Spiritual and Religious: A Pastoral Reflection

The question is often asked why you need religion at all. Can't you just be a spiritual person and go directly to God? Especially in the wake of scandal, doesn't it seem like all human institutions have failed in one way or another to transmit the Gospel to all people at all times?

Years ago a very popular Youtube video showed a man speaking poetry claiming that he loved Jesus but hated religion. This seems to be a modern response to the horrible tragedies that have happened in religious institutions over the course of history, and these tragedies should not ever go unnoticed or the victims of these tragedies be forgotten. Though it may be coming from a genuine place of concern for people to say they don't need religion, it is clear from the very beginning that Jesus founded a religion, a visible Church. He knew better than anyone that people could come directly to him, but he didn't set it up that way. In today's First Reading we hear a beautiful story of the early Church organizing and ordaining more priests in order to serve the growing needs of the flock. Right from the very beginning in Acts 6 we see the need for a visible Church that can bring the visible Christ to visible people with tangible needs. Of course we can always go directly to God, but as human beings we often get in our own way. I know many Protestant friends who ask God directly for forgiveness and then have to struggle through mental games wondering if they truly are sorry and repentant. One of the benefits to a visible Church and visible sacraments is that we don't need to guess. Even Catholics can go directly to God and make a perfect act of contrition, but we are required by Canon Law to confess our sins to a priest, not because the Church wants to assure that we feel embarrassed about our sins, but so that we can have the assurance of forgiveness. Though the Church is not perfect because it is full of very sinful people, myself included, being spiritual and not religious constantly leaves us wondering or worried about where we stand before God. With the Sacraments we need not worry, we have the assurance of Christ. So take hope during this Easter season that God has set up a Church, that it is a visible body with authority, and that by living in this Church we can be assured that God is working for our salvation, despite the things we do or the lies we believe. Why not have the best of both worlds? Let's make it a point this Easter season to be spiritual and also religious, clinging to the hope that Jesus bring through his death and resurrection. From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!