Sunrise on Keweenaw Bay

Sunrise on Keweenaw Bay

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Always be ready to explain this hope that you have! (updated)

In recent days, in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision, many people have contacted me seeking to better understand the Church's position.  How do we articulate our understanding of marriage (one man, one woman, for life, open to life... or free, total, faithful, fruitful) in light of the claim that it's nothing more than two consenting adults who want to have sex (and maybe, somehow, acquire a child) ?

First let me draw your attention to the classic Biblical description of apologetics (the defense of the faith):

13 Now who is going to harm you if you are enthusiastic for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, 16 but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit. (1 Peter 3: 13-18)
Notice that Peter understands the likelihood that one might be mistreated or slandered or even persecuted for believing and speaking what is true!  However, he also recognizes that you might be mistreated or rejected because you're being a jerk!!!  There has been a lot of verbal violence in recent days.  Ironically, much of it has come from the alleged forces of tolerance.  Don't play that game... stay calm, stay kind.  Your words will have a better chance of reaching peoples hearts if they come from a witness of peace, calm, and kindness.  From Blessed Paul VI's encyclical Evangelii Nuntiandi:

41. Without repeating everything that we have already mentioned, it is appropriate first of all to emphasize the following point: for the Church, the first means of evangelization is the witness of an authentically Christian life, given over to God in a communion that nothing should destroy and at the same time given to one's neighbor with limitless zeal. As we said recently to a group of lay people, "Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses."[67] St. Peter expressed this well when he held up the example of a reverent and chaste life that wins over even without a word those who refuse to obey the word.[68] It is therefore primarily by her conduct and by her life that the Church will evangelize the world, in other words, by her living witness of fidelity to the Lord Jesus- the witness of poverty and detachment, of freedom in the face of the powers of this world, in short, the witness of sanctity.

42. Secondly, it is not superfluous to emphasize the importance and necessity of preaching. "And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?... So faith comes from what is heard and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ."[69] This law once laid down by the Apostle Paul maintains its full force today....
 So, with that in mind, here are some very useful articles and videos.  They have helped me articulate the Catholic position, I hope they may also help you!

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