July 4, 2007

There I was in line at the passport office in Connecticut, inconspicuous as friars always are in such places. So the lady next to me asked the usual question; “What are you?” (Never “who,” but “what”). I began to explain “the birds and the beards” to her, that is, to give a little summary of Saint Francis and our way of life.

As soon as I began to ask “what” she was, she pulled out her business card that announced her to be a “New Age therapist.” When I asked what she believed about God she described Him as “a big bubble” (Should I capitalize that?) and we are all “little bubbles” that break off from the big bubble.

Another time I was walking along near St.Patrick’s Cathedral and a woman again asked what I was and went on to tell me that she was a Buddhist nun. After a little exchange about some common elements of our lives she made a rather sweeping statement about all religion being basically the same. So I had to ask her a simple question: “Do you believe in God?” Her honest and simple answer was “no.” At least she was able to understand why I thought that was a pretty big difference!

It is easy to forget that even when we only begin to profess in the Nicene Creed, “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty...” we have already set ourselves apart from the majority of people in the world. With all due respect to those who are sincerely seeking with their “bubble gods” and “the force” of Eastern and Star Wars spirituality, none of that comes close to the grace of being “children of God” as we hear throughout the New Testament. Our faith is to the core a Personal faith, a gift of being able to cry out “Abba” to the Creator of heaven and earth. A bubble or force doesn’t challenge us as a father does, which may appeal to some people for a while, but neither would a bubble or force really care about us or invite us into the relationship that we most deeply desire. The call to be “imitators of God, as His beloved children” (Eph 5:1) and to “walk as children of the light” (5:8) is a gift that the Lord wants to extend to others by our example and invitation. It takes a lifetime to become a child. Thanks be to God that we are not relying on a bubble for help!

Fr. Richard Roemer, CFR

Most Blessed Sacrament Friary, Newark, NJ

(Note: reprinted from archives)

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