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"We live in the tension." - Travis Neuman

 Throughout my Jesuit formation, I've heard repeatedly the phrase, "we live in the tension." Jesuits should feel comfortable walking in the margins and with the marginalized. Our evangelical efforts are like a tide that goes in and out. It goes out, we meet people "where they are," and sometimes for no other reason than to accompany them. Other times, the tide comes in, we invite said people into the faith, to belong to the Church - the fullness of the faith with all the Church's sacraments.

In no way contradicting that, the Holy Spirit obviously works inside and outside the Church. (Two of my personal heroes belong to the 4-square Christian (of the Pentecostal tradition I learned this week) denomination, and the other is a devout wickan (Mother Earth-spirituality devotee), and the Holy Spirit works clearly in both of them.  The ambivalence OF MY LIFE is how some native tribes - as depicted in historical fictitious work Dances With Wolves - could look like the garden of Eden before Christianity arrived to the New World.

I was slightly satisfied hearing a Catholic evangelist explain all religions contain some truth and DO MORE WITH LESS; they might lack the fullness of truth in the Catholic Church, but they do more with greater devotion, zeal, commitment, etc. My mormon sister, I think, lacks some religious truths in her ideas, but I see her do amazing works of prayerful charity, more than I do. She is healthier than me, etc.

Today, Friday, we heard that the Anglicans and Lutherans were able to acknowledge some reasons for divisions in the past no longer apply - which is good news! And we heard that we don't know what union of various Christian faiths will look like, but we need to keep our doors and hearts open to one another.

JPII's May 25th 1995's Ut Unum Sint says repeatedly throughout the document that unity will need to include Christian denominations "[in full communion with the Bishop of Rome.]" That to me does NOT sound like "unity in diversity." JPII in the same document says it's the pope's job to lead these efforts, and we should all listen to one another with love and patience.  My suspicion divisions show us Catholics sometimes where we've dropped the ball, and other denominations challenge us to trust more in charismatic prayer, seek a faith-filled EXPERIENCE and not complacently check off the sacraments. (seek holiness in various ways), because the denominations have much to learn from each other. 

Patient listening or welcoming home, it's both.

I have thoughts on each of the day's new insights, and I appreciate the speaker's genuine enthusiasm in appreciating the gifts various gifts offer.    (I love reading and watching accounts of people's Near-Death Experiences, and survivors always say they were told the most important (only important?)  task on Earth is to love.) As a Catholic, I live in the tension.

Comments

  1. Melissa Fiesser’s ROME Trip BLOGJune 30, 2026 at 10:04 AM

    Hi, Travis,
    I enjoyed reading your blog. Yes, we, as Catholics, live in tension. It’s living the Gospel each day and how can we truly say we are living the Gospel if we are not pursuing unity with others? All of the history’s disagreements get in the way. Lots of prayer, forgiveness, love and acts of kindness will reduce the tension we face as Christians with our brothers and sisters. It’s Christ’s plan that we all may be one. The tension is part of the plan because we are all perfectly made in God’s image, but (thankfully), we are all unique.
    Best,
    Melissa

    ReplyDelete

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