By Anil Netto
Over the years, many of us have come across quite a few topics that are often hotly discussed by Catholics in their casual conversations. These ‘hot’ topics include the use of various languages in Masses (Bahasa, English and the vernacular). Should the priests repeat the sermon in various languages or maybe just provide a summary in other languages? When should he use the vernacular during Mass?

And then there is the issue of the length of services. (75-90 minutes seems to be the maximum length generally tolerated — anything longer and the priest could risk a popular uprising!)

In the past, there were the old “favourites”: should Holy Communion be received in the hand or directly on the tongue.

Now and then other issues crop up: for instance, the latest I have come across is, is it necessary to make the sign of the cross with holy water when leaving church after Mass?

These are just a sample of popular topics making the rounds. The debates surrounding these issues could probably fill up the pages of HERALD in no time, and the hot air surrounding the debates would probably contribute to global warming!

It would seem they all have one thing in common: the topics discussed often centre on the externalities of our faith. But they tend to dominate the conversations and discussions among ordinary Catholics whether in the church porch after Mass or during BEC meetings. “Someone should tell the priest about this or that — but who will do it?”

But the surprising thing is that some of the core messages in our spirituality rarely receive the same attention, discussion or debate.

Take for instance, Matthew chapter 25: “42 For I was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” 44 Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking clothes, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” 45 Then he will answer, “In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.”

Now, how about debating this instead? How do we measure up here?

Why do we hardly talk about this? If, as we all claim, we love Jesus, shouldn’t passages like this be foremost in our thoughts and reflections and sermons at all times, with most other subjects involving externalities relegated to minor discussion? Have we as an institutional church done enough in meeting the demands laid out in Matthew 25? Have we as the hierarchy and clergy done enough? Have we as parish and laity done enough? Have we as BECs done enough? Have we as families and individuals done enough?

Have we overlooked the strangers in our midst? Have we even spoken to the migrant workers and refugees in our parish, let alone reached out to those who face tremendous hardship and even exploitation in their places of work? Do we have ministries in the parish for visiting the sick and those in prison? What can we do as individuals to ensure justice for those denied their rights

What about those who are hungry, people who have been evicted from their homes or lost their jobs, or those unable to afford proper medical care? If we can’t help them individually, have we reached out and highlighted their plight so that others might step in?

Rarely, however, do we see much reflection and discussion on how we measure up in reaching out to the least among us. Now this is surprising. For it is with the suffering, the oppressed, the sick and the hungry that Jesus most closely identifies, given that he says “in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.”

So why is it that we often prefer to discuss the externalities without going deeper into the essential spiritual demands laid out by Jesus? Perhaps it is easier to talk about the externalities, for they don’t cost us anything personally — except the release of much hot air. It is much more demanding to do as Jesus commanded: to reach out to the stranger who is suffering, marginalised, oppressed.

It demands commitment in time and energy as well as the ability to see Jesus in the poor, the oppressed and the marginalised — not just among our fellow parishioners. To look at them with the eyes of Jesus and to be moved to compassion — and from that compassion, to action — that should be one of the key tests of our faith and spirituality.

If we follow Matthew 25, we can never, never rest, as long as there is one among us who is suffering. For when one part is in pain, the entire body suffers — and no one feels that suffering and isolation MORE acutely than Jesus, who identifies most closely with the least among us.