OK, let’s play a game. It is based on the old TV show called “Name That Tune.” I will have Maureen (our Music Director) play the starting notes of familiar Church songs. When you know the song, raise your hand . . . but don’t say the name of the song. I will give you some background of each song before you hear the notes
- This first song is a Christmas song. It was originally written because the organ broke and the Pastor needed a song for Midnight Mass. [Silent Night. Mo only plays the first note and I look for a show of hands. Then she plays the first and second note and I look for a show of hands. This continues until the majority of people have their hands raised.
- This song is used quite often at Funerals. It is based on a Psalm 91. It was written by a priest from Minneapolis who is actually a friend of mine. [On Eagle’s Wings]
- This song is probably the most familiar song for all Christians, no matter what their denomination. It was written in the 1700’s by John Newton.
OK, that wasn’t so bad. You can sense that as more of the notes were played, it became easier to identify the song. I imagine that if the entire song was played, then there would be NO doubt of the song.
Well, the same principle applies to our faith. If we only take part of the message, then we are not getting the full meaning of what the Church intends. Another example would be to take only part of the scriptures and assume that it gives the full meaning of the entire bible. Some people do this all the time. They find a verse from the bible that supports a certain idea . . . and then hang onto it to express their entire Christian view.
In the gospel Jesus, uses the image of sheep who hear the shepherd. We are the sheep. He is the shepherd. When we hear his message, we follow. But we can’t fully follow unless we hear (and understand) the entire message.
An example for you kids, when your parents tell you to clean your room and you interpret that to mean, “OK, I just have to pick up things off the floor.” And you Mom or Dad gets all upset because you didn’t clean your room. You didn’t hear the full message . . . clean your room means to pick up things off the floor and put them away, and make your bed, and dust the furniture, and vacuum the carpet. That’s the full message.
Some people ONLY want the minimum criteria for faith. These are the folks who ask when they can leave Mass to “make it count.” Or they wonder why we have so much music and hand holding . . . instead of simply “showing up, receiving communion and getting out of here.”
They are missing the point. We come to Eucharist to be opened, to be challenged, to receive the Body of Christ so that we can become the Body of Christ. The question to ask is not, “What is the minimal amount of things that I have to do to be saved?” But rather how can I become more and more of how God wants me to become? How can I become more Christ-like?
There are some adults who haven’t grown in their faith for decades. That is, they keep hearing only part of the message of Jesus . . . . “Don’t sin.” “Repent” and they miss the entire message that says, “Follow Me.” “Become transformed”
It would be like describing Jesus to an alien by saying “Oh he died on the cross.” That’s correct, but there’s more . . . he died on the cross and rose from the dead, ascending into Heaven and sent us the Holy Spirit so that we can make the world a better place.
Some people answer the question about why they pray or why they come to Church . . . with “to save my soul” or “to get to heaven.” That’s good, but that’s not the full message of Jesus. We also pray to be open to God’s will. We pray to become better people, more aware, more honest, more authentic. And we come to Church to join us into the bigger picture of community. To realize that we don’t have all the answers, nor do we have all the problems. We are asked to look beyond ourselves . . . and are invited to examine how we can make the world a better place . . . . for ourselves, our families, for all people.
You know, the Pastoral Council is REAL CLOSE to announcing their decision about the future of our Parish. We are examining all the data and we are in dialogue with the Bishop about whether we should build or renovate. And it is interesting that some people (in their comments) were only thinking of themselves. For example, “This is what I want.” And “If things don’t happen like I want, then I’m leaving.”
That attitude is forgetting that the Church is not ONE person. The Church is not even a building. The Church is all of us. The Church is the presence of Christ . . . in us, in the traditions, in the guidance of the Bishop, in the sacraments, in the joy of youth, in the way we love, in the way we treat and care for all members and all people.
The Church is you and I listening to the voice of Jesus (the entire message) . . . and following it.