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Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 23, 2017, by Fr. Kevin Anderson

Here’s a question for you . . . “Why do you come to Church?’  Think about it, you don’t have to answer it aloud. 

 

So, did you hear the story of the huge rescue that happened earlier this month in the waters off Panama City Beach in Florida?  Apparently, a family was out swimming and was caught in a rip current (which is strong current of water in the ocean that takes people out away from shore).  It started with a few family members being caught in it, then as more tried to help them, all nine were in danger.  So what happened was that a human chain was formed involving 80 people to reach the family . . . and all nine members were rescued.

 

Now, do you think that any of those 80 people (in the human chain) were judging the drowning members and saying, “You know, that one looks Moslem, so I don’t think I will help.”  Or “You know, I would, but chances are one of the people might be in a gay marriage, so I’m not going to get involved.”  OF COURSE NOT.  People saw a need and stepped up.

 

So let me get back to my question, “Why do you come to Church?”  Of course, there are many reasons that people DON’T go to Church . . . they find it boring, or inconvenient, or too long.  But there are people who would like to come to church (and be members) but they feel as if they are being judged because . . .

 

They are divorced and remarried without a church blessing.

They are in a gay relationship

They want women to be ordained

They object to the Church’s teaching against contraception.

They want the Church to change.

 

And there are people on the other side of things, who don’t come to Church because it has changed . . . .

They feel the beauty of the Mass has been watered down

and the mystery and reverence is missing.

They think that the reforms of Vatican II mean that “anything goes.”

They see so many people disregarding Church’s teaching and tradition on moral

          issues.

They disagree with the hierarchy’s opposition to Capital Punishment,

or their support of Health Care Coverage for all.

 

And then, no matter what their theological bent is, there are some who are angered, confused, saddened or disgusted over the sexual abuse scandal by clergy and church leaders.

 

 

Well, in his classic book HOLY LONGING, Fr. Ronald Rohheiser offers nine reasons why we should go to Church.  They are  . . .

 

-because it is not good to be alone,

-you take your place with the family of humanity,

-because God calls you there (here)

 

-to dispel fantasies about yourself,

-because the saints have told you so,

-to help others with their pathologies and to let them help you with yours,

 

-to dream with others,

-to practice for heaven,

-for the pure joy of it.

 

They are all good, but the third one seems to stand out . . . that “God calls you here.”  The church needs you.  Our parish needs you.  We need each of you, like a human chain to allow goodness to happen.

Our parish needs you who are single and you who are married.

We need you, young people and elders.

We need you, divorced and remarried Catholics.

We need you, who adore President Trump and you who don’t.

We need you, who want more Traditional Hymns and you who want a rock band.

 

We need you, who are open to immigration and you who want to build a wall.

We need you, who listen to conservative news and you who listen to liberal news.

We need ALL of you . . . men, women, gays, straights, old, young,

saints and saints in the making.

 

The gospel gave one of the most clear commands about how we are to be as church . . . wheat AND weeds.  It is too easy for you who feel like God’s wheat to condemn or judge all those weeds.

 

As Jesus said, “That’s God business . . . not ours.”  Notice that right before we receive communion we say, “Lord I AM not worthy for you to come under my roof.”  We don’t say, “She is not worthy.  Or those kind aren’t worthy, they don’t belong here.” 

 

Wheat and weeds.  Not wheat or weeds.  We all belong.  We all come to this table . . . saints and sinners.

 

So go start mending relationships, especially in your own family.  You don’t have to agree on everything, but do stop fighting about this one issue or that one situation.  Trust in God, we need each of you to be Church.  We need all of you at this table.  Because of your baptism, you were all called by God to be active members of the Body of Christ.

 

And did you ever think that maybe you are someone else’s weed. 

 

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