Keep it to yourself Tim!
If you’re a fan of NFL football, you are well aware of the phenomenon of Tim Tebow. He is the quarterback of the Denver Broncos and known for leading his team to miraculous comeback wins; but, more importantly, he is known for his deep Christian faith. Having been born of parents who are Christian missionaries, Tim evidently grew up in a family and in an environment which “gave permission” to live and express one’s faith outwardly and un-self-consciously. Because of this, he has generated criticism from more secular-oriented people and, on the other hand, lavish praise from people of faith for his seemingly genuine witness to our Lord.
I dare say that, in this country, the predominant disposition on the matter of faith is, “Keep it to yourself!” Though not as bad as Western Europe, America has become increasingly secularized of the decades. Secular ideology tends to see religion as something which should not be brought to bear on public life: It is, on the contrary, something which is to be kept to oneself.
If we are honest, I think that many of us would admit that we have bought into this dichotomy between the public and the private. Personally speaking, though I was brought up in a devout, practicing Catholic family, we did not generally express our faith outwardly in public . . .not even to each other, (at least, not that often). Generally speaking, this seems to be the character of this northeastern part of the country which, recent polling data suggests, has become the least religious part of the whole nation. . . supplanting the Pacific Northwest for that dubious distinction!
As Catholics, we can learn something from Tim’s ever-ready disposition to share his Christian faith . . . though our expression of faith will likely be different: After all, in his Bible and in ours it says, “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, (1 Peter 3:15)” and “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”
I suspect that it is very simple for Tim Tebow: He thinks something along the lines of “Jesus is my Lord and Savior. . . If I place my faith in him I have eternal life.” Whereas, we may think it a much more complicated matter: “Well, there are the sacraments, and the saints and the Church, and the Pope, etc. It’s too much to explain!”
A key difference between Tim Tebow’s profession of faith and ours is that his is likely focused on his personal act of faith and his personal relationship with Jesus. Whereas, as Catholics, we profess the Church of Christ: Jesus Christ gave the means of salvation to the Church. The Church is His doing, and his continued presence to his people . . . transforming them by their worship and as recipients of the Sacraments. Hence, to the question, “Why are you Catholic?” may I suggest an answer, “I am a Catholic Christian because I believe that Jesus will transform my life by his grace through His Church?”
There are many other possible answers; we just need to give it some thought! We must not be timid! We must not be ashamed! We recall the words of our Lord, “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory.”
Fr. Greg
