Thank You for the Conversations

By: Mike Van Vranken

PROUD OF THE outcome following several weeks of preparing for my first meditation article for the Catholic Connection over 12 years ago, I emailed it to a priest friend asking for his thoughts. He called saying: “Mike, you can do better than this.” He explained when he reads something like this, he wants to be challenged, made to squirm a little, to have his insights somewhat broadened and even questioned. Consequently, taking my own experiences (they are the only experiences I know), I choose those I grapple and struggle with, those I take to God in my own contemplative prayer, and share with you some of what I glean from those prayer experiences. I try to present them with some of my own evocative and challenging questions. My suggestion is always for you to pay attention to your inner movements when meditating on the article, then intimately and lovingly share those feelings with God; asking him for His perspective. I never have your answers, but He does.

My September article dealt with my perception of a deafening silence about how we, as Catholics, can help everyone who has been adversely affected by the pandemic. Seeing these lives as sacred, I wondered aloud if we are hindered by our personal interests in the economy. Today, I am so thrilled and humbled by the response. The silence has ended and the conversations taking place are like birds singing and bells ringing. The resulting music is a full symphony of sound ranging from those who were troubled, confused or angered by the message, as well as those who were strengthened, comforted and supported by the article. The view we see now is both panoramic and holistic. Our name, Catholic, originates in the Greek phrase Katholou, which means “being made whole.” From your responses to me, the Catholic Center, the conversations among yourselves, and especially a few homilies I’ve heard, we are having a universal dialogue we were not having before.

I think about the person who was offended when they didn’t hear the preeminence of protecting the unborn in my meditation. And, at the same time, the heartfelt response from one who is still sheltered at home because of underlying conditions, and how the same article gave her consolation to help alleviate her fears and loneliness. Do we unabashedly protect the innocent and vulnerable unborn at all costs? Absolutely. And, at the same time, we do not ignore the dignity and presence of Christ in the sick and lonely. It is never one or the other. It is always both/and.

Then, there is one who felt the issue as political. And, yes, as part of our culture and traditions, it is very political. At the same time, another emailed that they were thankful this article pointed them back to Jesus and gave them clarity. Politics are part of the stuff of our lives. Yet, long before we humans made this a political issue, Jesus was making it a gospel issue. Again, it’s not either-or; both are included.

I heard from one thanking me for the article, saying it is hard enough being a Catholic businessperson and how support from the Church is more important than support from the government. Simultaneously someone else suggested I was slighting the many non-profits like Catholic Charities who do so much for people. I happen to be a founding member of our Catholic Charities and served on its initial board of directors. I know first-hand how much this organization does to help the needy of our diocese. So, YES! We can help by supporting ministries such as Catholic Charities and still search for other creative ways we can help our Catholic businesspeople.

To the 17-year-old who took issue with some things I wrote, your questions, your dedication to the unborn, and your desire for answers give us such hope for the Church. As Pope Francis has said, the youth are not only our future, you are also our present! I encourage you to keep the questions coming, continue your own journey finding ways to serve God, and please don’t ever lose your enthusiasm. I am so proud of your engagement in this conversation. Keep it up.

These examples and the other communications you all sent each represent our unitive experience of Christ in our midst. Some have used the image of a seamless garment. St. Paul called us the Body of Christ. And Jesus referred to our one, communion relationship with him and each other as the Kingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven.

As long as I am given this grace-filled opportunity, I will continue to share challenging and evocative questions. Like Jacob of old, we can all take these questions, wrestle with them and God through the night, and come out visibly changed with a deeper calling and purpose. Thank you again for the beautiful music of your dialogue. Please don’t stop now.