Change can be a good thing

Many nations which some would consider as first-world countries have been experiencing declining numbers of people who attend liturgical gatherings in any organized religion on a regular basis. Strangely enough, it seems that this is not a response to a decline in faith, for many are indeed thirsting for answers and will turn to the spiritual realm, meditation and contemplation in order to find what they are looking for.

Some would say that organized religion has to change the way that we inter-relate with people. We need to be pro-active about helping people to identify their thirst for the spiritual and we must be willing to help them find the answers. At the very least, organized religion should point the way so that those who may not even know what they are seeking can identify possible answers to the questions that gnaw at the gut level.

It does indeed take courage to be Catholic these days, the type of courage that allows Christ's followers to remain grounded, to remain connected and to speak from the heart when confronted with the questions and challenges of modern times. This is not the time to hide our heads in the sand and hope that the problems will go away; it is a time of favour in which we must return to the wisdom of our roots to find the answers we seek.

If there is reform to be made, we must be willing to examine the possibilities, and make the necessary changes which are within our circle of influence. Change is never easy, but it always calls us back to basics, to the rudiments of life. If there is to be change in the Church, we must be willing to walk in faith, allowing the Spirit to guide us to the places and experiences which will help us to grow in our relationships with each other and with God.

Change is often painful because it necessitates letting go of something that is familiar and comfortable. Change often necessitates venturing into the unknown and risking the possibility of being vulnerable. This is not an easy task, and we can often be tempted to refrain from entering the fray, preferring to stick with the world we know rather than taking the plunge.

It has often been said that the Catholic Church is so large and complex that it seems to move at a glacial pace, at least when it comes to making changes. However, change is not something foreign to the Church. In fact, it is often in the process of change that we are called to deeper prayer. It is in moments of transition that we often are most keenly aware that God is close, guiding our steps and leading us to a deeper, more personal, more intimate relationship with Him.