Regarding and resting

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our need to pause and take stock of our situation and our alignment with our call as disciples of Jesus.

Open our mind

The Reading from Acts is the conclusion of the Book that has presented the narrative of growth of the Church led by the Spirit during the political reign of Rome.

 * [28:30–31] Although the ending of Acts may seem to be abrupt, Luke has now completed his story with the establishment of Paul and the proclamation of Christianity in Rome. Paul’s confident and unhindered proclamation of the gospel in Rome forms the climax to the story whose outline was provided in Acts 1:8—“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem…and to the ends of the earth.”1

Psalm 11 is a song of trust.

* [Psalm 11] A song of trust. Though friends counsel flight to the mountain country (a traditional hideout) to escape trouble (Ps 11:1–3), the innocent psalmist reaffirms confidence in God, who protects those who seek asylum in the Temple (Ps 11:4–7).2 

The Gospel is the conclusion of the works of Jesus as recorded in John.

 * [21:23] This whole scene takes on more significance if the disciple is already dead. The death of the apostolic generation caused problems in the church because of a belief that Jesus was to have returned first. Loss of faith sometimes resulted; cf. 2 Pt 3:4.3

Angela Maynard asks if any of our blessings grow out of difficulty?

We can take some time today to consider how Jesus may have been talking with us during a difficult time.  Did I feel abandoned at the time? Do I feel differently today after reflecting on the situation?
Today’s gospel goes on to point out that there is no way to articulate all of the wonderful things Jesus did during his time on earth.  Just for today, think about the blessings that we’ve received.4 

Don Schwager quotes “Peter follows, John remains,” by Saint Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"The Lord either said what he said to Peter about his martyrdom, or he said it about the gospel of John. As regards the martyrdom and this 'Follow me,' [he means] suffer for me, suffer what I did. Because Christ was crucified, Peter too was crucified... while John experienced none of this. That is what is meant by, 'It is thus that I wish him to remain.' Let him fall asleep without wounds, without torment, and wait for me. You, Peter, 'Follow me,' suffer what I did. That’s one way these words can be explained..."As regards the Gospel of John, though, this is what I think is meant: that Peter wrote about the Lord, others too wrote; but their writing was more concerned with the Lord’s humanity... But while there is something about the divinity of Christ in Peter's letters, in John's gospel it is very much to the fore... He soared above the clouds and soared above the stars, soared above the angels, soared above every creature and arrived at the Word through which all things were made." (excerpt from Sermon 253.5.5)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 21:20-25 notes that Jesus turned Peter’s question on its head: “What concern is it of yours?” he asked. “You follow me” (John 21:22). These are the exact words we need to hear when our own thoughts lead us into comparison and envy.

First, because Jesus has a mission for each of us. He wanted Peter to focus not on John but on his own calling to lead the Church by tending his sheep (John 21:16). Similarly, Jesus doesn’t want us devoting so much of our energy to thinking about what someone else has or what they do. He’d rather we think about how we can serve him in our own situations. What is the best way I can build the kingdom of God right here and right now?
Second, because only Jesus can fulfill the deepest desires of our hearts. The things we see that others have can’t really satisfy us. Neither can their status or their callings or their gifts and talents. Only God can truly satisfy us.6 

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the conclusion of Luke’s narrative and the apparent washing of the hands of Roman authorities. The Monty Python “Blessed are the cheesemakers” is an example of misunderstanding of texts. Friar Jude reminds that the ending of this Gospel has particular significance if the beloved disciple is already dead.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the welcome statement from the Center’s spring conference, The Universal Christ. It is adapted from “Diversity Welcome,” Training for Change. It sets a bar for welcome that even the parts that culture or church have denied.

We would like to let you know that you belong. . . .
People on all parts of the continuum of gender identity and expression, including those who are gay, bisexual, heterosexual, transgender, cisgender, queer folks, the sexually active, the celibate, and everyone for whom those labels don’t apply. We say, “You belong.”
People of African descent, of Asian descent, of European descent, of First Nations descent in this land and abroad, and people of mixed and multiple descents and of all the languages spoken here. We say, “You belong.”
Bodies with all abilities and challenges. Those living with any chronic medical condition, visible or invisible, mental or physical. We say, “You belong.”
People who identify as activists and those who don’t. Mystics, believers, seekers of all kinds. People of all ages. Those who support you to be here. We say, “You belong.”
Your emotions: joy, fear, grief, contentment, disappointment, surprise, and all else that flows through you. We say, “You belong.”
Your families, genetic and otherwise. Those dear to us who have died. Our ancestors and the future ones. The ancestors who lived in this land, in this place, where these buildings are now . . . we honor you through this work that we are undertaking. We say, “You belong.”
People who feel broken, lost, struggling; who suffer from self-doubt and self-judgment. We say, “You belong.”
All beings that inhabit this earth, human or otherwise: the two-legged, the four-legged, winged and finned, those that walk, fly, and crawl, above the ground and below, in air and water. We say, “You belong.”7 

Our pause to reflect invites more openness in our acceptance of themes, difficulties, motivations, misunderstandings, and diversity we encounter on our journey.

References

1	(n.d.). Acts, chapter 28 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 8, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/28
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 11 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 8, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/11
3	(n.d.). John, chapter 21 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 8, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/21
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved June 8, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 8, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). 7th Week of Easter (Mass in the Morning) - Mass Readings and .... Retrieved June 8, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/06/08
7	(n.d.). Unity and Diversity: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and .... Retrieved June 8, 2019, from https://cac.org/unity-and-diversity-weekly-summary-2019-06-08/

Leadership founded in Love

In the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today we encounter leadership in different forms as we are encouraged to base our leadership on love for all the diverse people in our community.

Leadership and Love

The reading from the Book of Acts explains the appearance of Paul before the weak King Agrippa.

* [25:9–12] Paul refuses to acknowledge that the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem has any jurisdiction over him now (Acts 25:11). Paul uses his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to the jurisdiction of the Emperor (Nero, ca. A.D. 60) (Acts 25:12). This move broke the deadlock between Roman protective custody of Paul and the plan of his enemies to kill him (25:3).1 

Psalm 103 moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people.

* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13), for the eternal God is well aware of the people’s human fragility (Ps 103:14–18). The psalmist invites the heavenly beings to join in praise (Ps 103:19–22).2 

Jesus and Peter have an intimate conversation about love and the responsibilities of leadership in the Gospel of John.

* [21:15–17] In these three verses there is a remarkable variety of synonyms: two different Greek verbs for love (see note on Jn 15:13); two verbs for feed/tend; two nouns for sheep; two verbs for know. But apparently there is no difference of meaning. The threefold confession of Peter is meant to counteract his earlier threefold denial (Jn 18:17, 25, 27). The First Vatican Council cited these verses in defining that Jesus after his resurrection gave Peter the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock.3 

Msgr. Charles Pope, pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian, a vibrant parish community in Washington, DC., asks do we have, in the Gospel, a distinction without a difference, a distinction to die for or something in between?

 Jesus is asking Peter for agape love. Agape love being  the highest and most spiritual love wherein Peter is called to Love Jesus above all things and all people, including himself. But Peter, finally being honest says to Jesus in effect, Lord you know that I love you (only) with brotherly love (philo se).  Jesus is not disappointed for entrusts the role of chief Shepherd to Peter anyway. But again he asks for agape love and Peter answers the same. A third time Jesus asks, but this time he comes to Peter’s level and says, in effect, “OK Peter then do you love me with brotherly love (phileis me)?”4

It is clear to Tom Drzaic that Jesus goes to an extreme to emphasize that proclaiming love for him is not enough.

 If we truly love Jesus, we are called to tend and feed his sheep and lambs just as he told Peter to.  We can tend to others by living out our faith freely and openly proclaiming our love for Jesus, which when practiced, will naturally lead to feeding others, spiritually and physically, whether it is with our presence, our work, a kind word or financial assistance.   This love is also called to be applied to all, from caring and protecting the most vulnerable (the lambs) among us to the remainder of his flock (the sheep) who should be cared for and treated with grace, dignity and respect in all circumstances.5

Don Schwager quotes “Do you love me? Feed my sheep,” by Saint Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Christ rose again in the flesh, and Peter rose in the spirit because, when Christ died in his passion, Peter died by his denial. Christ the Lord was raised from the dead, and out of his love he raised Peter. He questioned him about the love he was confessing and entrusted him with his sheep. After all, what benefit could Peter confer on Christ by the mere fact of his loving Christ? If Christ loves you, it is to your advantage, not Christ's. And if you love Christ, it is to your advantage, not Christ's. And yet Christ the Lord wanted to indicate how people ought to show that they love Christ. And he made it plain enough by entrusting him with his sheep. 'Do you love me?' 'I do.' 'Feed my sheep.' All this once, all this a second time, all this a third time. Peter made no other reply than that he loved him. The Lord asked no other question but whether he loved him. When Peter answered, our Lord did nothing else but entrust his sheep to him." (excerpt from SERMON 229n.1.4)6 

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 21:15-19 shares that like Peter, we can think that because we have fallen short in the past, Jesus is no longer interested in our friendship.

 But that’s just not true! Jesus hasn’t moved on, leaving us with nothing but memories of his love. His heart continues to be wide open and full of forgiveness. He is standing before us asking us if we can still open our hearts to him. Can we move past shame and confess that no matter what we have done, there’s still a love for Jesus in our hearts?7

Friar Jude Winkler provides background to Paul’s long imprisonment in Caesarea for his own safety and his status as a Roman citizen. The dialog in the Gospel shows Jesus meets us where we are. Friar Jude comments that the author of the Gospel wrote after Peter had been crucified in Rome.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, exhorts that we are called to be larger than who we can imagine being in this moment. Sr. Joan Brown works for climate justice. She writes about three foundational principles needed for harmony and wholeness. The cosmic principles are a new way of understanding, seeing, and acting in a world that seems to be torn apart by a misunderstanding of the beauty of diversity, the holiness of essence, and the evolutionary pull of communion.

All of us who live, breathe, and walk upon this amazing, holy Mother Earth are called to understand the cosmic principles inherent in the interdependent energy dynamic that throbs through every element of life. Nothing exists without these three interdependent energies that emerged from the first flaring forth over 13.8 billion years ago: differentiation or diversity; subjectivity, interiority, or essence; and communion or community and interconnectedness. These energies offer vital lessons for the critical times in which we live, where diversity causes conflict, living is often at a superficial level, and individualism runs rampant. [1]8 

Feeding our sheep today requires us to welcome people who have been outside our circle into a communion energized with Love that our world in crisis needs to follow to wholeness.

References

1	(n.d.). Acts, chapter 25 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 7, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/25
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 103 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 7, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103
3	(n.d.). John, chapter 21 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 7, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/21
4	(2010, April 17). A Distinction without a Difference, Or a Distinction to Die For .... Retrieved June 7, 2019, from http://blog.adw.org/2010/04/a-distinction-without-a-difference-or-a-distinction-to-die-for-wrestling-with-the-subtleties-of-john-2116-peter-do-you-love-me/
5	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved June 7, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
6	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 7, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
7	(n.d.). 7th Week of Easter - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations .... Retrieved June 7, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/06/07
8	(n.d.). Diversity, Essence, and Communion — Center for Action and .... Retrieved June 7, 2019, from https://cac.org/diversity-essence-and-communion-2019-06-07/

In with and through

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the tension between people with differing opinions in contrast with the unity of living in, through, and with Christ in the Father and the Spirit.

Dealing with different opinions

In the passage from Acts, Paul speaks before the Sanhedrin and the assembly deteriorates to conflict.

* [23:5] Luke portrays Paul as a model of one who is obedient to the Mosaic law. Paul, because of his reverence for the law (Ex 22:27), withdraws his accusation of hypocrisy, “whitewashed wall” (cf. Mt 23:27), when he is told Ananias is the high priest.1 

Psalm 16 reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God.

 * [Psalm 16] In the first section, the psalmist rejects the futile worship of false gods (Ps 16:2–5), preferring Israel’s God (Ps 16:1), the giver of the land (Ps 16:6). The second section reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God (Ps 16:7–11).2

In the Gospel from John, the Priestly Prayer of Jesus turns to our unity.

* [17:24] Where I am: Jesus prays for the believers ultimately to join him in heaven. Then they will not see his glory as in a mirror but clearly (2 Cor 3:18; 1 Jn 3:2).
* [17:26] I will make it known: through the Advocate.3 

Barbara Dilly asks how does faith sustain us on a day to day basis?

Can it be, that we too are in the presence of angels as spirit messengers from God?  The Bible says angels exist, so I believe they are real. But I don’t know exactly what they look like or sound like.  I don’t think anyone has a definitive definition of their essence, despite the fact artists have imagined them variously for ages.  I’ve never seen those angels except for maybe at a children’s Christmas pageant. But I do believe angels comfort and protect us and help keep us on the right path by bringing messages to us even today just as they did for our ancestors throughout the Old and New Testaments.   I often feel them near, especially during difficulties, and always in times when I am drawing on my faith for courage to witness to the Gospel. I can’t explain it in concrete terms and I don’t feel the need to do so. It is a matter of faith and I think it is an individual thing with each of us.  We all must develop our own faith and our own relationships with angels. It isn’t going to be the same for everybody.4 

Don Schwager notes that Jesus' prayers were personal, direct, and focused on the welfare and well-being of others - especially that they might find peace and unity with God and with one another. Schwager quotes “Prayer of unity for all who believe,” by Cyprian of Carthage - first martyr bishop of Africa, 200-258 A.D.

"The Lord's loving-kindness, no less than his mercy, is great in respect of our salvation in that, not content to redeem us with his blood, he in addition prayed for us. See now what the desire of his petition was, that just as the Father and Son are one, so also we should abide in absolute unity. From this, it may be evident how greatly someone sins who divides unity and peace, since even the Lord himself petitioned for this same thing. He no doubt desired that his people should in this way be saved and live in peace since he knew that discord cannot come into the kingdom of God." (excerpt from THE LORD'S PRAYER 30.1)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 17:20-26 comments that unity of purpose can help us understand one facet of the unity that Jesus prayed for in today’s Gospel, but he wants us to know much more than unity of purpose. He wants us to know unity of love and unity of vision as well.

It’s no secret that the Church is fractured and that Jesus’ prayer remains unfulfilled. We know that Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox are separated. There are countless different denominations, and the Catholic Church continues to suffer from internal divisions. Even on a smaller level, every parish seems to have its own difficulties.
And so Jesus continues to pray that his followers become one as they share in his Father’s perfect, selfless love. He wants more than cooperation and tolerance. He wants reconciliation and love. When our divisions no longer define our relationships, we’ll begin to see each other as brothers and sisters. We may not believe everything in exactly the same way, but we can rejoice that there is far more that unites us than divides us.
How can we promote Christian unity? By praying. We can bless our brothers and sisters from other traditions. We can ask the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts toward each other. We can echo Jesus’ prayer that all barriers of hostility would be broken down and that God’s children would be one.6 

Friar Jude Winkler provides background to the differences between the Sadducees and the Pharisees concerning Sacred Texts, angels, and resurrection. Paul is called to take the message of Christ from the spiritual centre of the world, Jerusalem, to the political centre in Rome. Friar Jude restates the theme of Jesus prayer for all to be in a relationship of truth and love.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares a short excerpt from Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis’ book “The Power of Stories” as he hopes we will commit to change our culture, communities, churches, and institutions into places where all feel like they belong and are completely welcome.

The gospel message is clear, yet relatively few clergy are able to lead their congregants into this vision of shalom. Clergy do not lead in a vacuum; they work in a context and in a culture that is often counter to the gospel. In other words, the vision we are called to story is often met with resistance that needs to be navigated. We must learn to cross cultural borders and break down resistance to a radical ethic of welcome.7 

In the excellent podcast discussion AST Podcast on Climate Catastrophe, David Deane of the Atlantic School of Theology expresses concern about the tension that labels Catholics, including Pope Francis as “liberal” and “conservative”.

The differing opinions of people present challenges to overcome as we strive to choose unity supported by our Life in the Spirit of the Father and Son.

References

1	(n.d.). Acts, chapter 23 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 6, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/23
2	(n.d.). Psalm 16 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 6, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/16
3	(n.d.). John, chapter 17 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 6, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/17
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved June 6, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 6, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Saint Norbert, Bishop (Optional Memorial) - Mass Readings and .... Retrieved June 6, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/06/06
7	(2019, June 6). Breaking Down Walls — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 6, 2019, from https://cac.org/breaking-down-walls-2019-06-06/

Vigilant generous and truthful

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of the wonderful communities we have been part of and of how our growth has ironically been connected to our moving on in the mystery of our life journey.

Gifts in diverse community

The reading from Acts concludes with Paul’s Farewell Speech at Miletus as he is called to return to an uncertain fate in Jerusalem.

* [20:16–35] Apparently aware of difficulties at Ephesus and neighboring areas, Paul calls the presbyters together at Miletus, about thirty miles from Ephesus. He reminds them of his dedication to the gospel (Acts 20:18–21), speaks of what he is about to suffer for the gospel (Acts 20:22–27), and admonishes them to guard the community against false prophets, sure to arise upon his departure (Acts 20:28–31). He concludes by citing a saying of Jesus (Acts 20:35) not recorded in the gospel tradition. Luke presents this farewell to the Ephesian presbyters as Paul’s last will and testament.1 

Psalm 68 is an invitation for all kingdoms to praise Israel’s God (Ps 68:33–35).

* [Psalm 68] The Psalm is extremely difficult because the Hebrew text is badly preserved and the ceremony that it describes is uncertain. 8. prayer that the defeated enemies bring tribute to the Temple (Ps 68:29–32); 9. invitation for all kingdoms to praise Israel’s God (Ps 68:33–35).2 

In the Gospel from John, we reach the climax of Jesus last discourses. Since the sixteenth century, this chapter has been called the “high priestly prayer” of Jesus.

* [17:15] Note the resemblance to the petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “deliver us from the evil one.” Both probably refer to the devil rather than to abstract evil.3 

Kyle Lierk shares an invitation with today’s Gospel to use the gift of imaginative prayer from Ignatian spirituality to simply receive the prayer that Jesus offers for us and to notice what it does to our hearts.

Converse with Jesus about what it was like to hear him make this prayer for you...share with him any reactions you had to the prompts above...what did it stir up in you?...just remember to make time to listen to what Jesus has to say to you in response… If it is helpful, end your conversation by slowly praying the Our Father.4 

Don Schwager touches on the tension that sometimes exists between the understanding expressed by John Henry Newman (1801-1890) who wrote of our unique call from God…

 "God has created me to do him some definite service; he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for nothing. Therefore, I will trust him. Whatever, wherever I am. I cannot be thrown away."5

and our membership in the Body as he quotes “The Bond of Christian Unity in Love, by Cyril of Alexandria,” 375-444 A.D.

"Christ wishes the disciples to be kept in a state of unity by maintaining a like-mindedness and an identity of will, being mingled together as it were in soul and spirit and in the law of peace and love for one another. He wishes them to be bound together tightly with an unbreakable bond of love, that they may advance to such a degree of unity that their freely chosen association might even become an image of the natural unity that is conceived to exist between the Father and the Son. That is to say, he wishes them to enjoy a unity that is inseparable and indestructible, which may not be enticed away into a dissimilarity of wills by anything at all that exists in the world or any pursuit of pleasure, but rather reserves the power of love in the unity of devotion and holiness. And this is what happened. For as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, 'the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul' (Acts 4:32), that is, in the unity of the Spirit. This is also what Paul himself meant when he said 'one body and one Spirit' (Ephesians 4:4). 'We who are many are one body in Christ for we all partake of the one bread' (1 Corinthians 10:17; Romans 12:5), and we have all been anointed in the one Spirit, the Spirit of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13)." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 11.9.18)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 17:11-19 shares that Jesus knows what it’s like to let go. He knows how hard it can be. In today’s Gospel reading, for example, he is letting go of his disciples.

As you approach your own transitions, remember, Jesus knows what you’re going through. Ask him for the grace to let go so that you and your loved one can walk unencumbered into the new life that lies ahead.6 

The Franciscan Media web site discusses the mission of Saint Boniface, Saint of the Day for June 5. In the Frankish kingdom, he met great problems because of lay interference in bishops’ elections, the worldliness of the clergy and lack of papal control. During a final mission to the Frisians, Boniface and 53 companions were massacred while he was preparing converts for confirmation.

In order to restore the Germanic Church to its fidelity to Rome and to convert the pagans, Boniface had been guided by two principles. The first was to restore the obedience of the clergy to their bishops in union with the pope of Rome. The second was the establishment of many houses of prayer which took the form of Benedictine monasteries. A great number of Anglo-Saxon monks and nuns followed him to the continent, where he introduced the Benedictine nuns to the active apostolate of education.7 

Friar Jude Winkler underlines the message in the speech of Paul at Miletus to be on guard for false teachings that make a travesty of the truth of Love. Paul exhorts he always shared the truth. He contrasts with Sophist philosophy and arguments for sale that are not interested in the truth. Friar Jude notes that Jesus prays that those who follow the truth be helped by the Father in their place of being “set aside”.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, suggests that if God is always Mystery, then God is always in some way the unfamiliar, beyond what we’re used to, beyond our comfort zone, beyond what we can explain or understand. Many first learn to love and know God through the familiar, human face of Jesus and from there come to recognize God’s presence everywhere. Similarly, there are times and places to gather with people who are like us, but if that’s all we’re doing, we’re not growing and love is not growing in the world. Christena Cleveland, a social psychologist, theologian, and professor at Duke University’s Divinity School, brings this concept close to home, to our local parish.

Culturally homogeneous churches are adept at targeting and attracting a certain type of person and creating a strong group identity. However, attendees at such churches are at a higher risk for creating the overly simplistic and divisive . . . labels that dangerously lead to inaccurate perceptions . . . as well as hostility and conflict. What often begins as an effective and culturally specific way to reach people for Christ ends up stifling their growth as disciples. Perhaps this is because we often fail to make a distinction between evangelism and discipleship. People can meet God within their cultural context but in order to follow God, they must cross into other cultures because that’s what Jesus did in the incarnation and on the cross.8 

Tension, irony and challenge seem to accompany our journey toward truth, beauty, and goodness. The Mystery of God provides protection in our discernment and moving into encounter with the diversity of the Body of Christ.

References

1	(n.d.). Acts, chapter 20 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 5, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/20
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 68 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 5, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/68
3	(n.d.). John, chapter 17 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 5, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/17
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved June 5, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 5, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr (Memorial) - Mass Readings and .... Retrieved June 5, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/06/05/
7	(n.d.). Saint of the Day - Franciscan Media. Retrieved June 5, 2019, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/source/saint-of-the-day/
8	(2019, June 5). Cross-cultural Discipleship — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 5, 2019, from https://cac.org/cross-cultural-discipleship-2019-06-05/