Taking the Chalice

During his General Audiance today, Pope Francis asserted that parishes need to be a place of hospitality and welcome.  In the realm of parish stewardship this has been a common theme.  Francis made it clear that in our society today, whereas we are bombarded by so much 'stuff,' with little or no personal interaction or compassion, the parish becomes a refuge and sanctuary.  People should feel at home there.

Presently in our parish our welcoming ministry has slowly dissolved.  As we were working to re-vitalize it, one woman commented that she did not need to be welcomed into her own church.  I consider that sometimes we do not know, that we do not know.  When we come home, or visit family or friends, even as a frequent visitor, we usually appreciate being welcomed into a home or space.  There is something very human, and Christ-like, when we embrace each other with a spirit of hospitality.

Which brings us to James and John who wan to sit at the places of honor in the Kingdom.  The apostles are interesting in that they continue to have the experience of Jesus but miss the meaning.  In Mark's Gospel Jesus moves from one situation of healing, forgiving sins, expelling demons, to the next.  Jesus' glory is on the cross, and in the revelation of the Father's love.  For Jesus the most important act is to wash the feet of his disciples and be crowned with thorns.

To be a welcoming community means the necessity of going outside our own comfort zones, and extending ourselves to others.  People judge the community they are part of when they are made to feel like part of the family.  To be sure we need to care for the poor and anawim, but we also look after each other, inviting each other to be part of our faith lives.  One gentleman in our parish tells the story how as a new parishioner, a young single man, an elderly woman came up to him,  introducing herself, welcomed him into the parish.  That was enough for him to stay, and become actively engaged in the parish.

Jesus sat next the crippled, lost, and afraid.  His demeanor was at once healing and welcoming.  The parish community is where we all first meet Christ.  And from there we proclaim his kinship.