This week in LifeTeen we did a module on the challenges to Worship and the Sacraments. It was a night focused on Apologetics – defense against erroneous teachings/misunderstandings. At our Core planning session, we went around the table and asked questions we thought our teens would ask. In our discussion, our teen leaders brought up a lot of relevant questions. This particular Core meeting wasn’t a forum to answer, but rather, an opportunity to gather and collect these questions to help guide our discussion for Sunday night. In some instances however, we started talking about some answers because, truth is, the leaders around that table were confused themselves. I was reminded about how young our teen leaders are, not so much in maturity as they’ve all demonstrated great levels of such, but rather they showed their youth in terms of their faith. I found myself nodding my head when I heard question after question, as if acknowledging the question but more so the mystery and richness behind it. At some of the questions, I thought to myself, “oh, that pesky question again.” I was surprised that I wasn’t itching to answer because, well, it wasn’t the time to do so. But I came to the realization that perhaps I’ve come to a balance in my faith-life.
I used to be a hothead when it came to Apologetics, I loved a good debate, heck, I used to entertain Jehovah’s Witnesses at my doorstep. The balance that I believe I’ve struck is that I’m secure enough in my faith and in it’s study, to simply rest in the embrace of God’s love for me. For example, the question regarding priestly confessions came up, “Why must we confess to a priest when in his humanity, he’s as much a sinner as we are”. At one point in my life I perhaps would have asked that same question and at another point, I could have jumped all over it. But when I heard it, I did neither. I simply thought…”Gee, thank God for the Sacrament of Reconciliation!”
Apologetics, isn’t about being right. It’s not about the conversation or argument either. It’s about the charity, it’s about the love shared when offering to such discussion. The goal of the church, in it’s infinite wisdom, is to love. It’s the bride of Christ, ready to fulfill His mission.
There is nothing in our faith/church that is without great meaning and purpose. That rings true more than ever. It is our mission and duty to teach others the depth of our traditions, but evenmoreso the love behind it all. That’s where the balance is struck.
