Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

You may have noticed that there are times when I will say or write something as pastor that may be a little provocative; things that are maybe a little challenging, or that might make you just a little uncomfortable where you are not sure you completely agree. I generally do this intentionally.

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Part of my philosophy is that we all need to be challenged at times to grow. Imagine someone who wants to be stronger, or be able to run faster or farther. In order for that person to reach the desired outcome, they will need to push themselves beyond what is easy or comfortable. That challenge to do one more set or go one more mile stretches them and strengthens them until they are capable of doing far more than they were before they started. In addition, it is often the person who has a coach or personal trainer who will improve faster and more consistently because there is someone other than themselves pushing and encouraging them, pointing out the areas that still need improvement; they are not relying on themselves.
 

The spiritual life operates in a very similar way. It can be very easy to become complacent or to assume we are good enough. We often need a coach or trainer to push us to get off the proverbial couch, and exercise our spiritual muscles. Many times this is the reminder to pray or give thanks, but there is always the need for academic development and improvement in spiritual matters as well. We should not be content with reading Scripture, we should spend time studying Scripture. It is good to know what we believe and what we do, but we should also know why we believe and do those things. And the more we learn to think like that – asking questions and searching out answers – the more we are stretched and strengthened.
 

When I say something that is perhaps a little off-putting, sometimes that is because I want you to stop and think about it. I want you to look for answers about what the Church teaches or what the Bible says. I want you to explore on your own initiative the nuances of our faith – to see how it all fits together in a seamless whole that is far more complex than we might have first imagined. I actually hope that people will hear something I say in a homily or read something I write and stop me after Mass or send me a message asking for clarification or challenging my interpretation. I cannot think of many greater indicators of the real, active engagement of parishioners than that. Sadly, it almost never happens and I am often left wondering whether people are paying attention at all, or if they just get angry and silently hold a grudge against me. To be clear, I will never intentionally say something that is false, but I am willing to show an aspect of our faith that is not necessarily well-known or that more directly challenges us so that we can grow in our faith and be more intentional about what it means.
 

Peace in Christ,

Father Timothy