Tom McMahon's commentary today returns to a focus on the laity. Interest in the importance of the spiritual and moral side of life has not waned in society. If anything it has grown. Institutional religion no longer seems able to respond to what the broader population is looking for. Some still want to return to the old ways. Tom argues: "My church of old is collapsing yet Jesus' spirit lives on."

Good old days? … I'm bothered … the potential of the laity

As I walked the three blocks home from the pet store two cars quietly passed me on 1000 Oakes, a summer breeze gently cooling the 4pm sun and all was peaceful. I am reminded of the opening scene of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD — and the lesson involved that a false accusation can be an indictment of a whole community's way of thinking. A neighbor's boy whizzed by me on his small scooter and we exchanged greetings, pint-sized ten-year-old or eleven maybe … the same age as the boys I witness in the CD I recently purchased from Amazon for $2.50 plus postage: David Francis' book OUR FATHERS tells the story of Cardinal Bernard Law, Fr. Tom Doyle, and Boston's Call to Action movement that opened up to the world the Boston paedophile clerical scandal. I had read Francis's book five years ago, as well as Jason Berry's excellent chronicles. I am a hardened, well-trained therapist who has heard many a troubled confession and experienced much people violence. My pleasant and peaceful walk to the store was clouded with wonderment, doubts, sympathy, and anger.

What is wrong with the human race that we can't leave people be at peace to enjoy life, especially children. Life is our Creator's gift; there is no one person more gifted or privileged than any other. Perhaps I have for too long been involved in human failure, the lone wolf set apart to save humankind from itself … yet again there are people worldwide who are doing their best to make the world a better place. My church of old is collapsing yet Jesus' spirit lives on. The human potential vested in ordinary people is fascinating, yet often unrecognized.

What is the obligation of an adult to create a peaceful place for kids to grow and be safe? What are the odds for success in a hostile and violent culture? Is making money and being socially successful what it is all about? I sense a disconnect in the human family system and its spirituality. I have my grandchildren in mind. I look at today's problems and I think of what Jesus would say and do.

Click the image above or the following link to view the segment of Oprah's show online: www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Lisa-Ling-Spends-the-Night-at-a-Convent-Video

Oprah Winfrey had a convent of vowed sisters on her show today, most were young in their late 20's. When one of the older nuns said she was into a life that was totally dedicated to the pursuit of God I smiled, having been there before and now suspicious of what kind of God is pursued in this type of isolation. Oprah was leery of the idea of the woman being married to Jesus … and so is Tom. Perhaps at another time we might address this issue; for now I view it as creating a world immune to reality. Pope John the 23rd encouraged cloistered nuns to see what good they could do in the world at large. I keep in mind that the institutional church considers vowed sisters as laity. The issue of a sacramental male priesthood is different. Both situations seem to be out of the loop of real life.

Yesterday my car was at a red light, as more than one hundred shoppers passed in front of my stopped vehicle. I thought to myself "not one is the same, mind and body shape and they are but a miniscule portion of the huge numbers that populate the world … every creature is different, each person with an individual ego and historical background". I was conscious of this a year ago May when I sat back, enjoying a coffee on a busy Macquarie street in Sydney, NSW, the street moving swiftly with truck and auto traffic and the sidewalk crowded with hurrying people. I thought then in Australia, and here yesterday in America, about the problem of fashioning a religion that suits and fits people's needs. Is such possible today? Back when people were illiterate the king could impose a one-fits-all religion while today people pick and choose, often on scanty knowledge of their gods and goddesses and religious practices. Today I am searching the talents that quietly lay deep inside ordinary persons; I have a sense that a massive treasure is ready to be used in a religion suited to the age of modernity.

Yesterday I hitched a ride to our annual Civil War Round Table picnic, catching an earful from Mary Ann about modern day spiritual involvement. This Italian background woman is mod, a classy attractive grandmother, the take charge type who wastes no time or words on trivia. I know of her New York Catholic childhood and her adult separation from a church that no longer fulfills her needs. I have long been curious about how Mary Ann satisfies her spiritual interests and as husband drove and I listened I heard a most acceptable and detailed explanation.

I asked for some specific details of with whom she exchanged ideas and with what information. Her response was genuine and without hesitation.

Mary Ann belongs to a woman's book club that makes selections that deal with current issues. Mary Ann asked me if I had read "Three Cups of Tea" and I acknowledged I had not, my wife having read it as passed along from her 90-year-old mother. I listened carefully, our conversation moving into "Aisha, the 18 year old who had her nose and ear cut off last year by orders of the Taliban because she fled abusive in-laws". (quote from cover of TIME August 8, 2010). Women were aware that the attack on Aisha was an insult to worldwide womanhood and a personal threat to every female. Members of Mary Ann's book club had put up some money to highlight and protest this international obscenity. They are people aware.

My church of choice in the modern world...

I was aware of two experiences. One, that I, the once ordained Roman Catholic priest, hadn't anything meaningful to offer to this dialogue and I humbly listened. Two, I thought of the historical Jesus and the woman "caught" in adultery (as if the woman can be adulterous all by herself) and today the female Jesus standing up in defense of an abused compatriot. I mourn the impotency of my all-male isolated- from-life priesthood and I rejoice in the new found articulate wisdom found in this Jesus involvement. Everything is process and the process of growth in the laity is becoming most obvious. A Jesus' sensitivity underlies Mary Ann's group and their concern for Aisha and the women of the world; in silence I sensed I was onto the tip of the iceberg concerning women in today's society. Here was my church of choice in the Modern World.

Last week our community made a small donation to a group of vowed sisters for their work of feeding hungry babies in Africa. These Holy Name Sisters are also involved in exposing the crime of trafficking with women in third world countries. The "Spirit of Jesus" goes "unauthorized" and unrecognized by the old boys club as they role out their flowing cappa magnas in their isolated male fiefdoms … people are beginning to understand … and the old boys club rides off into the sunset, still wearing their miters — the landowners hat of the 12th century. They are doing a fine job of protecting a male sacramental priesthood that is following the French Foreign Legion. The world's problems will not be solved by protecting a Jesus who appears under the guise of wafer bread.

The Laity is at work and Jesus is very much alive and well! I need accept and be patient. The task of redeeming the world is ever on-going; the role of ordinary people is vital and I recommend they not get involved with Rome.

No more for today. I need time to process the above — to let it soak in. Too bad I came upon this at age 81 — and yet again spirituality is evolutionary and I saw Jesus in my widowed mother back in 1935.

Tom McMahon in San Jose. Ca. needing time to deep think this world of ours and what is redemption … and who is this mystery called Jesus. 17/08/2010

[Index of Commentaries by Tom McMahon]