August 30, 2026: All Are Welcome
All Are Welcome
The number seven is a holy number in the Catholic Church: 7 days of creation, 7 days of the week, 7 sacraments, 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit, 7 deadly sins, 7 Corporal Works of Mercy, 7 Spiritual Works of Mercy. Seven is the biblical number of fullness—the sense that God is bringing something to completion.
Well on Monday, I turn the big 70!
Now, in my nearly 70 years of life, I have heard many great songs, but one that really names how I feel about church and ministry is this one . . . . [sing ALL ARE WELCOME, verse 3]
Let us build a house where love is found In water, wine and wheat;
A banquet hall on holy ground, where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space;
As we share in Christ the feast that frees us:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
We sang that song just a couple of weekends ago. It was the theme of our Parish Pictorial Directory [hold up Directory from 2015] Speaking of directories, our current directory is in process, and we need each of you to include your picture and information. There’s a full page of instructions in the bulletin on how to get that done.
Now some people, including church leaders, despise that song. They say it doesn’t accurately depict reality. That is, we shouldn’t welcome all people. Well, that says more about them and their church than about the song. For indeed, wouldn’t Jesus say that all are to be welcomed?
Anyway, back to being 70, some people look at any birthday with a zero in it as an ending. “Ah, I am no longer young, I am turning 40, or 50 or whatever. I don’t feel that. In fact, I could have retired this summer. But I am having too much fun, so I plan to stay here another 7 years (and retire after my 50th anniversary as a priest). This is not an ending, it’s a beginning. It’s in how you look at things.
Like in the gospel, Jesus presents the reality that he is going to suffer and be killed. And Peter freaks out and doesn’t want any suffering. For Peter, to follow Jesus should be all “bunnies, rainbows and unicorns.” “Ah no,” says Jesus, “being a Christian involves taking up the cross. It means that there will be pain and suffering. That’s part of the gig.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Like the Chinese symbol for “crisis” combines symbols meaning “danger” and “opportunity.” [show image]
危 机-Crisis 危 - Danger 机 - Opportunity
Jesus said that when we hang onto what was and stay stuck in what is not happening . . . we will lose our life. BUT if we let go of our way of thinking (he says, “lose our life”), if we recognize that any problem is also an opportunity. That which we think is the “end” is really only a beginning.
For example, think of a situation that you are currently dealing with . . . that cancer, those extra pounds, that addiction, that loss of balance, that zit (just before school is starting). There’s a saying I like [show on screen]. “I will be _______ until the day I die, but I will not die another day because I’m _______________” Insert your deal into the blank spot. I will be an alcoholic until the day I, but I will not die another day because I am an alcoholic. Put whatever into that blank . . . having diabetes, being conservative, being progressive, being a sinner, being gay, Whatever. It is not your ending, it’s a beginning, a doorway for you. Nothing about you should prevent you from becoming the person God calls you to be.
Back to the ALL ARE WELCOME song. Rember the words Pope Francis gave to over a million young people gathered in Lisbon, when he had them shout back to him, again and again: todos, todos, todos — everyone, everyone, everyone. He was not being naive about sin or doctrine. He was insisting that perfection is not the price of admission to the house of prayer. Those who struggle to believe are part of the todos. Those who have wandered far from the practice of the faith, who carry doubt or wounds or long absence from the sacraments, are part of the todos.
And here is where the song becomes important . . . being welcoming is not the end of the story, it’s the beginning. It’s like being a parish that is welcoming, that’s good . . . but there’s more. Now let’s go deeper in our faith, let’s get inspired. Let’s take up the cross (as Jesus said) with all its woes and hurts and struggles and do as St Paul said in the second reading “Don’t conform yourself to this age, but BE TRANSFORMED.” Don’t stay stuck. Lose this image of what you think your life is about and open up for more!
Be welcoming to all the parts of your life (that good and nasty stuff). Don't deny reality. Don't hate the parts of your story that you wish weren't there. Face them. Own them. Be welcoming to all who come here (those who vote like you and those who don’t). Be open to this next part of your life (no matter what your age is). Be as God intends you to be . . . not how you think the world wants you to be. Whatever your are dealing with, it is not the end. Whatever age you are, whatever you carry, whatever has happened—God is not finished with you. The door is still open. Welcome. Come in. And be transformed!
[All sing verse 1]
Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live,
A place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace;
Here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
