Today’s Gospel (Matt. 23:1 – 12) is harsh. Jesus spares little as he criticises the scribes and the Pharisees.
Today’s Gospel is an excellent way to reflect on ourselves as Australia’s Christians – are we modern-day scribes and Pharisees, Jesus, something in between, or something else altogether?
We read that there are 1,755 Catholic schools in Australia, educating more than 785,000 students in Australia. In other words, one in five Australian students go to a Catholic school.
We read that, in 2016, Australia’s more than 3,000 organisations employed around 220,000 people. In other words, one in fifty-five employed persons in Australia worked for an Australian Catholic organisation.
We also read that, statistically, for the first time since Census was taken, most Australians no longer profess to be Christians. Christians are now 44% of the Australian population.
Is something lacking in Australian Catholics and Catholicism – despite Australian Catholic organisations’ significant influence in society through education and employment – contributing to this decline?
Perhaps, we, Australian Catholics, are missing something?
Perhaps, we, Australian Catholics, have forgotten or misunderstood what being a Catholic means.
Perhaps, we Australian Catholics “…do not practice what we preach.”
SEE
Yesterday, Richard Pütz’s reflection was on Reverend Louis J. Putz, C.S.C.
Rev. Louis J. Putz, C.S.C., had some profound things to say.
“YOU, the people, are the Church, not the hierarchy.”
“God is using us. God needs us to accomplish the work; this is a great joy. Without our help, God cannot bring about the miracle that God intends to affect in each of us; through us but not without us.”
Do I believe the statements above?
JUDGE
“The apostolate must not be thought of as “religion”; but a life of charity in all phases of daily behaviour is the objective to be achieved.”
ACT
Can I start today by using the See-Judge-Act methodology to achieve a life of charity in all phases of my daily behaviour?
Author
Greg Lopez