Natural Religion

The A level results came out on Thursday, a few days ago, and a church in West London was filled with worshipers, praying for their examination results.  I said to my neighbour that they were all pagans! 

I love using the word pagan because it gives me a good feeling when I use this word, like some people saying the four letter word!

Thinking about the situation on that Thursday early morning Mass, I thought of "natural religion". I once went to see Fr Alan and asked him for the meaning of natural religion and Fr Alan said natural religion was using God.

I remember going to Mass at St Charles, Ogle Street, after 9/11 and Fr Alan said in his homily about people praying just before they died and some of this could be natural religion.

Fr Alan also told us a story that he was once on a plane and the person sitting next to him was reading a ponographic magazine.  When the flying got a bit turbulent, the person got out his rosary and started saying his prayers.  This is another example of natural religion. 

There is nothing offensive about natural religion. It is a good beginning. However, we need to make progress from this and move on to put all our trust in God.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus said, "I do not know where you come from." And the person then said, "We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets."  Jesus replied, "I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!" [Luke 13]

Could Jesus say the above to us one day? We could reply to Jesus, we attended Mass and heard the Word.

So, if the teachings of Jesus have not made an impression on us, and we have not changed, then this disastrous situation might become real for us.

Being selective about Jesus' teaching is very natural for most of us. We ignore what we do not like and give people an impression we are Christians - followers of Jesus Christ.  I remembered hearing many of Fr Alan's explanations on some of Jesus' teachings, and I was horrified. For example, "sell all your possessions and give the money to poor". [Mt 19:21]

Fr Alan said in one of his homilies, "You may look like a Christian, smell like a Christian, sing like a Christian, smile like a Christian, but you are not a Christian."  I often thought of this and wondered what Fr Alan meant.

Could Fr Alan be referring to this "pick and mix" attitude we have to our Christian faith?

And how do all of these link to natural religion? Well, if you and I have natural religion, all of what I have described would be second nature for us.

Let us pray. Almighty God and Father, show us the "natural religion" within us and train us to drop this tendency and be better Christians, loving the people you put in front of us, and accepting ALL of Jesus' teachings and not using you in our daily lives. Amen.