Catholic Dads

And said: amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

-Matthew 18:3

My wife said something to me that clicked something in my brain. It involves a problem that has been plaguing me for a long time. One that has been exacerbated since we moved to our new state and joined a new parish that is more “progressive” or more “modern” (for a lack of better descriptions.)

The problem is a certain way that some “teachers of the faith” explain the cathechesis on “difficult” subjects. Instead of just explaining a concept – they water it down. They act as if there is no possible way that we could learn it, so they create some “fun” way to present it, couched in the idea that it will help the children learn. I am not sure who “they” are afraid won’t be able to grasp the concept… the adults or the kids. What really irks me, is when they are afraid that adults will see through this patronizing  pedagogy and explain that by teaching us this way… we can better teach our children.

Wait! Kids believe essentially what we tell them, why do we have to convince them of these things?Don’t believe me? How many of you know of a child (or did once yourself) believe you could fly via a cape/umbrella/etc…? How many of you believed in Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny? We have millions of kids each day that believe that there is a little plump fairy that flies around the world collecting teeth and giving the loser of said teeth money. What does she do with said teeth? Where does she get the money? Will Obama-care affect this in anyway? (Sorry off track a bit!) They are willing to believe all sorts of fantastic things because it makes life for them more exciting and wonderful. It takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary!

So why are we concerned that our children won’t simply accept and understand the whole Transubstantiation thing? Or why are we worried that they won’t get the Trinity? Oh, let me guess these are concepts that are far beyond the intellect of 6 and 7 year olds preparing for communion? I bet if you explained these concepts to 10 kids and 10 adults and then then asked them to explain what the concepts meant a week later that the kids would give more accurate and theologically sound answers. Not only that, but I bet that more of the kids would actually believe the teaching on those subjects.

What was it that my wife said? She simply said, “When I was a kid and they told me that the breadand wine turn into the body and blood of Christ… I just believed it.” You see… when little kids are told that God can do anything… and you follow that up with, he can change the substance of bread and wine… it isn’t a far stretch. We adults on the other hand have a hard time believing because we are clouded by science, the definition of essence and substance, and things like DNA. Kids simply believe. They believe because the world is much more fantastic and wonderful (read in adult speak: mystical and divine) if we truly believe in our hearts that our God is 3 beings in One and that through something called transubstantiation He can be truly present for us in the Eucharist.

So maybe we should listen to the bible and become like little children. Instead of trying to find a neat or fun way to explain and learn about “difficult” subjects… why don’t we instead simply convert our hearts to that of children and accept what we learn. Why don’t we let go of the “doubts” of adulthood and re-claim our belief in the mysterious and divine?

[Joe is co-blogger of "Defend Us In Battle" - This post IS NOT cross-posted, but is linked at his blog.]

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Ask backflip blinklist BlogBookmark Bloglines BlogMarks Blogsvine BuddyMarks BUMPzee! CiteULike co.mments Connotea del.icio.us

Digg diigo DotNetKicks DropJack dzone Facebook Fark Faves Feed Me Links Friendsite folkd.com Furl Google

Hugg Jamespot Jeqq Kaboodle kirtsy linkaGoGo LinkedIn LinksMarker Ma.gnolia Mister Wong Mixx MySpace MyWeb

Netvouz Newsvine oneview OnlyWire PlugIM Propeller Reddit Rojo Segnalo Shoutwire Simpy Slashdot Sphere

Sphinn Spurl Squidoo StumbleUpon Technorati ThisNext Twitter Webride Windows Live Worlds Movies Yahoo!

Email This to a Friend

Copy HTML: 

 If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

More »