In my struggle with the pastoral challenges of contemporary society, it is difficult to know where to begin. It seems clear to me that in the West the culturally descended church has imploded. The religion of "choice" in a culture of radical autonomy means that for many there is no sense of collective meaning rather it is "what I choose." Even the radical atheists revealed themselves to be subject to this dynamic. The attempt to designate and organize non-believers as "Brights" failed dismally. People simply want to keep their options open. They are neither believers nor atheists rather they are "nones." I have even had applicants for jobs in Catholic primary schools say to me: "I have my own beliefs." Catholics in the pews can also refer to their confreres in faith as "cafeteria Catholicism." The teachings of the Catholic Church may or may not in any particular situation coincide with mine.
My first response to this is that Catholics do not believe in an "ism." They do not put their faith in an ideology. Like St Paul at the Areopagus we seek to put flesh and blood on the object of all authentic human desires and longings in the person and phenomenon of Jesus of Nazareth who is also: Lord Jesus Christ, Risen Lord, Alpha and the Omega, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Second Person of the Holy Trinity.... For this reason, in the Nicene Creed, it is only after professing belief in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit that we state: "I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church." St Paul puts it well when he says to the Corinthians: "For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than man's wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength." (1 Cor 1: 22-25)
Given that our primary purpose and mission is to mediate Jesus Christ to the world how are we to do it? Do we require belief indicated by a conversion of life, or do we prioritize belonging, or is it to ask people to change their behaviour to conform to the teachings of Christ. In short is it one of the nine possible combinations of "believe, behave belong"? the answer to this will determine how we will embark on the mission to evangelize the world.
The answer to this question, however, needs to take into account that whatever we do the Holy Spirit has already been at work in the individual or society before we have got there it is God: "...who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim 2: 4) The action of prevenient grace is just as effective in others as it has been in us. We, however, are blessed to have, for many, parents who were Catholic and strove to hand on that faith to us.
My suggestion is, therefore, since the Holy Spirit is at the beginning of what we are called to do we need to look to Pentecost. First, we read how the disciples, who had been chosen and called by Christ, were witnesses to his resurrection and hence the power of God to save. Thus, they believed what God had done. After the Ascension they waited in Jerusalem and "were constantly devoting themselves to prayer" (Acts 1: 14) and when Pentecost came they: "were all together in one place." (Acts 2: 1) They belonged together as community and manifested this in their communal prayer. This, in turn, had implications for how they lived their lives: "All who believed were together and held all things in common, they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceedings to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with gladness and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of the people." (Acts 2: 44-47) The moral, social and ethical teaching of "the Way" built on their Jewish heritage to change how they behaved.
Applying this to our parishes, we need to place priority on the need for people to experience or witness through us the power of God which will draw them to belief in Jesus Christ. The Alpha programme has a role to play in this encounter and conversion dynamic. As an invitational community we encourage such everyone who believes to belong predominantly through prayer. This can be at the Mass but may be in other ways depending on the capacity of the individual. Through belief and belonging the context is created for enduring and sincere transformation of the moral posture of the individual who is gradually conformed to Christ and his law through love since: "Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law." (Rm 13: 10) It is important that we act through love rather than through duty since: "Love never ends." (1 Cor 13: 8) Any religion founded on duty, fear, cultural or ethnic affiliation or the desire for prosperity is a house built on sand. (Mtt 7: 24-27)
Like missionary discipleship, where the elements of encounter, conversion, discipleship, communion and mission are always present, it can be difficult to separate the elements of "believe, belong, behave" yet the priority of the kerygma (primordial teaching) tells us that the process requires a renewal of the faith response in the person of Jesus Christ. This never ends. Since the Holy Spirit is the one who reveals to us the Risen Lord let us place our trust in him and open our hearts to his love so that even in our weakness God is present: "Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for the good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a larger family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he justified; and those who he justified he also glorified." (Rm 8: 26-30)
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