Many years ago, I ministered alongside Fr Barry Schneider, a Franciscan Friar and the pastor of St Hubert in Chanhassen. One day, Barry asked me, “Bob, why does the Church complicate things so much?” I asked him for clarification. He replied, “The Pharisees were criticized for burdening the Jewish people with Mosaic Law, yet, the Catholic Church has over 3000 Canon laws governing the Church. Jesus gave us only two laws to follow, ‘Love God with all you heart, your mind and your strength. Love your neighbor as yourself.’ This is all the law that we need. Why have we (the Church) complicated things so much?” His question remained unanswered. Barry fervently believed in the Great Commandment of Jesus, which we hear in the Gospel today. For much of his priestly life, Barry ministered to the Black Community on the South Side of Chicago. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr through the streets of Cicero, Chicago, enduring cursing and objects thrown at him and his fellow marchers by those along the street, many of whom he recognized as Catholic parishioners from the white suburban Catholic parishes at which he helped celebrate Mass on the weekends.
After all these years, I believe the question that Barry meant to ask was, “Why haven’t Catholics believed and lived Jesus’ Great Commandment of loving God and neighbor?” Mahatma Ghandi, a Hindu, studied the Bible and believed the message of Jesus in the Gospels. He once remarked to a Christian, that if Christians actually lived what Jesus commanded, Christianity would be the most powerful force in the world. Sadly, Ghandi observed, Christians have not done so. Ghandi’s words were so prophetic.
Over the past week there has been horrific violence in the United States. Two Black Americans senselessly gunned down in a Louisville grocery store as they bought food for their families. Eleven Jewish people slaughtered by gunfire as they worshipped in their Pittsburgh synagogue. Fourteen pipe bombs mailed to prominent American citizens, among them, two former presidents. Hateful rhetoric in political ads, speeches, and rallies.The separation and jailing of migrant children from their parents. Using the Great Commandment of Jesus as a template, it is clear that America is far from being the “Christian” nation about which some like to boast. How about you and me? How “Christian” are we? Do we believe and live Jesus’ Great Commandment?
