Posted by kathy --Previous Message--
on November 21, 2005, 3:13 pm, in reply to "Re: And the Dance goes on..."
HI Michelle, like you I was struck by the same sentence which really says what true communion is. Your question "who, in the church reaches out?" is very poignant and challenging. I see people reaching out all the time in their day to day lives in little and big ways to spread God's love simply by being loving and kind. Ideally we go to Mass to worship and give thanks and gain strength and then go about our daily lives sharing that spirit in generosity, kindness and unselfishness to each other. But of course we are humans who have a selfish streak and are not always perfect. We are trying, we are all trying together with the realisation that God loves us no matter what. In the bible the shepherd does leave the flock to go searching for the one lost sheep. Can I love others like that? In my life, there are some people who are hard to love, and working through that kind of thing helps me grow. To be loving, to do the most loving thing is risky. But that is exactly what God asks of me. It's in community that I come to realise how deep and wide is God's love and in the imperfect community that is church I grow and learn and hopefully I contribute to other's growth. That's some of the reasons why I go to church but it's only a part of my spirituality. Talking to God, giving God a chance to work on me through meditating, sharing my life in a weekly Christian group, reading these are all other aspects. By celebrating Mass I feel part of the Communion of Saints, generations of people who have done the same thing down through the ages and people who are celebrating Mass all over the world. Somehow this boosts me. Trying not to judge people - even those who go to church is one of the most important things for me - only God knows a person's circumstances, situations and heart. He even knows me better than I know myself. It's important to be kind to me too.
Thanks for giving me food for thought Michelle,
love Kathy
: Well I’m not Margaret but what the hell, I’ll
: respond anyway. “And the Dance Goes On…”
: what a great title for a book or a song for
: that matter!
:
: “It has made me realize that we are indeed
: part of a whole and the message came through
: powerfully, that whilst even one of us is
: missing, then we are not complete.”
: Can I just start with this line of yours Jo?
: It’s by far the most valuable line of the
: lot for me. And I couldn’t help but thinking
: that is such a female concept, ensuring
: everyone is included, safe and warm and part
: of the whole story but then thinking
: further, perhaps it is also the concept of a
: shepherd! Either way, it’s not something
: that I have experienced much of, in action,
: within the Catholic church. And it would
: appear, that it is not something that has
: been your experience of late either, Jo. Who
: in the Church reaches out and tries to
: include the people on the fringes? Does that
: ever happen?
:
: I read the rest of your post and I can
: follow what you are saying but don’t think I
: agree or perhaps I just need to consider
: your comments further. How is it that hail
: can lead you to an understanding of the
: depth and reflection of the trust you have
: in a God. Who is this God? How do you KNOW
: that this God exists? What experiences in
: your life lead you to say this will such
: certainty? Is it possible to believe in a
: God and separate that belief from the
: institution that is “Church”.
:
: Just a couple of question for you and
: perhaps you will choose not to answer them
: but I’d be interested to read your reply.
:
: Love Michele
:
:
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