Free Commitment

Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from July 01, 2007

"'Lord, let me go first and bury my father,' But he answered him, 'Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.'" Luke 9:61

This does not sound like a family-friendly gospel!

With the dedication of a library to his memory, attention has been given to the heritage of Billy Graham in American life. He has stood for the importance of a personal decision for Christ. This contrasts with the traditional Catholic emphasis. We receive our faith from our family and community. Baptists wonder why we christen infants, when they are not free to choose their identity, and have no awareness of the meaning of Christianity. We are brought to church by our parents. Throughout our lives many of us are carried along by our families like corks on a stream.

Yet, what mother refuses to embrace a new born child because the child cannot yet articulate love or faith? In fact, it is the embrace of trust that enables the child to respond in love. While that is so, and while the church like a mother, welcomes a newborn member, increasingly our Catholic tradition has allowed for a role of choice and decision. Confirmation is seen as a moment when the growing adolescent makes a free commitment to walk before the bishop to assert an identity.

We are here at this Mass perhaps because it is Sunday and we comply with a precept of the church. Still, more and more of us come because we want to be here. We gradually grow into the freedom of the Spirit promised with Confirmation. The great number of St. Charles' young adults are not pushed by parents or tugged at by children. They come on their own.

During the Communion Rite, the priest announces, "Happy are those who are called to his supper." There is a world of difference between fulfilling an obligation, and responding to an invitation. When Jesus called the first disciples, they had to choose between the constraints of their families' allegiance to Mosaic strictures, and the new wine of the covenant.

"Brothers and sisters, for freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery." Gal 5:1

In today's liturgy let the assembly sing forth with abandon the Great Amen that consummates the Eucharistic Prayer. Let us individually walk up the aisle for communion as resolutely as Jesus faced Jerusalem. So be it. Let it be. Amen.