When we were growing up, the most exciting times for us was having the opportunity to go to the store shopping. We did not go shopping often, so it was a treat. The only draw back to shopping was where one went every body went.
This was often times quite embarrassing especially with 6 sisters. There were many a time where us boys were put in compromising situations because the girls were wanting to buy undergarments. The girl section in the store was not a place we wanted to be.
Our parents wised up and eventually allowed us to separate in groups so that we could go where we needed and wanted to go and not go to those undesirable places.
Usually we would set our watches, choose how long we would have and then choose a place to meet back. This gathering place enabled us to move freely around but yet always gather back to make sure everyone was doing alright. Let's face it with 10 children running around, gathering back together was necessary.
The gathering place brought us together, enabled us to check up on one another, helped us remember what we were about so we wouldn't get distracted and gave us the freedom to move forward.
When I was in Sydney this summer with a group of 24 we did the same thing. There were days when different people wanted to do different things and we all couldn't be in the same place at the same time. Therefore, we would set our watches, pick a time to meet back, and pick a place to gather us together.
It worked out great. We would be off in Sydney, each group going about its business, then we would gather together at our chosen place and time to make sure we were doing alright. The up side of the gathering, was it enabled us to remember we were on pilgrimage and that we shouldn't let the distractions of the city tear us away from what we were about.
The gathering place was necessary.
The other day I was visiting with a parishioner and as we were talking at the bar, which separated the kitchen from the living room, I looked at the wall and above the bar was hung a painting of the last supper. There was Jesus holding high the bread and on either side was the twelve apostles. Below the picture there was a metal work sign that read, "The Gathering Place."
As I read the sign and spied the painting, I thought to myself that this is exactly what the Eucharist is about. The Sunday Eucharist is the time and place in which we are gathered together to remember who we are, to check up on every one in the community, to make sure we are all still focused on what we are about, pilgrims on a journey, and to not lose our selves in the many distractions that abound.
The last supper, which we celebrate at ever mass, is the gathering place that holds us all together and helps us remember. The beauty of this gathering place is that it stretches beyond time and place. It has been gathering Catholic Christians together for 2000 years; it has occurred in a variety of places: in prisons, in back yards and front porches, indoors and outdoors, under ground in catacombs, in grand cathedrals and small country chapels, in homes across the world. The gathering has kept us focused on who we are and helped us remember just how much we are worth.
The gathering place at the Eucharist brings us face to face with the judgment of God. There at the mass we encounter God's judgment in Christ. As Jesus takes the bread and gives it as food to eat and takes the chalice and pours it for the forgiveness us sins, we encounter the truth that we are worthy of love, we are worthy of forgiveness, at every cost to himself. There we are gathered and brought to the realization of our very dignity
Our dignity is realized at the celebration of the Mass, where the cross and resurrection of Christ makes known to us just how worthy and valuable we are in the eyes of God. We are made worthy and this is what gathers us together.
In today's gospel Jesus tells Simon that he is Peter and upon this rock I will build my church. The word church means to gather people together from the world in order send them back into the world. Jesus sets up a gathering place. The gathering place, if it is to be authentic, Jesus reminds us, must have Peter as its guide. Jesus grafts Peter into himself and makes him a visible sign so as to gather people together.
Peter and his successors, the popes, have been doing this for 2000 years. If you want to be gathered to Christ then you must be gathered by the Pope. It is Peter and his successors that have maintained the authentic gathering in the authentic Eucharistic celebration. If Peter and his successors are not present, then it isn't the gathering place that offers the fullness of truth so that we might be fully nourished for the journey of being sent out.
It is in the gospel of John where Jesus gives Peter the commission feed my sheep. The truth of the Eucharist feeds us completely.
Behind the Pope we come to the gathering place where we meet the fullness of Christ who waits for each of us.
No comments:
Post a Comment