RBWords

     Who is "in" and who is "out?"  This is an ancient question and remains a question to our present day!  Are you "one of us?"  Are you an "us" or a "them?"  How do we include or exclude?  In all three of the scriptural passages (including the responsorial psalm, "O God, let ALL the nations praise you!") the theme of inclusiveness seems to be present.  I have quoted the last line of today's first reading from Isaiah, but St. Paul's Letter to the Romans (his concerns about his Jewish brothers and sisters) and the Gospel of Matthew (the Canaanite woman seeking healing for her daughter) also present us with the same question.  To what extent can we Christians, in matters of faith, speak of an "us" and "them?"

     This weekend I am beginning a parish mission in California and the "theme" is about building a house of prayer for all nations!   I will be speaking of how Baptism, Reconciliation and Healing are distinctive elements of building a community of faith to which we invite all nations.  The Eucharist brings all of these together, but the other three are easily forgotten because we tend to identify the Eucharist as the distinctive element of Catholic practice and use it as an exclusion/inclusion process!  We forget that once we leave "Mass" that we have a mission to preach, reconcile and heal!  In doing this, whether or not those whom we reach become "Catholics" or not, they will experience God's Word and love.  Those of us who experience the wonderful gift of the fullness of Catholic faith and heritage should realize that this does not give us a license to "control" God's love and providence.  We remain "stewards" of God's gifts.  Our job is to build the house and invite all nations to God's love, forgiveness and healing.  AMEN