HANDING ON THE FAITH

The other day, I was reflecting on our use of words and how their meanings often change with the times. For example, in the 1950s, if you were "on line," it meant you were talking on the telephone. In the '80s and early '90s, "on line" meant you were on a pair on skates on a single roller. Today, when you are "on line," you are obviously "surfing the Internet"!

One term that is as "old as the hills," yet is still finding its voice, is "catechesis." It is a safe bet to assume that most people over 30 associate this word with "catechism classes," "religious instruction," or "CCD," taught by sisters and priests.

But what's in a word? If we dig a little deeper to its roots, the we find that "catechesis" comes from the Greek "katachein," which means "to echo" or "to resound." The mission of our early Greek-speaking church was to echo the Good News of God's incredible love manifest in Jesus, and to invite people into life in God's Spirit.

The early Christians proclaimed this Good News in words as they sought to make sense of faith within their times and culture. They echoed it in their prayer and liturgy as spirit-filled people, empowered to be disciples. They resounded it daily in their conscious decisions to live with forgiveness, compassion and service.

Gradually, the word "catechesis" came to be understood as a particular ministry of the Church in echoing the Good News to "catechumens," those adults seeking to be baptized. The "catechumen" was essentially an apprentice, learning the Christian way of life through the experience of a real Christian community. Catechesis was about forming new disciples, whose lives would be shaped by the Gospel.

BY the late Middle Ages, catechesis became associated primarily with the teaching ministry of children, since they were most often the ones initiated through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. This narrower understanding of catechesis emphasized intellectual mastery of doctrines and truths of the faith. The aim of catechesis was to form knowledgeable members who were well-versed in the culture and traditions of the Catholic Church.

That understanding of catechesis prevailed through much of the following centuries, even into the twentieth. In fact, many of us grew up with this scenario: Our parents had us baptized soon after birth, then dutifully enrolled us into "catechism classes" in Catholic schools or parish programs. They handed over our religious formation to the sisters and priests who were "knowledgeable" enough to teach us.

Then the Second Vatican Council came along, reminding us that we are all called -- by Baptism -- to share faith with one another and live as disciples. It also expanded our notion of catechesis as the mission of the whole community to form its members in the ways of faith.

In his 1979 document "On Catechesis in Our Time," Pope John Paul II speaks of catechesis in almost poetic terms. He says, "Catechesis aims therefore at developing understanding of the mystery of Christ in the light of God's word, so that the whole of a person's humanity is impregnated by that word." In essence, catechesis is about leading people to a mature faith, so that all they see is seen through the eyes of Christ, all they do is done with Christ's hands.

A tall order! True. This is a task for a lifetime, and it happens in many settings through the work and witness of many different people:

*Catechesis can happen as a group of adults breaks open the Word of the Sunday readings, exploring its challenges for their lives on Monday.

* It can happen as a group of youth reflects on the Gospel mandate to service, in light of their recent experience serving lunch at a soup kitchen.

* It can happen as a family reflects on itself as a sacrament of healing as they care for an elderly relative.

* It can happen as the Sunday assembly listens reflectively to the homily.

Do we dare to challenge ourselves with these questions:

* Do we proclaim our faith with enthusiasm?

* Do our gatherings and liturgies reflect joy?

* Are we a welcoming community that leaves room for all?

* Are we a community engaged in the lives of others, especially those in need?

* Do we live with a sense of trust and hope?

* Do our priorities reflect the vision of life we find in the Gospels?

* Do we take time to reflect on our lives in light of the Gospel and challenge ourselves to grow as disciples?

(Editor's note: Joyce Solimini is an associate director in the diocesan Office of Religious Education.)

(09-12-96) [[In-content Ad]]