Faith is amazing. Equally amazing are the variety of uses and meanings that can be applied to the same word. This week two very different uses of the word “faith” emerged on two very different world stages. One was all talk and got all the coverage. The other was real and living and vibrant, but barely got a mention.
“Faith” was the word of choice emanating from the Democratic National Convention in LA this week. It seemed like every time a platform speaker would open his mouth this word would come flying out. Rarely was it ever defined. Perhaps no one who used it can explain what it actually means. Still, every Democrat at the podium boasted of having “faith”.
First, Hadassah Lieberman: “Joe Lieberman is a man of deep faith.”
Next, Al Gore’s oldest daughter: “My father is a man of great faith.” (When she later added that he would “defend a woman’s right to choose,” one wondered just what sort of “faith” she was referring to.)
Then Tipper Gore: “Faith and family are very important to my husband.”
And finally, the Vice President himself stood before the American people declaring his deep devotion to his “faith.”
Now did I miss something here? Surely somebody questioned Al Gore’s faith while I was dozing! Did the Republicans warn Americans to not elect pagans? So what if a candidate and his family and friends all swear he is a man of faith. Does that make someone a man of faith?
True people of faith need not work so hard. The world knows who they are. The one quality people of faith share is authenticity. It is a quality most politicians do not possess. Still the media were in awe, thrilled by all this fresh, liberal talk of religion.
But while the Dems were all saluting and wallowing in religious blather devoid of substance, the biggest “faith” story of the year was being ignored.
While all the media lights shined on some newfound religion in LA, more than 800,000 young people from all over the world braved the blistering Roman heat to be near an 80-year-old paragon of faith.
He is not a rock star, he has no running mate, and no one had to introduce him as “a man of faith.” When John Paul II walks into a room his faith is obvious.
It is hard to con the young. Young people can spot a fraud a mile a way. The fact that more than one million (possibly as many as 2 million) young folks will gather around this aged Pope for the closing Mass of World Youth Day this Sunday is a testament to the power and authenticity of raw (I have to say it) faith.
This is a Pope who pulls no punches. From the moment they arrived in Rome he explained to the young that they had come “to search for Jesus Christ,” then reminded them that “Jesus Christ has first gone in search of you.” The Holy Father later urged them to “be molded by the Holy Spirit,” to spend time in prayer and allow God’s words to echo in their hearts.
By all indications the young are responding. Despite the oppressive heat and crowds, they are still streaming into Rome. And this is not some pre-school beach party. On Thursday more than 200,000 young people crowded through the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica to gain the Jubilee Year indulgence at a rate of 20,000 an hour.
When was the last time you heard of so many young people simultaneously engaging in religious devotion? Probably never. Thousands are going to confession in a huge outdoor field. The Catechism is being taught in 32 languages throughout the city. 24-hour Eucharistic adoration is taking place all over Rome. The Vatican has described the World Youth Day celebration as the largest pilgrimage in history.
Still there is no coverage. I guess the media would rather report talk of faith than see real faith in action. But long after these politicians have marched into the history books, the story in Rome will be continuing. It is a pity so many are missing it.
