albert Nolan, reveals in two books: Jesus Before Christianity, and Jesus Today, A Spirituality of Radical Freedom.  From the Jesuit magazine, America, comes this ringing endorsement: “If you are going to read only one book on Jesus this year, this is the one.”  I would only add, “Read both.  You’ll be glad you did.”  (Orbis Press, about $15.00)

Recently, Catholics have found their trust in some priests and bishops, along with members of the laity, betrayed by the pilfering of funds from the Sunday collections.  (See “Pilfering Priests,” last week’s article.)

Doesn’t this remind you of Christ’s entering the Temple of Jerusalem at Passover and finding it crowded with those buying and selling in God’s house?  Jesus took a cord, made a whip of it, and drove them out.

Why?  First of all, of course, He was angry over the sacrilegious use of the Temple.  Beyond that, I think He was placing Himself in solidarity with the little people, who had sacrificed their shekels in good faith, only to have them used for secular purposes.

In the same way, today, Christ is close to His people, comforting them with His graces and support, as they recall that He was always on the side of the little people, that His grace would be sufficient to keep them going in His way, day after day, even in the face of grave scandals.

Today, Christ depends upon His followers to help one another to rebuild His Church, as He once asked Francis of Assisi.  In the leaders of Voice of the Faithful, we find such missionaries.  Jim Muller, its founder and physician who battled nuclear weapons, for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985, explained the purpose of the group:

It’s a grassroots organization that emerged becaus of the Catholic clergy sex scandal in Boston involving hundreds of priests and thousands of victims.  We want to provide a voice for the people of the Church so they can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Church.

With regard to correcting the financial scandals, the organization proposes:

1. Qualified parishioners serve on the diocesan finance council in the capacities specified in current USCCB guidelines.
2. The diocese releases to the laity all financial documents necessary to ensure financial transparency in a complete, honest, accurate and timely way:
   • Budget (required)
   • balance sheets (required)
   • operating expenses (required)
   • independent CPA Audited Financials (recommended)
3. The diocese effectively implements these policies, working openly with the laity, VOTF members and others to eliminate omissions and potential abuses.

(Voice of the Faithful, P.O. Box 423, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464)

The laity can recommend, hold meetings, contribute modern day shekels, and yet find themselves lost without sincere, courageous leadership from  the hierarchy, such as that of Pope John Paul I.

This is not the first or last time for referring to this uncanonized saint on this site. Nor am I pushing for his cause of canonization, because he probably wants to remain with the little people, who never make the headlines, or the first table at diocesan events, but whose labors and contributions keep the Vatican in electricity, the hierarchy in fine robes and housing, and the clergy supported as well as possible, but not as well as needed, perhaps. ( The blessing of taking the parish budget to the people would be so they can dialogue with the clergy about salaries, along with health benefits and pensions.)

The article on Pope John Paul I is being posted again for your perusal and edification.  His life holds lessons for us today as timely as the morning newspaper, as holy as a St. Francis of Assisi in another century.

May this great pope, by his example in following Christ and shepherding his people,  bring comfort and peace and hope to you and yours in these troubling times.

Amen.

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