A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[543] 2 Sam 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16 Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27+29 Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22 Matt 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

I recently read the book, Between Heaven and Mirth, by a well-known Jesuit author, James Martin SJ. In his book, which extensively covers the topics of humor, laughter, and joy in one’s faith life, he cites a joke, which resonates particularly with Catholics:

“Three priests were sitting around discussing how things were going at their respective parishes. Priest number one complains of a terrible bat infestation, and it is soon clear that this is something of an epidemic. After much discussion of all matters clerical, the fathers go home for the night.

After a week or so, they meet again. Priest1: I tried to get rid of my bats this week. I shot at the buggers with my shotgun, but I think I damaged the belfry more than the bats! I still have no way of getting rid of them!

Priest2: I tried another way. I couldn't bring myself to shoot them, after all they are God's creatures, so I went up with a big box. I knocked all the bats into the box with a stick and drove out to the forest where I released them. But they were back at the church before I was!!

Priest3: I've solved the problem. I did much the same thing. I had all the bats in the box, but before I released them, I baptized and confirmed every one of them, and they have not been back since......” (Exact text courtesty of jokelibrary.net)

This joke is funny, in part, because it makes light of the constant struggle the Church has (and all churches have) to bring the faithful into obedience with the practices of their faith. For Catholics, many of us are all too familiar with the necessities that come with our faith: weekly mass, holy days of obligation, reconciliation (at least once a year!), proper times to fast, to pray, and the list goes on and on. It can be exhausting being a Catholic.

But our readings today remind us of something that can be easy to forget when we don’t see the forest amongst the trees. Faith is much, much more than law, or obligation, or doing things “right” (in the procedural sense). God doesn’t only call us to be good Catholics, but to be good Christians by living the Word, not just bearing through it.

It can be difficult to discern between the two, at times. I’m often reminded by family of those they know who are sure to count the masses they attend (“This wedding counts! I don’t have to go this weekend!”), or who otherwise confuse the practice of doing something for the purpose of doing that same thing with God.

You can be attuned to God’s presence while doing the dishes, and deafened to his voice during mass. We must remember, God is not a routine, he is not a law, or a rule, or an equation (prayer + charity = salvation? Alleluia!). God will be where we allow him in our lives. We should encourage this by opening our hearts to him in all that we do.

And that, my friends, should be the theme of our days.