Sunday Word A Weekly Reflection for Pastoral Musicians
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 3, 2022
“…rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” -Luke 10:20
Reflection
If the town doesn’t receive you well, leave. Shake the dust from your feet and proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand, knowing it won’t go well for them in the future.
What a prophetic image for us to pay attention to as Church. It would be disheartening to know the actual number of “former” Catholics who had an experience of coming to the “town” that is a parish and not being well received. Perhaps the young couple never even got to the doors since the parish secretary told them if they wanted to be married in the church, they better not be living together. Perhaps the young openly gay man asked to start a prayer ministry but was told he wasn’t allowed to do that. Perhaps the single mom who can’t seem to get her children to faith formation classes is chastised for not making it a priority.
All this judgment shuts down any possibility of pastoral conversation and encounter and flies in the face of Jesus’ command (not a suggestion) to love one another, to do the right thing, to rejoice not because “spirits are subject” to us but because our names are written in heaven. We must intentionally choose to be hospitable, compassionate, merciful, and gracious when we are sent out AND when we receive those who come to us. Let us always rejoice over God’s tremendous deeds and the many messengers who grace our parish doors, and never be “that town.”
Prayer
Gracious and merciful God,
we praise and thank You for the many ways You reveal Yourself to us.
Strengthen us to be witnesses of Gospel joy
in our broken and beautiful world.
Give us Your wisdom so that we may see as You see
and welcome all who are sent to us.
Guide us in the ways of Your Spirit who is with us always
and draws us closer to Your Son our Lord, Christ Jesus.
Amen.
Cathy Johnson
Pastoral Associate for Lifelong Faith Formation
The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light
Cherry Hill, New Jersey