At the midpoint of the last century, Western Europe was ably guided by three practicing Catholic executives. Robert Schuman guided France, Konrad Adenauer directed Germany and Alcide De Gasperi held office in Italy. Pope Leo XIV recently cited these three men as persons who were quite at home in the secular world as capable statesmen but were still able to affirm the value of religion both in society and in their own personal lives. His Holiness observed, “European institutions need people who know how to live a healthy secularism, that is, a style of thinking and acting that affirms the value of religion...” within daily activities.
The Pontiff noted that the word “religion” itself denotes a connection, a communication, between parties. Religion indeed provides the link of God with humanity after the fracture of original sin. But religion also connotes the re-linking of every human being with every other human being after the blame game in Eden: “The woman gave me and I did eat.”
Religion in the Pope’s mind cultivates “openness, listening and dialogue” because authentic religion recognizes that “the human person, human dignity, and humanity’s relational and communal nature” are at the center of life. Authentic religion is all embracing. The Divine Persons and each human person are treasured within religion’s perspective.
This Sunday’s Scriptural readings happily begin Ordinary Time with a similar emphasis on the need for “openness, listening and dialogue” with God and among the many peoples of the earth and between individual believers. The prophet Isaiah sees a restored Israel as the means by which God will convey his message of openness and fellowship to the whole world, “It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth,” (Is49:6). God’s Word will link and connect not only the Jews but all peoples with God Himself and with one another. A worldwide dialogue is projected.
The psalmist too celebrates the broadening of God’s Good News among the whole people, “I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know,” (Ps40:10). And St. Paul is equally pleased to rejoice “with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours,” (1Cor.1:2).
And in the Gospel reading, St. John the Baptist extends the breadth of salvation to the whole human family, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” (Jn1:29).
So religion as the work of God intends a broad unity, the re-linking of God with his creation and the restoration of oneness among the whole human family.
Now few readers of The Quiet Corner will ever be seated at conference tables discussing world affairs with international leaders. But the need for universal “openness, listening and dialogue” affirmed emphatically by Pope Leo and celebrated in today’s Scriptures applies equally within today’s family life, today’s friendships, today’s community living and especially today’s religious environment.
The primary dialogue fostered by religion is the bond between God and the soul. Serious prayer and pious reflection, both privately and at worship, are vital if an individual is to draw closer to God. Beyond ideas and instruction, the believer must experience comfort with God, an interior openness and listening as mentioned by the Pope. Prayer is the supreme communication to which humanity is summoned.
Family life and personal friendships are the vital human dialogues that the authentic believer will promote and cultivate. How much good can be done within households and among neighborhoods with the kind word, with the speedy response, the patient listening, even the understanding caution! Again, “openness, listening and dialogue” are as helpful on the secular level as in the spiritual realm.
And even on a worldwide scale the authentic believer will be aware of those secular and religious movements that serve to re-link creation to its Creator or sadly might sever the ties that should bind the universe to its God.
Today’s Scriptures roundly celebrate the wideness of God’s mercy as shown through his gift of authentic religion which, as Pope Leo notes, repairs the human person, insures human dignity, and restores humanity’s relational and communal nature by enabling the re-union of God with all his creatures and by re-linking those creatures with one another.
