Change has been part of the life of the Church too. Many lament this fact. Some would like us to go back to what they perceive as a golden age in the life of the Church when the pews were full on Sundays. No doubt many who were attending during these years loved Jesus and were genuinely trying to deepen their relationship with him. However, when we scratched the surface, and examined the situation more closely, we discovered that all was not well. Once the winds of change came and we faced new questions the numbers drifted, and the churches emptied. There is no point in being nostalgic about the past. Instead, we must learn from it and face the current challenges with courage and faith.
There is a sense that this experience of change is somewhat new, that we are in a place that we have never been before. To a certain extent this is true, however, when we look back over the story that is God’s relationship with his people, we see that change has always been at the heart of this relationship. It would be impossible to illustrate the scale of this journey this morning, but we can point to some moments along the way.
Major change was experienced as the Israelites left Egypt to follow the path to the Promised Land. They stepped out into the wilderness, faced the struggles and then, eventually after forty years, their arrival. There was the change in the life of Mary when she was called to be the Mother of Jesus. The disciples’ lives changed when they got the call from Jesus. St Paul was called to change while on the road to Damascus. The first Christian community went through much change as they emerged out of the Jewish tradition and integrated with the Gentiles. This involved a letting go of old ways and setting out into a new and unfamiliar place. We have so many saints who had to undergo huge change in their lives. St Augustine, St Dominic, St Francis. Indeed, Francis experienced the Lord inviting him to ‘Rebuild his Church’ during turbulent times. At the heart of our liturgy today a little piece of bread and a drop of wine, through the action of the Holy Spirit, are changed into the real presence of the Risen Christ among us. Change is at the heart of our faith story.
And for us here in Dublin on this Feast Day we have St Laurence O’Toole. Again, he was a man who experienced much change on his journey. At ten years of age, in 1138, he was taken as a hostage. After two years he was released into the custody of the Abbot of Glendalough, whom he would succeed in 1157. He gave his heart to prayer, service of the poor and sick as well as to keeping the flame of education alight. Then in 1162 he was appointed Archbishop of Dublin at a particularly difficult time. It was the time of the Norman invasion which brought much conflict. His efforts to bring about peace were profound. The example of his authentic life and preaching the Gospel raised the level of Christian living among priests and people. Sadly, while on another peace mission, he died at Eu in Normandy, on the 14 November 1180.
Today, as Church, we can be consumed by the fear of change. Worried about the future, how will we manage as we step out into unfamiliar territory. Our faith story tells us not to be afraid, this has been the journey for all those gone before us. Why should we be in anyway different? For some they want us to go back into a safer, more certain Church. But the Church was never supposed to be in a safe place! But something that is certain and Jesus is very clear about it today in the Gospel, something that has never changed, and that is the Kingdom is among us. It is not somewhere in the future; it is here and now. Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the three ways in which the Kingdom of God might be understood. Firstly, Jesus himself is the Kingdom. Secondly, we understand that in a mystical sense, Jesus is present within us. Finally, the Church, the People of God, is God’s Kingdom on earth. Let us draw courage and strength from this. Yes, the Kingdom is among us! It was among the early Church community; it was present in the trials and tribulations of the Church down through the centuries. It is here and now in the struggle, in the questions, in the doubts, in the joys and hopes we experience as the People of God. The Lord reminds us in Isaiah: ‘Look I am doing something new; can you not see it?’ (Is 43.19).
As we reflect upon the life of St Laurence O’Toole today, his life inspires us to go deeper. Let us not get too caught up or overly worried about structures. Go deeper! In Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis’ reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, he tells us not to get “excessively caught up in external activities, structural reforms that have little to do with the Gospel”. (No. 88). He says that instead of focusing on “outdated structures and concerns, excessive attachment to our own ideas and opinions” the Church needs “the gratuitous love of God that liberates, enlivens, brings joy to the heart and builds communities” (Dilexit Nos 219).
As the family that is the Archdiocese of Dublin, people, priests, religious and deacons, may we continue to work together in this time of change. Yes, we may have our fears, concerns, worries, but that has always been part of our story. I believe the Lord is inviting us and challenging us to move out of our pessimism and move into the realm of hope. A hope that is open to the opportunities and possibilities God is offering us in this moment. The Church is not going away, because the Church is at the service of the Kingdom which is rooted in and built on Christ the foundation. The Kingdom of God is among us! Christ is among us, right here, right now! He continues to call on us to build a Kingdom “that liberates, enlivens, brings joy to the heart and builds communities.” (Dilexit Nos 219). St Laurence O’Toole… Pray for us!