-no more homilies to listen to. Email me at frete@saint-albert.org if you want one mailed
-readings for this Sunday are at USCCB.org
-I am presiding at 4:00pm and 12:30pm Mass
Hang in there!
The gesture of para-bole (parable) is what I hear in the Word this week and I see in the church. The church is sacrament of the kingdom and it's gesture is para-bole "alongside of". What I mean is that if we are the sign of the kingdom we show that nature by our relating...being next to each other/para-bole.
This "being cast together" is not only the key to our being the sacrament and sign of the kingdom, it is the hardest thing in the world. Like the weeds and the wheat our goodness and evil has to dwell together while we await the kingdom just as we are expressing the kingdom.
Aren't you discouraged at the level of dysfunction in the church? Can't we get rid of the problem people? No, cause they are part of our story, para-bole. In fact, we are alternately their weeds...ouch.
Wadayathink?
2 comments:
The challenge to consider our relating – goodness and evil standing next to each other – as the key to our being sacrament and sign of the kingdom resonates with me. Very recently I read a reflection by Fr. Richard Rohr and in it he comments on God using even mistakes and sin in this world and turning it toward the good. Nothing in this world is wasted in God’s redemptive activity. Isn’t that a great thought? So, rather than fret about what we perceive to be wrong or dysfunctional, we can have confidence that if we simply let it be, and continue to work away at the mission through our love and service to others while loving and praising God, all in the name of Jesus, God will make use of it all! That is rather freeing – if we can completely put our trust in God.
It really is the hardest thing in the world. I think distraction and duplicity are huge.
It is so, “in my face” when I walk out of church after mass… I just want to walk back in and stay. This world is such a mess.
… it is in this, how I have come to glimpse understanding of how those Holy people can retreat to solitary. I think… the matter of not wanting to expose one’s self to this world’s stuff. The desire to be away from it... far away from it… to be absorbed into God. … although, I must admit, I can’t say that I have not considered it, at one time… the just going somewhere alone thing… but… I couldn’t stay away… it is in that simultaneous coming to a truth of awareness of the desire to be with the other…a truly human life in God - experienced only by, or “with” relating “through” the other – the desire to be enjoined – it is indeed through Him, with Him, in Him. Why else does He put us here all together at the same time--- cast us together— perhaps to gather us in……..in His time and His way... a fusion of souls.
… the Church is not God – God is the Church. this thought just doesn’t leave me alone. I think just maybe.. I have moved past the frustration and come to acceptance, or maybe have settled for, a committed life mission just trying to live a life of witness… remaining mindful of what He said, that His church will prevail. I like that… and I suspect, somewhere deep in my heart, I desire and will return to some kind of ministry to include and more than the one I presently try to live. I’ll leave that in God’s hands for now.
It is a comfort to know someday I can go home… simply rest.
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