What to be a Catholic Means

26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 27, 2015

Mark 9:38-43,45,47-48

“For whoever is not against us is for us (Mark 9:40).”

We are Catholic Church. We learn from our basic catechism that being Catholic means being universal, and our universality is expressed in many ways. Firstly, the Church is practically embracing everyone into her arms. We are young and old, women and men, poor and rich, healthy and sick, saints and sinners. In the water of baptism, all things that separate us, like language, ethnicity and nationality, are gathered together in one communion. We celebrate the Eucharist in Bahasa Indonesia, Filipino, English and any language available to us. In our parish Redemptor Mundi in Surabaya, Indonesia, we are offering the Holy Mass in English and Catholics from various continents, Asian, European, Australian, and even Africans, flock together for the holy Mass. These Catholics are far away from their home and family, and Indonesia can be very foreign in terms of culture and characters. But, their longing for home is satisfied when they rediscover the familiar worship and traditions are being offered to them in the Church. We once again listen to the same Good News and receive the same Body of Christ.

Secondly, our universality is also extended to the non-Catholics. It is true that members of other religions are not part of communion, but it does not mean that we do not reach out to them. Following the instruction of our Lord, “to preach the Gospel to all nations”, we proclaim the Gospel of peace through words and witnessing to everyone. Our service and charity know no boundaries. When Metro Manila was flooded due to torrential rain, our mother church, St. Domingo Church, was instantly converted into an evacuation center. All the brothers were working tirelessly to help the flood victims, and we never asked whether they were Catholic or not, going to the Church or not, giving donation or not! The doors of the Church is open to everyone who needed a shelter.

However, the third and the most radical expression of our Catholicity is not actually reaching our hands to strangers. Surprisingly, it is to love our enemies and these enemies often are people close to us. In fact, betrayal can only be done by friends close to us. They may be our own husband, siblings or children. They may be going to the same Church. They may be living in one community or working at the same company. Indeed, the most difficult walls to overcome are of hatred, indifference and self-centeredness. It is the great fence that separate human hearts.

When Martin Luther King Jr. was leading the civil right movement in his town Montgomery against the racial discrimination, his house was bombed and it could have killed his wife and children. The Black Americans were gathered around his house and ready to retaliate. Then, Mr. King exhorted his brothers and sisters, “We must love our white brothers, no matter what they do to us. We must make them know that we love them. Jesus still cries out in words that echo across the centuries: Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; pray for them that despitefully use you.” The violence was avoided, yet the fervor against injustice picked up its momentum.

Though himself was not a Catholic, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., shows us how to be Catholic. Being Catholic means to have courage to love in radically universal way, and to tear down any barrier that limit our capacity to love and serve. Surprisingly, to become true Catholic begins at our own home and community.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP