3rd LENT homily Belonging leads to believing

In the major cities of the United States, and especially back in the east, Catholic Parishes were in a lot of places, even within blocks of one another.  Why?  God forbid the Irish worship with the Italians with the Polish with the Germans.

Cincinnati, where I lived for a couple of years, had a large German immigrant population early on in its history. In the Clifton area where I lived within a mile of each other there were at least 3 huge church buildings, St. Georges, St.Monica’s and I forget the other. When I asked why there were so many so close, I was told that each was built by immigrants from their own towns back in Germany, because they would not worship with the others.   And I also suspect they wanted to retain the sense of community they had back in the “old country”.

So the sense was one belonged to the parish because of DNA and geography! Faith in Christ...maybe  Of course, these parishes have now had to rethink this as our cultures have changed. Those that don’t have died.

But lest we in the western USA think ourselves different...I have experienced a phenomena in adults seeking to baptize their children.   When asked why they want to baptize babies, even when they do not come to church regularly? “Because Grandma wants us to. Because that’s what we do as Mexicans, as Filipino, as Italians., insert any traditional Catholic ethnic group”.  

This past Tuesday some of us gathered to reflect on the meaning of “Church”. A word with lots of different meanings, depending upon the context. Yet the root of this word means community.  

“Where two or three are gathered in my name…”

Church, a community of believers. People committed to a mission in Christ, to help build up the Kingdom here on earth.  A community committed to raising up others, just as they, we, have been raised up in Christ.  A community that is not based upon externals or accidents of genetics; rather an intention, a desire for something more out of life.

Jesus in his first acts of ministry gathered people around him, people curious about him. “Come and See” he said. “Come and I will make you fishers of men” he invited. So men and women gathered about him, and walked with him. They got to know him and learned more of him and what he preached.  In all of the Gospels those that stayed with Jesus and experienced the fullness of Christ in the Resurrection were forever changed. Their faith grew and grew, and their sharing of this faith grew and grew.

Jesus models church.

This is a powerful Gospel on faith and what it means to be church.  Jesus encounters this woman, this person, this child of God, and engages her.  He invited her to belong, overlooking all societal exclusions. He simply talked to her and invited her to talk with him. Telling her she has value.  Through this engagement he draws her in. He moves her through her own stereotypes.  He exposes the lies of what society says is proper and not proper.   He draws her into a relationship through which she begins to see her own self, her own value; and in which she begins her liberation.

There is no condemnation on Jesus’ part. There is no request for faith first, then belonging after. There is no proof of citizenship, no proof of anything...

Belonging leads to believing.

We are the Body of Christ, the Church.

We, filled with the living waters of Baptism, have a mission to create belonging, so that believing can happen.

This weekend the Elect, those preparing to be baptized, reflect on their own sense of belonging and believing, and where they are in this journey. They enter into a community, to continue to grow in their faith. It is amazing. 

[[Elect and our candidate, my hope for you is that you found a community to belong to. My hope is that you experienced a community of believers in Christ, who though not perfect, still seek perfection. My hope is that you have experienced some answers, but have found even more questions and now want more. You have added your own uniqueness and gifts to this community, and will continue to do so.   You will join with us on a deeper level to be an even better community, one that engages not just the people in this building, but the entire community. One that seeks dialogue with others, not judgment. A church that seeks transformation for all. A church that really wishes to raise up people.  At our hearts, this is who we are, because this is who Jesus was, is and ever shall be]]

We as Church, as parish, must reflect too on our mission and who we wish to be.  We must engage all, create a sense of belonging, so that others can find belief, the belief that we have.

Belief in the sanctity of all human life.

Belief in the power of selfless giving, compassion, mercy, love.

Belief in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who wildly, wholly, unbridled desires us, and wants us whole,

A God who does not regard our DNA, our geography, as essential, but just the fact that we are.

God wants us to belong.  

As an aside, I feel a real tension these days. Because of this virus, I know there is a need to limit contact, the short term goal so as to reduce the spread.  I get that.  But for some, this mass, this gathering of community is so needed to feel connected to a world.   People are already feeling isolated enough, and to limit a community’s ability to come together...

I do not know what will happen in the coming weeks, but I want to ensure that we have a place for us to come together…I want us to have a means to engage with one another, to check up on one another.  

Very few of us have the Virus, presumably….Yet I know right now there are families enduring cancers and other serious illnesses.  And there are families awaiting babies and weddings.

We still need to support one another and celebrate with one another.  We need to feel that sense of belonging.  So that we can believe in hope.