Many or All?
Today was our children’s mass which means that all of the children of the parish run the show. The only adult on the alter is Fr. Buehler and eventually the Eucharistic ministers. Otherwise the readings, singing, presentation, et all are done by the kids. Our parish is part of the inner city and welcomes everyone. It is one of the reasons that we are there, because I feel the teachings of Jesus in a living and breathing way. Consequently, we have a great many families who are on or below the poverty line. We have a strong immigrant contingent from various Latino countries as well as Vietnam. When I see the children of our parish at the children’s mass I feel that I am given a special glimpse of God. God in all of his faces, in the vastness of his being. Now, don’t get me wrong I see this in the adults too, but it is different for some reason with the kids. There is something in it’s purest form before me. Perhaps the love of the parents or guardians who are bringing them there, the way they entrust their children and the way the parish truly honors that trust. I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something truly special that is happening in our parish. Last year, we had the most baptisms in our diocese because of the sense of mission of our pastor to do as Jesus tells us and welcome all. To view everyone not only as our neighbor but also as a child of God. So when I was reading an article in America about the changing of the liturgy I was a little befuddled. I will try to link you to it but it essentially comes down to the word “many” versus the word “all” when we proclaim that Christ died for our sins, http://www.americamagazine.org/ . I want to be clear, I am not an expert in the liturgy but I know enough to feel that there are so many implications about how we see ourselves as a church wrapped into this essay. I feel that as a Catholic, I need to partake in that conversation. Being brought up in a more progressive atmosphere I feel that there a tide turning in the wrong direction. So many people are asking, “what is becoming of us,” but even more simply don’t take the time to care. This matters. It is one word but it is in the context of a time that the rule makers of our church feel they need to exercise their “power” in a way, that should at times, make us all more than uncomfortable. Jesus, as a Jew was part of the chosen people. Jesus as a Jew, spoke to gentiles, Samaritans, lepers, prostitutes and everyone else who seemed so easily cast aside…these are the people he commanded his disciples to seek out, these are the lost sheep. So when we change the word from “all” to “many,” are we suggesting that there are some people God really isn’t interested in? It sounds exclusive and that runs contrary to what Jesus teaches. If it is exclusive instead of inclusive, who is not included? If we are exclusive instead of inclusive, how are we a universal church? Our priest spoke to the children about Jesus on a mission, about John proclaiming that mission, about each of us being important to God. That is the key aspect of evangelization….welcoming…opening up our own hearts to whoever stands before us. I can only fully embrace that if I am looking at each person without discrimination. What are you thoughts?
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