Throw Open the Doors

A Reflection on the Second Reading for August 9th, 2020:
​Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Romans
9.1-5

Brothers and sisters: I am speaking the truth in Christ. I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit. I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are children of Israel, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Christ, who is over all, God be blessed forever. Amen.
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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

​In speaking of his brethren the Israelites, Paul speaks with such passion that Christ is for them as the fulfilment of the covenant of God. His desire as he expresses it here is nothing more than that all should experience the love, blessing, and mercy of God in Christ Jesus. Examining my own life, am I like Paul? Do I believe that the truth about Jesus Christ is such good news that I would give anything, including my very life, to share it with those around me?
 
The current culture wants our faith to be private. It wants us to keep it to ourselves and not dare to share a word about it. There’s a mistaken assumption that we as Christians are aching to be door to door salesmen, hoping to trick people into becoming Christians so they can help bank roll our Church buildings. Because our intentions are clearly selfish and nefarious, the insistence is that we keep quiet. Enjoy the peace that our faith gives us and leave others to make their own choices.
 
And in some ways, as a Church we have accepted that. We’ve kept our heads down and our doors closed. We’ve tried to evangelize people once they’ve come through our doors, but haven’t sought to open our doors wide enough so that we could all go out and meet our neighbours. The purpose of any Church isn’t to be a nice social club – it’s to be a home base for the faithful to recharge for the mission; a place to invite those seeking faith; a place to grow in our faith together; a place to worship the God who has saved us.
 
In the end, if I’m not sharing my faith, I have no peace. My conscience won’t allow me to be a Christian in private or just a Christian inside the closed doors of my parish. I’m called by the Holy Spirit to be a Christian in the world, without shame. Not so that I can be acknowledged and praised as a powerful witness, but so that I can help share with those I love the greatest gift available to me: the mercy and love of Jesus. So let’s throw open the doors of our hearts to reach out to our neighbours. Let’s throw open the doors of our parish to see the world beyond the parish. Let’s get out there in the open and shout from the rooftops all the good that God has done for us. 




Stephanie Potter

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