I think today I heard one of the shortest sermons I ever had. It only lasted perhaps 2 minutes. The priest came down from the altar, and pointing a finger towards one side of the congregation said: “You really don’t pray with enough fervor.” Pointing to the other side he said: “You know, you need to bow your head at that point of the mass.” Pointing to another area he said: “Is that how you dress to come to the house of God? You look like you’re going to the beach.” And towards another he pointed: “You should be home right now caring for your mother.” And finally, to another he said: “You should buy less and donate to the poor more. God will bless you for that.”
Jesus said: “That they may be one.”
“He calls all Christians to community, to love one another,” the priest concluded, “and perhaps most especially, the person right in front of you. We are all on a faith journey, at differing areas along the path. We will not see the same things the same ways, but we are still first of all community. Some may have error in their ways; they have not yet been blessed to understand as we do. Our way of learning may not be theirs. Love your neighbor, always, first and foremost. And thank God for his presence in your life.”
The Office of Readings this morning had prayers which echo-ed the same thoughts.
Psalm
138:
He remembered us
in our distress,
for His love
endures forever.
To
the God of heaven give thanks,
for His love
endures forever.
Psalm-Prayer:
God, our Creator, how wonderfully you made man. You transformed dust into Your own image, and
gave it a share in your own nature; yet You are more wonderful in pardoning the
man who had rebelled against you. Grant
that where sin has abounded, grace may more abound, so that we can become
holier through forgiveness and be more grateful to you.
Lord, show me Your ways; teach me to walk in Your footsteps.
1Tim 6:11-21:
I charge you to keep God’s command without blame or reproach until our Lord
Jesus Christ shall appear. … Stay clear of worldly, idle talk and the
contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. In laying claim to such knowledge, some men
have missed the goal of faith.
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Yesterday morning I learned that a man and his wife had undertaken care of another young child. They have lived as foster parents for many years. He explained that their latest little boy was terribly beaten, abused, and has many doctor’s appointments and surgeries scheduled. Yet despite his injuries and being a special needs child, “He smiles and loves all the time, like no one else I’ve seen.” And the foster father spoke of a recent (supervised) meeting with the birth mother. Eighteen and pregnant again, she became enraged that her young baby would not come to her. It may be the last visit she is allowed by the social worker, he said.
Later yesterday afternoon, I related the story to another group and asked for prayers for those involved with the abused young child. One of the people said that young woman should not be allowed to have children; abortion would be a good thing rather than her having and abusing children. I tried to explain the value of the gift of life, all life, and how both the mother and her children, planned or not, need love. The response was: “But I feel ….” And all church teachings and logic of my arguments made no difference. It caused me to be frustrated that my friend couldn’t feel the empathy she felt for the young mother also for her young children, even the unborn.
But all the sermons and readings of this morning address that point we disagreed on. I was concerned in our conversation about another person and her babies, but I was ignoring the person right in front of me. That was the point of this morning’s lessons. We need to be one, in love, even in our not agreeing on things. Agreement and understanding may come later, as grace waters a seed we may have planted. That’s our neighbor in front of us, not one to be pointing fingers at.
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Driving home from church this morning, after the sermon and the readings, I listened to the Catholic radio network. Sister Ann Shields asked host Tom Lowe: “What would you say to someone who said to you ‘I used to believe in God, but I don’t anymore’?” The answer she proposed was” nothing. The person who had no faith in God, or perhaps even animosity towards Him, is not one to try to convince of anything, but rather to listen. Listen and encourage a voicing of their feelings, and express understanding and sympathy for their reasons for making such a radical decision in their lives. “This is not a time for quoting the Bible or accusing,” she said. “This is a time for showing love, for building a relationship, a community understanding of things we can agree upon. Then perhaps a thought or even a hug may plant a seed, for the Holy Spirit to water. Ours is not to preach or be accused of not understanding of their circumstances; these perceptions will enforce their unbelief. We need to first of all establish community with our neighbor.”
These same thoughts were just echoing this morning. I need to remember them the next time someone thinks differently than I do; they may be at a differing point on their faith journey’s path. There is no need to convince them of or why I am at my point. My focus should be on them.
