Breaking Rules @ Work: A Labor Day Reflection

Jesus, The Man at Bethseda, Canon Law 1379 and Me

The Man at Bethseda

In John 5, we read about a devout man. Let’s call him Caleb which is a Hebrew name meaning “faithful” or “wholehearted.” In Caleb’s Jewish tradition, there are cultural norms around taking ritual baths in a communal bath. One of the baths was called “Bethseda,” which means “house of mercy.” The Caleb’s community believed that an angel came each day and stirred the bath waters. The first person into the waters would be healed. In modern times, people believe that there are healing waters in Lourdes, France as well as other places.

So, Caleb was camped out at Bethseda – trying to practice the tradions of his faith. Trusting that people could be healed. But, not Caleb because he had no one to put him in the waters. He could NEVER be first!

Jesus' Questions & A Miracle

Jesus comes to Bethseda and with Spirit-Sophia-Wisdom recognizes that out of the “hundreds of sick people” who were there, Caleb was the one with whom He should converse.

“Do you want to get well?” Jesus asks. Remember, God has given us free choice!

Caleb doesn’t really answer the question. He gives reasons why he CANNOT be healed.

Jesus instantly reorders Caleb’s body and mind – liberating Caleb, empowering him to move freely and re-enter the community.

Jesus gives a command that seems impossible to Caleb who had been paralyzed for 38 years! “Get up. Take your bedroll. Start walking.”

Wait – wait – wait.  First – Caleb’s legs haven’t worked in nearly four decades. Second – it’s against the Jewish rules to carry the bedroll on the Sabbath. Not sure why that rule existed – doesn’t really matter.

Caleb is willing to step outside of the confines of his tradition’s rules to against all odds – trust the man who just gave him a command. Maybe Caleb felt energy course through his body. Or maybe he felt a warmth radiate through him. Or maybe his toes began to wiggle involuntarily for the first time since before “the event” that left him paralyzed. Maybe the Spirit “overshadowed” Caleb and gave him the courage to “do whatever [He] tells you.”

Caleb gets up and walks away. Hello! Miracle!!!!! Of the biggest, most visible way! Call the newspapers or town crier!

Breaking the Rules

But Caleb encounters people who are upset that he is breaking a rule. And yet…

“A little later” Jesus and Caleb meet again. Where? IN THE TEMPLE! Caleb is a devout Jew who treasures his religious tradition. He was following the rules for ritual baths. He believed in the presence of angels and healing – as he read about in the Jewish Scriptures and was the tradition in his community. Once he is miraculously healed – he heads to The Temple, not out to socialize. To praise God and give thanks!

And yet – how does his community respond? They complain about Caleb breaking the rules and they set out to get Jesus! Jesus!

Caleb & Me

AAARRGH. Recently, I was praying about some of the invisible things that have kept me “paralyzed” for the last four decades of my life when the Spirit led me to Caleb’s story.

I can see so much of myself in Caleb. I’m very cognizant that eight months ago, my feet were not working and I was not able to walk into a “temple.” I’m so grateful that unlike Caleb, I have an amazing circle of love that carried me through the difficult months in so many ways. I am similar to Caleb in that I treasure my Catholic faith and I’ve grown up with the rituals which have brought order and meaning to my days. Caleb and I both believe in angels and healing. Personally, I’ve both witnessed and experienced life-giving changes in my body and my life. Because of this, I try to do what Jesus tells me to do!

Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan and Rev. AndreaGrace at her ordination Mass

Following Jesus' Commands

One of the things that Jesus told me to do was to be ordained as a Catholic priest. You see, that faith that Caleb had, that love of his faith tradition, the desire to go to the Temple, that willingness to follow Jesus and obey His commands…. All of that has been a part of me and my life since I was a little girl in elementary school. I can tell you about a dozen “Bethseda” moments in my life when I encountered Jesus and was “miraculously healed,” liberated to step into the life God intended for me in the Catholic community and the greater world. I AM so far from the troubled, depressed teen who walked into her first healing service. I AM so very grateful for the 150 people who joined me at the “Bethseda” pool where I was ordained – those who stood and clapped in affirmation that I was stepping into my destiny.

Breaking Catholic Man-Made Laws

And yet – the Catholic church’s hierarchy looks at me and points out that I AM not following a rule made by Pope Innocent in the 1100s. A rule that banned women and married men from the priesthood so that he could protect the financial assets of The Church. And just like the people around Caleb who went after Jesus, the church’s hierarchy can come after me and the other priests in my community who are women, married or LGBTQ. Why? Because in the 2000s, Pope Benedict made another rule, Canon Law 1379, that says all of us who followed Jesus’ command to “Get up! Be ordained! Start walking and ministering!” – well, we are all excommunicated – kicked out of the Temple and cut-off from the community. No more sacraments in “The Temple.” No more working in a “Catholic” position at a hospital or college. And not just us – but anyone who supports us, including the bishops who ordain us and the people who pray with us.

All because, like Caleb, I love my faith tradition. But, I love my God waaaay more. Because, I am willing to put God’s command over man-made rules.

I wonder where Caleb went after The Temple.

I wonder when the Catholic hierarchy will recognize The Trinity at work, answering our prayers for more priests.

I wonder when I’ll be free to enter “The Temple” to celebrate our beautiful Catholic rituals that bring healing and new life. 

I wonder.

Let’s pray:

Jesus, please, please, please. Ask the Catholic hierarchy to answer the question: Do you really want more priests? Do you really want the Church to be vibrant again?

Ask them to obey YOU! May they hear You saying: “Get up! Ordain the people I have called to the priesthood including those who are women, married and LGBTQ+. Break your own man-made rules. Be liberated! Experience new life” 

Caleb, pray with us.

Archangel Raphael, bring divine healing to us.

Amen. Amen. Again I say Amen. So be it.

PS - I will be celebrating Mass every Sunday morning at 10 AM ET on zoom with the BeLoved Inclusive Catholic Community.

Sometimes we gather in person, as well. We follow Jesus' example of welcoming everyone to the table and focusing on our beautiful traditions, not the rules. If you are looking for spiritual nourishment in a circle of love, consider joining us, reach out for more information.

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