What do we know about our Christian faith?

This week’s Mediahuis/INM Irish regional newspapers’ column.

Michael Commane

On the June Bank Holiday Monday there was an item on the Marty Morrissey Show on RTÉ Radio 1 about the latest census figures on the fall off of religious practice. It set me thinking.

Is there ever a serious debate about the core issues of Christianity?

Over the last few weeks Christians have celebrated some of the most important aspects of their faith. Nine weeks ago we celebrated Easter, the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which paves the way for personal resurrection.

Two Sundays ago Christians celebrated the feast of the Trinity, the idea that there are three persons in one God. It is a sublime idea, in so many ways beyond our understanding.

 

The Christian churches are not the best communicators. I’m shocked with the cliches and pious platitudes I read in parish newsletters.

The Trinity is such a dynamic reality. Three persons are so perfect in every way, their love for one another is so great that they are one. God the Father, the transcendent God ‘away beyond us’, the historical figure Jesus, God, who lived in time, and the Hoy Spirit, the God who is in the world today.

The Trinity is all about relationship. We are social animals. Every single one of us is in some way or other in a number of relationships with other people. Relationships can be good and healthy but they can also be crippling. Good and wholesome relationships are a tiny but significant pointer to us of what the Trinity is about. When we are in life-giving relationships we are, in our way, mirroring the presence of God in the world.

Last Sunday’s feast was that Catholic feast of Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ. The Eucharist has so many aspects to it but central to it is the idea of communion. We are a people in communion with each other, with God at the centre.

The world is in great need for understanding and solidarity among peoples. And that’s exactly what the Eucharist is about, people living in harmony and respect with each other. That’s what the word Communion means. Christians believe Communion is fellowship, with God at the centre.

I believe we have over used far too many non-understandable words and rituals when it comes to trying to give flesh to our Christian  faith?

How come we never seem to have any real debate or indeed dispute about the central issues of faith; Incarnation, Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost, the Trinity, the Eucharist?  Somewhere at the back of my head I keep thinking we have cliched our faith out of existence. 

People have walked away because they are bored out of their minds by the use of words, a language that has no meaning whatsoever. I’m forever wondering what actually do we know about the Christian faith.

Have we walked away from the Christian faith without ever really getting a proper handle on it?

I heard someone say that we went to Mass, not knowing why and stopped going, not knowing why.