This past Sunday on the
cover of our St. Joseph's bulletin, I posted a series of questions we Catholics
might struggle with: What is salvation?
What are the themes of Catholic social teaching? Which line of Scripture
captures the "guts" of Catholic morality? What do we
believe about the afterlife? What are the four marks of the Church? What makes
a talent a “charism?” (Some people have said these questions are hard.)
We could dust off our Baltimore Catechisms and other documents
for the answers, or we could open a Bible. The Sunday Gospels from October 12
through November 16 offer ways to reflect on and respond to each of those
questions. The staff at St. Joseph’s has put together a six-week series to
explore how the Gospels for these six Sundays address these questions of
Catholic teaching and tradition. The Bible is the foundation of all that our
Church teaches – spending time with the Gospels is a great way to “Rediscover
Catholic Faith,” as we are calling this study series.
Specifically, this week, we
read in the Gospel of Matthew about the Pharisees’ trick question to Jesus
about paying taxes to the Roman empire. We can ponder how we as Catholics can
have a positive influence on our society and culture, even our government, as
election time approaches. And how we can repay to God what belongs to God
(which is, of course, everything).
It’s been especially
enjoyable for me to work with Father Jim Schwartz and our “video team” to
create a series of six videos commentaries. Father Jim did three and I did
three. It was a great way to rekindle the creative, “Spirit-filled” energy that
once felt sparked by the preparation of Sunday reflections. I’m grateful for
the creative talents and friendship of Deacon Duncan Harris (videography), Matt
Curlee (editing, sound, music), Jim Gulley, and Jeanne Mooney.
This five-minute video
commentary is a sample of what the Spirit has inspired us to create, a way for
us to return to God all that we have been given.
Blessings,
Cathy
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