My last two
bulletin articles have been rather frank in addressing the newly inflamed
crisis we find ourselves in as “Church” (aka “The People of God”). Today - in
the spirit of “Welcome” to those who are new to Christ the Redeemer and those
who are returning to our faith family after the summer break - I wish to “lighten it up a bit” and offer a
small way we can “be here, while getting there.”
Once upon a time there was a small, beautiful, but very troubled plant. The time
came for one of the planet’s most powerful tribes to choose new leadership. The
wise elders of the community called together all the people and gave them a
challenge: “Go out and bring back whatever you find on your journey that you
believe will be most needful to our people in the future.”
One person
journeyed out into the surrounding plain. Eventually she noticed something
glinting in the rock. Scraping at the soil, she discovered seams of gold.
Rushing back to the tribal homelands she reported “I have discovered a source
of wealth that will keep our people comfortable for many years to come.”
Another journeyed
along the river. Eventually his sharp gaze picked up traces of something
lying among the rocks. He scraped at the soil and unearthed flintstone. He
rushed back home and said, “With this flintstone we can make powerful weapons
and defend ourselves against all attack – and keep our people safe.”
Another person, one
of the youngest of the tribe, was gone a long, long time. Returning home at
last—empty-handed, she said “I have travelled far—over to that distant
mountain. As I journeyed I noticed things that might be helpful to us, like
gold and flintstone, but something made me keep on walking. When I reached the
summit I knew I had found what I was searching for, but it was not something I
could pick up and bring back home. When I reached the mountaintop, I saw a
vision of possibilities that lie beyond our narrow view here in this valley. I
knew that this was where God would want to lead our people. So this is what I
bring back—a vision of what could be. You may say that this is just a dream.
But is it not the case that our tribe and all its story is built on a dream?”
The wise elders of
the community said. “You shall lead us well because you have rightly understood
that what our people need more than anything else is vision.” (adapted, from Margaret Silf).
Are you ______________?
- A parent or grandparent seeking clarity on the essentials of our faith AND an effective method of communicating this dream and vision of Jesus to our little ones?
- Thinking of becoming “officially” Catholic and hanging your hat here at Christ the Redeemer?
- A cradle Catholic seeking a way forward, desiring a little theology refresher and a place to discuss our most central beliefs?
If YES, then we are
cooking up a little program called the TEN TOPICS with you in mind! You will get a taste of it at our Masses
next weekend Sept. 15/16.
Our goal is to
offer TEN TOPICS at various times throughout the upcoming year to discuss the
most essential and compelling elements of our theology; the insights, beliefs
and VISION that we don’t want to lose even if our institutional edifice is
crumbling at the moment. Our little CTR effort to enrich the soil in which the
seeds for our future will grow.
P.S. We would
REALLY like to offer these TEN TOPICS on-line in some fashion. Can you help us?
To volunteer or submit your own "Crazy Catholic Question," email Lisa
Brown at DRE@ctredeemer.org. Read past columns at: www.crazycatholicquestions.blogspot.com.
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