“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me

cannot be my disciple.

Which of you wishing to construct a tower

does not first sit down and calculate the cost

to see if there is enough for its completion? 

Otherwise, after laying the foundation

and finding himself unable to finish the work

the onlookers should laugh at him and say,

‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’”

While technically reserved to business decisions, who of us has not done some form of a cost-benefit analysis when considering our options? Even in our parish community and in the area of faith, we honor the faith decisions that people make to join our parish, volunteer their time and offer their talents, and contribute financially to our mission. While we may be inspired by the Holy Spirit, we also weigh the practical dimensions of what we gain and what we give. The pandemic put a focus on how a faith community can respond to a crisis and provide resiliency and belonging in the midst of uncertainty. Many (and I mean more than can be cited) studies have shown the benefits of organized religion for society and religious belief and practice for individuals. 

As a society, religious involvement is related to increased levels of education, lower crime rates, greater civic involvement, higher levels of cooperation, lower divorce rates, higher marital satisfaction and better child adjustment (Harvard Business School). Organized religion in the United States contributes $1.2 trillion to the GDP. If it were its own country, it would be the 15th largest economy in the world (Pew Research). Individually, religiosity improves health. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic concluded, “Most studies have shown that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes, including greater longevity, coping skills, and health-related quality of life (even during terminal illness) and less anxiety, depression, and suicide. Several studies have shown that addressing the spiritual needs of the patient may enhance recovery from illness.” Specifically, religious involvement leads to lower rates of coronary disease, emphysema and cirrhosis, lower blood pressure, and longer life expectancy (HBS). In one systematic review of available research, religion and spirituality were shown to provide positive psychological outcomes for coping with adversity, positive emotions, well-being and happiness, hope, optimism, meaning and purpose, self-esteem, sense of control, and positive character traits. Likewise, it showed practice of religion and spirituality had an inverse relationship to depression, suicide, anxiety, and substance abuse (National Center for Biotechnology Information). Connectedness, hope, optimism, trust, and purpose, associated with religious beliefs, boost mental health. Compassion, forgiveness, and gratefulness, also associated with religious beliefs, decrease stress and increase resiliency (Forbes).

If these are the benefits in this life, along with forgiveness of sins, communion with God and others, and eternal salvation, what is the cost? If the benefit is love unchained and unlimited, what do we pay? We can’t just counterfeit religious belief or pretend at spirituality. We must pay the price. We must carry the cross. In other words, we must give God our all. The deal is all of me for all of God, all of you for all of God. It is a covenant, a complete gift of self, a total surrender. Whatever you are holding back, let go. Wherever you are hurt, be healed. Whenever you fail, be reconciled. Plunge in!