Catechesis in the Wading Pool
Yes, I admit it. The title does drip a bit with sarcasm. For some time in my not-too-long career in Catholic Faith Formation, I did my best to lead Catholics into the deeper end of the doctrinal pool – with the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church as our textbook. And some, I’m still happy to remember, were grateful. One comes to my mind: a retired physician who was delighting to read this doctrinal storehouse in the weeks between our weekly parish meetings. He shared with the class that he as an active medical doctor felt it urgent to keep up with the science and medical practices of his profession, for all those years of his practice, but never had he felt in need of learning and growing in his Catholic Faith. He was sincerely, innocently, almost child-like joyful to discover in the Catechism a precious, beautiful treasure. He was growing, deepening, maturing within himself in ways unexpected.
The “unexpected” nature of this not uncommon discovery in this man brings me still, to the day, a deep sorrow also. So many Catholic adults today still, it seems, are led in what are called “Adult Faith Formation” parish or diocesan offerings, shallow “catechesis in the wading pool” of the near-infinitely deep wealth of knowledge and wisdom divinely entrusted to this Church of the Lord. We the Church were sent to “make disciples”! Learners! Followers of Jesus Christ! Yet we are miles away from doing it the way He did. And our results show it. We are more like the shameful Church of Laodicea of the Biblical Book of Revelation, than the Church praised by Jesus, that of Philadelphia. To the Church in Philadelphia:
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens.
“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and learn that I have loved you.
Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth.
I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
He who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
(Rev. 3:7-13, RSVCE)
Notice what is coming upon this faithful Church – does this not sound ominously near, in this unstable and dangerous world now come upon us: an “hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth”? Wars and possibilities of wars encompass the world, corruption and lies find chairs of power to sit upon, to deceive and divest the innocent, to rape and impoverish the unsuspecting – or are we all just too busy to notice the wolves in sheep’s clothing working for our destruction?
Even this faithful praiseworthy Church has yet to persevere to the end, to “conquer”, to “hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” They possess, they “have” what they must not lose! But Laodicea does not “have” yet – even yet – but must acquire while there is still time, while the Lord still holds out time, and grace, and patience. Church of Laodicea, listen! To the Church in Laodicea:
“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot!
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.
Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
(Rev.3:14-22, RSVCE)
Laodicea has become lukewarm and poor in matters that truly count – in spiritual matters of great value and importance. Perhaps she has the most enviable campus in town! Perhaps her church building has the highest steeple and the best manicured grounds and the biggest and loudest organ (with real pipes!) and the most expensive vestments and statues and altar furnishings in town – but there is an invisible, yet real, famine weakening the souls gathered to her. What then? Then God is calling to her, “Repent.” He says, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.”
God is even now warning us all. All in the Church, all in the world, God is warning us all. Time itself is not an absolute; it is created, and transient: it will cease, and timeless eternity will again be the unstained reality for which we were created! May God have mercy on us. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
