Wrong Side of History

Following the guidance of the Holy Spirit in history

05/02/2017

John 6:30-35 

The crowd said to Jesus: "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat." So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." So they said to Jesus, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

         Have you ever heard the phrase, “the wrong side of history”? It’s a fascinating phrase because it helps us to penetrate below the surface of history and see the deeper undercurrents. First of all, to say there is a “wrong side” of history” implies that there is also a “right side.” Let me give you an example. In the mid-19th century – around 1850 and 1860 – a deeply divisive debate raged in the United States over slavery and ultimately exploded into the Civil War. At that time both sides of the issue thought they were on the “right side” but eventually the war and human history would reveal who was in fact on the “right side” and who was on the “wrong side” of history. Today, we would be appalled at anyone who championed slavery as morally acceptable. The course of history has a way of settling heated controversies.

          But I believe more is going on that meets the eye in human history. I like to say “the Holy Spirit is driving the bus.” In other words, history is not merely a conglomeration of blind forces converging over a long period of time – dictators and wars and natural disasters. But rather, there is a noticeable “method to the madness,” and people of faith can see that the Holy Spirit is directing the tumultuous traffic and the “long and winding road” of human history. In 1965 the Second Vatican Council made this prophetic statement, saying, “The People of God (that’s you and me) believes that it is led by the Lord’s Spirit, who fills the earth. Motivated by this faith, it labors to decipher the authentic signs of God’s presence and purpose in the happenings, needs and desires in which this People (that’s you and me again) has a part along with other men (and women) of our age. For faith throws light on everything” (Gaudium et spes, 11). That’s just a fancy way of saying that “the Holy Spirit drives the bus” of human history, and he steers us away from the “wrong side of history.”

          Another example of the right and wrong side of history is found in today’s feast of St. Athanasius. How you ever heard of him? Every Sunday you say something thanks to him, namely, the Nicene Creed. You know that moment in the Mass where, after the deacon’s long homily, you stand and wake up and stretch, and we all say this long statement of faith called the Creed?  The technical name for it is “the Nicene Creed” because it was forged in the famous Council of Nicaea in 325. At that time another divisive debate was raging all over Christendom about Jesus’ identity: was he fully God and also fully man? On one side was a bishop named “Arias” who denied Jesus was fully God, and on the other side was St. Athanasius, who defended Jesus’ identity as having two natures, God and man. (I’ll give you a clue who won, it was the saint). That’s why the Creed has that long section, “God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father.” All that affirms – against Arias – that Jesus is 100% God. Every time you profess your faith you should not only know what you believe, but also know how history unfolds. In other words, the Holy Spirit guided the pope and bishops – he drove the council bus – steering them away from the “wrong side of history.”

          My dear ladies, today’s feast day also has so much richness and relevance for the Ladies Auxiliary. Haven’t you seen in your own storied history times when you were on the “right side” and at other times on the “wrong side”? Well, that applies to everyone by Rita Helfrich, who’s always right. But it’s especially the job of the new officers of the Auxiliary to pray and ponder and perceive how the Holy Spirit is leading all of you. It’s wise to do this with the help of your pastor and your bishop and your pope. Your specific job is to do what the Second Vatican Council said: “Motivated by this faith, it labors to decipher the authentic signs of God’s presence and purpose in the happenings, needs and desires in which this People has a part along with other men (and women) of our age. For faith throws light on everything.”

          I want you to know how proud I am of you because you are so docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit (especially when I ask for a favor). You try very hard to let the Holy Spirit “drive the bus of the Ladies Auxiliary.” When you do that, you will not end up on the wrong side of history, and you won’t end up in the ditch.

Praised be Jesus Christ!