Why "Charismatic"?

 Our bible /book study group yesterday had a discussion about the supra-rational aspects of faith -- that is, the elements that simply don't make sense to the rational mind:  visions, voices, miracles, etc.  If Joan of Arc had yielded to the rational, France would not have been saved from the English.  In fact, she was eventually burned at the stake for not making rational sense, for yielding to the voices that directed her.

Bishop Barron's reflection on today's Gospel reading reinforces our discussion.  Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?"  Immediately come the rational answers--- the ones that "make sense:"  "Some say you are John the Baptist" (returned); "Some say Elijah" (returned); "Some say Jeremiah or one of the prophets" (returned).  How remarkable that what "makes sense" to our rational minds is that these people have returned from the dead.  In other words, we cannot explain spiritual realities, and when we reach for rational explanation, our answers don't really make sense either.

Peter's answer came from revelation, from the Holy Spirit:  Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to someone who recognized Him, not through rational sense, but through direct revelation from the Father. Bishop Barron says this:  This is the mystical faith that stands at the heart of Christianity.  To hold this Petrine faith is to be a Christian; to deny it is to deny Christianity....The church is neither democratic nor aristocratic -- it is charismatic. And this is where its power comes from.

The "mysteries" of our faith are supposed to lead us to revelation.  Our faith doesn't "make sense" if it is real; it is not given to us by man but by God Himself.  The sacraments of the Church is the Latin translation of the Greek "mysteries."  We come to the sacraments in our rational lives; we are baptized; we confess our sins; we receive the Eucharist, etc.  But these rational and ordinary steps are designed to lead us into the mystery of Christ revealing Himself to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

A recent survey revealed that 70% of Catholics do not believe that the Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, but only a symbol.  This tells me that 70% of Catholics are sitting in the seats of the other apostles at Caesarea Philippi when Jesus asked his question: Who do you say that I am?  Without revelation, without the Holy Spirit, we attempt to "make sense" of our religion.  It cannot be done.  

Karl Rahner once said, "The Christian of the future will either be charismatic or he will be nothing."  I think we are at that point.  Those who still attend church from culture or custom will drop away.  Those who remain must become flames of fire, knowing through revelation from the Holy Spirit: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  And You are with us now.  I know this to be true, even if it makes no sense to anyone else.