“‘The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes
and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’
So I went there and washed and was able to see.’
...they were afraid of the Jews,
for the Jews had already agreed
that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,
he would be expelled from the synagogue.
...They ridiculed him and said,
‘You are that man's disciple;
we are disciples of Moses!’
...They answered and said to him,
‘You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?’
Then they threw him out.”
Who’s in and who’s out? This idea of connection that we’ve been talking about during Lent finds it’s roots in the theological concept of communio, or communion: the vertical aspect of our communion with God and the horizontal one of communion with all members of the human race, our sisters and brothers. We celebrate this communio in the Church through the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood, the Eucharist, which is consummated in our reception of communion.
We embody this communio when we go out to those in need and bring mercy, healing, and love. Sometimes, in our love for Christ in the Church and the Eucharist, we can unintentionally become focused just on ourselves. We can become an exclusive club for those who meet the right criteria and those who don’t are left out. We can focus on our needs and just making our insiders happy—the country club model of church.
To be a parish that fosters connection to God and others, that is an evangelizing community, we have to get over the elevation of our own preferences and take action to extend God’s love. This is messy, untidy, and uncomfortable. Everything isn’t neat, crisp, and smartly packaged. Sinners, doubters, and the wounded, marginalized, lonely, troubled, and rowdy are invited in. Pope Francis said, “I see the church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars. You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else.”
While initially referring to priests, Pope Francis later extended the analogy to all who share the good news of God’s love, that they should “take on the ‘smell of the sheep’ and the sheep are willing to hear their voice. An evangelizing community is also supportive, standing by people at every step of the way, no matter how difficult or lengthy this may prove to be. It is familiar with patient expectation and apostolic endurance.” No matter how messy, difficult, or uncomfortable, everybody’s in.