January 2, 2011: Susan wrestles with Theology
Susan decided she needed to listen to God to discover/discern what it was He was asking her to do with her life. As she began to listen to God, some questions came to her heart. She realized she would spend the rest of her life answering these questions, but now, she had to ask the questions: "Who is God?" She had been told He is all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful. Was all that true? Did she believe it? Then, it didn't take long for her to ask questions about this Church in which she belonged. Who started the Catholic Church? How did it begin? How does it stay in operation today? She realized it followed that she needed to also ask, "Who is the Church?" As she studied, she realized the Church was not just a "what" but also a "who."
Susan had been told the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ. The Church celebrates a few "birth"days. The Eucharist, the heart and soul of the Roman Catholic Church was "born" at the Last Supper. Like every year prior, Jesus and his faithful Jewish friends gathered together for the Passover meal. However, at this particular Passover Meal, Jesus was doing something very different with the ritual. He was the Lamb that was to be slain for our sins and our salvation. This bread and wine was to become/ is his body and blood. Reconciliation, redemption of the world, was born on Good Friday when our Lord took Sin upon himself on the cross and died for us. In his resurrection, death no longer had power over us but was the entry point into new life with God. When Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended into Heaven, the road was paved for the third "birth"day of the Church, Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. They realized no longer could they hide in the upper room concerned about what the political leaders would do to them; it was time to tell the world about the life, death and resurrection of our Lord. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, would guide them.
As the Holy Spirit was "guiding" them, they were being martyred one by one. How were they to continue to bring the good news to the people? Apparently, to them, since everything had been handed over to them by the Father, through the Son in the Holy Spirit, they were to call forth new apostles. When these apostles began many communities, it was observed someone needed to stay and take care of the spiritual and physical needs of the people within these communities; someone to continue to speak in the name of the apostles.
And, so guided by that same Holy spirit that guided the infant Church, apostles today (bishops) continue to place their representatives in the communities to take care of the spiritual needs (priests) and to care for the poor and needy (deacons.)
As Susan was learning this, she thought maybe she was called to be a priest too, but she realized all priests were men. Every Sunday she sees what a diocesan priest does: he hears confessions and celebrates mass. During the week, he runs the parish. He dresses in black with a white collar and takes care of the people of that parish. He gives up a wife and children of his own to be able to take care of his parish-- and more importantly-- to be a visible sign that this life is about getting everyone to Heaven. She sees this, she finds this life attractive, so why isn't she allowed to do this?
As Susan studied the lives of priests and the lives of other people who serve the church, she had a very startling realization: Father can practically delegate all of his teaching role, though he should still teach his people. Father can delegate all of his governing role of a parish, though he should still lead the parish. But he could not delegate very much of his sanctifying role such as absolving sins (though many people besides a priest hears sins.) Since sins are forgiven in the anointing of the sick, he could not delegate that. He could not delegate confecting the Eucharist (The Mass; Changing bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.) A deacon can baptize, witness marriages, and pray at funeral liturgies. Practically everything Susan found attractive about priesthood she could partake in! Why not the rest of it?
Susan realized in her studies, theological language is just as real as scientific language. Both realities come from the same Creator. Not too many people question why men/husbands/dads are not the ones having babies. Everyone agrees and does not try to change the biological (scientific) reality that women/wives/moms have babies. A theological reality is that God is called Father: Jesus tells us this in sacred scripture multiple times. God the Father sent his Son into the world. This theological reality is also told to us many times in scriptures. Both of these realities hold throughout all of Tradition. The apostles, all men, standing in the person of Jesus Christ the head, were able to allow Jesus to continue to do what Jesus always does: confect the Eucharist and absolve sins. It is Jesus himself who does this in the person of the priest. In all other things that Susan finds attractive, she can be his instrument. There are times, however, when the priest/bishop is much more than simply being his instrument. At those moments, Jesus is the one who works completely in the person of the priest.
Susan remembers this question and answer in her grade school religion classes: Q: "Why can't women be priests?" A: "Please pray the Lord's Prayer for me." Q: "Our Father" A: interrupting says, "Our What? Our Who?" What would all priests be if you said, Our Mother? And our Mother sent her only daughter into the world?" Every time Susan remembers the class would answer, "girls." A: "Right. Girls. But, Our Father sent his only son into the world; the priest stands completely in the person of Jesus Christ; so all priests are..." Q: "Boys."
Susan also remembered she believed in an all powerful God. If God is unable to make a woman a priest because His church guided by the Holy spirit (God) won't allow it, then this is a pretty weak God who is having contradictory thoughts even in his One-ness. On the one hand, God (Father? Son?) wants there to be women priests. On the other hand, God the Holy Spirit guiding the Church only calls men to be priests. Holy Scholars in the Church have been praying over this position for centuries; they have not been stubborn. They have prayerfully looked at the reasons for women ordination and while the reasons are presented passionately are not convincing. God is not weak against himself; God is consistent with Himself and therefore with the Church He is guiding. Susan also remembered she believed in an all loving God. Only a cruel God would call her to something she cannot be.
So, if Susan is attracted to priesthood but believes she is not called to be a priest, what is it she is called to? Susan discerns and begins to believe this feeling of being attracted to the priesthood may be a call to consider looking at religious life.
Susan had been told the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ. The Church celebrates a few "birth"days. The Eucharist, the heart and soul of the Roman Catholic Church was "born" at the Last Supper. Like every year prior, Jesus and his faithful Jewish friends gathered together for the Passover meal. However, at this particular Passover Meal, Jesus was doing something very different with the ritual. He was the Lamb that was to be slain for our sins and our salvation. This bread and wine was to become/ is his body and blood. Reconciliation, redemption of the world, was born on Good Friday when our Lord took Sin upon himself on the cross and died for us. In his resurrection, death no longer had power over us but was the entry point into new life with God. When Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended into Heaven, the road was paved for the third "birth"day of the Church, Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. They realized no longer could they hide in the upper room concerned about what the political leaders would do to them; it was time to tell the world about the life, death and resurrection of our Lord. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, would guide them.
As the Holy Spirit was "guiding" them, they were being martyred one by one. How were they to continue to bring the good news to the people? Apparently, to them, since everything had been handed over to them by the Father, through the Son in the Holy Spirit, they were to call forth new apostles. When these apostles began many communities, it was observed someone needed to stay and take care of the spiritual and physical needs of the people within these communities; someone to continue to speak in the name of the apostles.
And, so guided by that same Holy spirit that guided the infant Church, apostles today (bishops) continue to place their representatives in the communities to take care of the spiritual needs (priests) and to care for the poor and needy (deacons.)
As Susan was learning this, she thought maybe she was called to be a priest too, but she realized all priests were men. Every Sunday she sees what a diocesan priest does: he hears confessions and celebrates mass. During the week, he runs the parish. He dresses in black with a white collar and takes care of the people of that parish. He gives up a wife and children of his own to be able to take care of his parish-- and more importantly-- to be a visible sign that this life is about getting everyone to Heaven. She sees this, she finds this life attractive, so why isn't she allowed to do this?
As Susan studied the lives of priests and the lives of other people who serve the church, she had a very startling realization: Father can practically delegate all of his teaching role, though he should still teach his people. Father can delegate all of his governing role of a parish, though he should still lead the parish. But he could not delegate very much of his sanctifying role such as absolving sins (though many people besides a priest hears sins.) Since sins are forgiven in the anointing of the sick, he could not delegate that. He could not delegate confecting the Eucharist (The Mass; Changing bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.) A deacon can baptize, witness marriages, and pray at funeral liturgies. Practically everything Susan found attractive about priesthood she could partake in! Why not the rest of it?
Susan realized in her studies, theological language is just as real as scientific language. Both realities come from the same Creator. Not too many people question why men/husbands/dads are not the ones having babies. Everyone agrees and does not try to change the biological (scientific) reality that women/wives/moms have babies. A theological reality is that God is called Father: Jesus tells us this in sacred scripture multiple times. God the Father sent his Son into the world. This theological reality is also told to us many times in scriptures. Both of these realities hold throughout all of Tradition. The apostles, all men, standing in the person of Jesus Christ the head, were able to allow Jesus to continue to do what Jesus always does: confect the Eucharist and absolve sins. It is Jesus himself who does this in the person of the priest. In all other things that Susan finds attractive, she can be his instrument. There are times, however, when the priest/bishop is much more than simply being his instrument. At those moments, Jesus is the one who works completely in the person of the priest.
Susan remembers this question and answer in her grade school religion classes: Q: "Why can't women be priests?" A: "Please pray the Lord's Prayer for me." Q: "Our Father" A: interrupting says, "Our What? Our Who?" What would all priests be if you said, Our Mother? And our Mother sent her only daughter into the world?" Every time Susan remembers the class would answer, "girls." A: "Right. Girls. But, Our Father sent his only son into the world; the priest stands completely in the person of Jesus Christ; so all priests are..." Q: "Boys."
Susan also remembered she believed in an all powerful God. If God is unable to make a woman a priest because His church guided by the Holy spirit (God) won't allow it, then this is a pretty weak God who is having contradictory thoughts even in his One-ness. On the one hand, God (Father? Son?) wants there to be women priests. On the other hand, God the Holy Spirit guiding the Church only calls men to be priests. Holy Scholars in the Church have been praying over this position for centuries; they have not been stubborn. They have prayerfully looked at the reasons for women ordination and while the reasons are presented passionately are not convincing. God is not weak against himself; God is consistent with Himself and therefore with the Church He is guiding. Susan also remembered she believed in an all loving God. Only a cruel God would call her to something she cannot be.
So, if Susan is attracted to priesthood but believes she is not called to be a priest, what is it she is called to? Susan discerns and begins to believe this feeling of being attracted to the priesthood may be a call to consider looking at religious life.
posted by Fr. Joe Corel at
2:21 PM
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