Faithful Folowers for 400 years

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for the 13th Sunday in ordinary time offers four texts which can take meditation in many directions. Today a Mass was celebrated on Halifax Common with the people of the Mi'kmaq 1st Nation. Archbishop Martin Currie spoke of the way the faith has been kept by the Mi'kmaq for 400 years. In particular, he mentioned that after the expulsion of the Acadians in 1755 most of the Catholics in Atlantic Canada were Mi'kmaq. Richard Rohr has presented the idea that the understanding of the Divine forgiving, loving and indwelling Spirit comes most certainly in one’s life through living great love or great suffering. Unfortunately, some of the great suffering of the Mi'kmaq people has been at the hands of the Church which attempts to understand and live as Jesus disciples. The question of worthiness of discipleship which is hinted at in the texts is easy seen as not applying to the Mi'kmaq faithful. They are more those who “have been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb”. We are reminded of many of the paradox of the Way. The humble, faithful, quiet, meek and gentle have the intimacy with the Spirit. The sheep are led by the Lamb.