Respectable or Faithful?

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Faithfulness to God was never equated with respectability in sacred scripture.


Just look at those biblical characters who we raise up as examples of faith today. In their own time, these paragons, who obeyed God in their personal lives, were considered quacks and for good reason. What would you think about a fellow like Noah who built a huge ship, far from any large body of water? Or a man like Abraham who still trusted God for a son for decades, even after his wife was menopausal? Or what about a general  like Gideon who challenged a huge army by ordering his dwindling troops of 300 to bang on their shields and uncover lanterns after dismissing 31,700 men in his army?
Jesus himself shocked the respected, religious of his day. He upset their conventions, shocked their sensibilities so much so that the Pharisees thought Jesus was a bad influence. In the opinion of the Pharisees, God Incarnate was not holy but from the evil one. From our perspective this reaction seems shocking but would we react any differently to Jesus or theses holy men today?
Somehow, in the modern Church, we have confused the notion of an upstanding, respectable citizen with the notion of a what it means to be a good Catholic. Pope Francis is challenging this attitude in his weekly Wednesday addresses. In his talk on The Eucharist, the holy Father asks us directly,

 ” Do you go to Mass thinking that you are better than those who do not attend Church?”  

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