When you hear the word “institution”, what do you think of? Me and Institutions When you hear the word “institution”, what do you think of?

Defining Institution An institution is a system or an organization in society that takes care of particular needs.

Surrounded by institutions Families Schools Churches Businesses Banks Public transportation

What are they for? Institutions show us how to live in society They direct us on how we can best get things done They help us to realize our talents and abilities They help us to best serve the common good We live our beliefs, values and practices inherited from the institutions we belong to.

Different types of institutions The family is a natural institution The police force, justice system, health system and educational system have developed over time to meet our needs – they are all institutions as well. It is up to us to make institutions life-giving. If they are destructive, we must change them.

The decline in participation Social indicators show that participation in communities is declining. This is happening in all areas: *newspaper reading *running for public office *entering the seminary *attending public meetings *going to church *joining unions *giving blood *eating together as a family No institution has been untouched

Why is this happening? 1. Time and money- everyone is too busy. People don’t have time to give to others or to help organizations or institutions. People are doing less together. They are spending more time doing things by themselves.

Why is this happening? 2. Urban sprawl – More people live in suburbs, where there are fewer opportunities to join organizations, volunteer, or engage in community activities. The suburbs do not encourage socializing. The distance to downtown, to a meeting place, club or organization is just too great Downtown is replaced with a shopping mall.

Why is this happening? 3. Television and the Internet- we spend so much time watching TV. (young people average 24 hrs a week!) we have little time left over for social activities. Much of our leisure time is spent alone. We prefer TV. and internet entertainment over socializing.

Why is this happening? 4. Generational change-there is a slow steady and persistent shift from the generation who made it a point to participate in community to one who is less involved. In almost all areas of community involvement, people between the ages of 18 and 29 are about 50% less likely to be active than their grandparents were.

On the other hand… A study by a sociologist in 2001 stated that a “fairly high 65% of teens say that they expect to be involved in their communities in the future.” Teens are “gravitating toward group activities in such areas as team learning and community service.” Today’s teens are going to be “community shapers and institution builders” Who’s right?

Institutions take care of needs Part of the nature of institutions, like the family or the school, is that each one has a set of rules. Sometimes we think that we would be better off without so many rules, but without them, there would be anarchy. Freedom needs institutions. They provide rules and a stable framework that help us live in society. They are meant to work for the common good.

Institutions are like covenants Institutions help us to become a free people – For the Israelites, the covenant made them into a free people. Who we are, and our life together in communities, is a gift from God. Our interaction with one another through institutions is one of the ways in which we work together with God to become free. Institutions provide a structure to help us live out our covenant with God.

Institutions are like covenants Institutions need rules and a commitment-For the Israelites, the covenant had certain conditions attached to it – the Ten Commandments Today, institutions have conditions attached to them- the rules. Sometimes the rules are not fair, but we should change the rules, not destroy the institution. Institutions need our participation, not our indifference.

Institutions are like covenants Institutions are powerful and require prophetic leaders- The Israelites had Moses. We need leaders who are prayerful and obedient to God. They may be our parents, politicians, caregivers, teachers, priests, etc – look for the true wisdom in people.

Institutions are like covenants Institutions need participation and celebration- One way the Israelites remembered their covenant was to celebrate their liberation. We need to do the same with our institutions – participate and celebrate them.

When the Lord is near… Jesus did not change the institutions of his people. He was immersed in Jewish culture and participated in its institutions. He valued the institutions, but made it his work to bring them back to their original purpose. When the Lord is near and you really trust in his nearness, what would you do in your homes, what would you do in your church, in commerce, in politics?

Jesus says… Do not say “I would be on my best behavior because I fear God” “Only one thing is important. Trust in God and all the rest will be given to you besides” Instead of acting out of fear – fear of God, fear of what others may think, fear of not being popular- act out of love.

Jesus and the institutions of his culture Jesus was very much involved in the institutions of his time – family, the synagogue, the temple, the agrarian society, etc. The only time he became angry was when the institution of the temple was being used as a market place. Jesus had a clear message for us in that story.

The temple and Jesus Jesus knew that the temple had to be a place for all the nations to meet God. The temple of stone, mortar and wood was not enough – the new temple would be Jesus’ body. The place to meet God is now a human being.