Authenticity

 "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Homily for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
24 August 2014

I must be honest: I’m chuckling a little on the inside. You see, I had the opportunity on Saturday morning to have breakfast with one of my classmates from the Diocese of Erie. In the course of our conversation, the topic of today’s Gospel came up. He mentioned that he felt that we always seem to be hearing this particular Gospel passage.

And I had to agree with him.

This does seem to be one of the Gospel passages that we hear most frequently. Perhaps that’s because it’s one of the stories from the Gospels that we know so well.

. . . OR . . .

Perhaps it’s because it gives us a question that sits quietly in our discerning hearts.

In our Gospel today, Jesus proposes the question to His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” I would have no doubt that we who have gathered would echo Peter’s reply of “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Yet while echoing the response of our first pope is good, is it OUR authentic response?

As Catholics, we say a lot of things; we use a lot of words: Our rituals and liturgies are filled with prayers and statements and songs that keep our mouths moving. However, the words we pray or sing or recite mean absolutely NOTHING if they are not words authentically coming from our hearts.

THEY. MEAN. NOTHING. NOTHING. If these words are not authentic to our heart and the person God has created us to be.

And so, if we cannot be completely authentic in our prayer, rituals and / or liturgies, how can we be authentic in answering that question which sits quietly in our hearts? How can authentically respond to Jesus asking us Who do we say that He is?

My brothers and sisters, if we’re simply going through the motions of our faith, it’s time to wake up. If we’re simply regurgitating responses and answers to age-old questions because it’s what we learned, then we need to snap out of the trance we’re in. If we’re simply repeating the answers of a man who died two millennia ago, then we do not really understand the question.

Recognizing the question posed by Jesus, we have to acknowledge that to live an authentic life of faith is to live within that authentic relationship with our God and with one another.  Hearing the quietly-posed question of “Who do you say I am?” is more than just acknowledging an inquiry given to us by God. Rather, we must see this age-old question being posed in four different usages:

First, God asking us “Who do you say I am?”;

Second, our response to God asking Him, “Who do you say I am?”;

Third, our neighbor asking us, “Who do you say I am?”; and

Finally, our response to our neighbor, asking them, “Who do you say I am?”

But the harsh reality is this: If we’re not completely authentic in our asking of and answer to our God, our neighbor or ourselves, then we need to take a step back and see if the intent of this question in our hearts is truly being asked in true authenticity.

Our God wants nothing more than for us to have an authentic relationship with Him and with our neighbor. This is the foundation of the commandment to love our God and our neighbor with our entire being. Authentic relationships are the basis of a Godly society.

Yet, our society is completely inauthentic: Everything around us screams “Be true to who you are in the moment.” We very rarely hear, “Be true to the you who God has created you to be. Be true to your life-long vocation and journey.”

In his article, Six Obstacles to Catholic Authenticity, Randy Hain gives us the following as those items which completely entering into authentic relationships with our God, our neighbor, and ourselves:

• There could be a lack of self-awareness.  Do we even know that there is a problem?
• Fear of people not liking the real us.  Fear of not fitting in.   Fear of being judged.  Fear of persecution for our religious beliefs.  Fear of not moving up the career ladder if we don’t fit the right corporate mold.
• Lack of confidence in our opinions.  Lack of faith in our convictions.  Lack of courage to defend the truth.  Lack of knowledge about our faith.
• Attachment to an income level and lifestyle that requires unhealthy compromises.
• Conforming to society’s march towards political correctness, universal tolerance and acceptance of things which are in direct conflict with our faith, values and principles.
• Relaxing our standards because it easier to go along with the crowd than take a stand.

Are any of these holding you back from being an authentic Catholic? Are any of these holding you back from authentically answering the quiet question sitting in your heart? Are any of these holding you back from truly embracing the call to be a son or daughter of God?

To be honest, I struggle with all of these in my life.

And because I struggle with these, I know that you must as well.

But there is a way for us to cease the struggle: Be true to the you who God has created you to be. Be true to your life-long vocation and journey.

Yes, this Gospel seems to be one that we hear many times. Perhaps that’s because it’s one of the stories from the Gospels that we know so well. . . . OR . . . Perhaps it’s because it gives us a question that sits quietly in our discerning hearts.

In any case, the question of “Who do you say I am?” will only be answered when we stop living lives of inauthenticity and “going along with the crowd,” and accept the struggle to live the authentic and relational lives that God calls us to.

Encountering our God in Word and Sacrament this day, may our response in faith be authentic as we do echo the words of Saint Peter: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

                              

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Enjoy the journey . . .