Standard-Bearers for the Best Ideals of America

Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from October 30, 2005

“You have but one Father in heaven and one master, the Christ” Matt 23, 9.

"THE TIME HAD JUST come when I had been pushed as far as I could stand to be pushed, I suppose. They placed me under arrest. And I wasn't afraid. I don't know why I wasn't, but I didn't feel afraid. I had decided that I would have to know once and for all what rights I had as a human being and a citizen, even in Montgomery, Alabama."

These are the words of Rosa Parks that led to the bus boycott. Her refusal to give up her seat inspired a civil rights movement that brought down the barriers of discrimination in America. She was implementing the vision we find in today’s first reading. “Have we not all the one father? Has not one God created us? Why then do we break faith with one another, violating the covenant of our fathers?” Mal. 1:8-10

Robert F Kennedy, whose 80th birthday, had he lived, would have been celebrated in November, carried a similar message in 1966 to South Africa, a land divided by apartheid: “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

These prophets of human rights still stand as standard-bearers for the best ideals of America, and values rooted in our biblical tradition.

Today's gospel finds Jesus bringing the message of truth and justice to the church itself. About the religious leaders of his time he declared: “Therefore, do and observe everything they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. Matt. 23:2

The scandals of sex abuse and the apparent cover up of criminal activity by cardinals and bishops have received renewed attention in Boston, Philadelphia and Los Angeles as well as in Ireland. Rather than dismissing these events as an expression of anti-Catholic bias, we need to learn the meaning of the words: “The truth will set you free. There cannot be healing, forgiveness and reconciliation until there is full disclosure and accountability for criminal neglect. Forthright confession is good for the soul of our church. Rewarding neglect with benefices in Rome brings no closure.

While we can easily identify the failure of civil and ecclesiastical authorities, it may he helpful to recognize our own complicity though complacency and false deference. It is also important for us to see our own individual roles as teachers of faith. Each of us has a sphere of influence where we can test our commitment to the ideals of equality and respect for human dignity. Let our Amen reflect the willingness of all God's people to walk the talk.