The Gift and the Grief in Sacrilege

Saint John wrote, “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first” (John 15:18). These words are familiar to us Christians, but we feel their veracity when disdain is laid bare in the sin of sacrilege. Vandalism of churches, mutilation of statues, and mockery of religious orders occur regularly. Grief surfaces and cries out for understanding and healing. In the wake of sacrilege, we ponder: Why is Christianity so often the target of abuse, and why do Christians care about it so deeply?

There is no dearth of pragmatic explanations for blasphemy and sacrilege. Christianity remains the largest religion in the world; it is prolific in the cultural imagination and, therefore, easily appropriated and mistreated. The abuse and violence unjustly perpetrated in the name of Jesus has certainly, and at times even rightfully, made those claiming to be Christians the subject of satire and criticism. This sentiment can overflow into hatred of Christ Himself. Church teaching clashes with the secular, morally relativistic culture, which attempts to demean and belittle Christ to bolster its own agenda. These practical answers are compelling, but there are also theological considerations to take into account. Could there be deeper reasons that Christianity, and especially the Catholic faith, are subjects of mockery and attack?

At the heart of Christianity lies the Incarnation—the radical event of God becoming man. This is the surrender of love: God desired to encounter us so deeply that, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” (John 1:14). Many religions claim to have access to or knowledge of the divine, but only Christianity claims that God became a human being. This distinguishes Christianity among other religions. Because God has a body, a face, and a name, we can embrace Him in love. Because Jesus became like us, we can become like Him. 

The Incarnation has enabled us to be divinized by Christ, but it has also given us the opportunity to defile Him. Because God became a man, that man can be abused. It happened on Calvary, and it continues today, both in the public square and in the hearts of men. A person can be targeted easily, held up in a parade more clearly than a philosophy or teaching. By becoming a human being, God placed Himself into view as a subject for scorn and mockery. It was not accidental to His Incarnation, it was anticipated and accepted for the sake of love. Sacrilege and blasphemy can be perpetrated egregiously, because God became man.

Jesus, after the ascension of His incarnate body, remains with us in the Eucharist. Because of that, the Eucharist stands as an object of hatred for those opposed to Him. Sacrilege against the Eucharist is a testament to the True Presence of Christ; otherwise, it would not be the subject of theft and abuse. Because the Eucharist is more than a symbol, because it is the body and blood of Jesus, it is earmarked for assault. 

This is why the mockery of the Last Supper, seen at the Paris Olympics, touched Catholics so deeply. The institution of the Eucharist is a moment of intimate gift. When the vulnerability of that intimacy is taken advantage of, Catholics grieve. This can manifest itself in harmful ways such as anger, fear, or withdrawl, but the grief is understandable nonetheless. In these moments, we are called to recognize these feelings and model Jesus, humbly confronting injustice and inviting others to encounter and honor God. 

A final consideration as to why blasphemy and sacrilege persist, is that there is no fear in love (1 John 4:18). God is love, and for that love He has laid Himself bare. He does not coerce us to return His love by threats or punishments, but invites us to accept and embrace Him in freedom. The world does not fear mocking and criticizing Christ and His Church because He will not retaliate with violence in this life. God’s tenderness allows for our prodigality, but also invites us to humility. In receptivity and reverence to God, we will live in the truth of who we are. The only things we need to fear are the sins of blasphemy and sacrilege, by which we reject God’s love and doom ourselves to misery.

Returning to the question: Why are acts of blasphemy and sacrilege against Christians so egregiously committed? It is because only in Jesus Christ has God become a person, and only a person can be humiliated. This injustice calls out to our consciences, beckoning us to repentance and devotion to the Lord who has emptied Himself out for us. 

Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:2-11)

Goetze, S.C.H. (1905). Despised and Rejected of Men [print]. Retrieved from ArtUK.