Strangers No More

Following Jesus as missionary disciples is not only an unwise thing to do in the eyes of the world, it is downright stupid.  Truly, it makes no worldly sense.  Let me provide a real-time example at Holy Trinity Church.  But first, let’s consider majority and minority.

The World’s Eyes
In the eyes of the world, majority rules.  What the majority wants or feels wins the day.  We have experienced the net result of such reasoning in the recent amendment to our state constitution, enshrining the rights and freedoms of a mother over her child and of a child over their parents in a postmodern proclamation that unrestricted freedom is our god.

 In Jesus’ Eyes
 However, in the eyes of the Christian faith, and especially in the Catholic Church majority does not rule.  Both the Scriptures and Tradition of the Church make that clear.
Throughout the Old Testament, we hear that our ancestors in faith, the Jewish people, were a minority, yet God loved and favored them abundantly!  That is why the Hebrew Scriptures have a constant theme echoing throughout them:  watch out for the alien, the non-Jew, those who are different. The first reading from Sunday Mass four weeks ago, October 29, is a perfect example: “You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 22:20.
What was clear in the Old Testament, that God wants us to look after the stranger, immigrant and alien, was driven home most profoundly by Jesus himself in the New Testament.  In Jesus, God became poor, lowly and a stranger and wasn’t recognized by most, especially the majority, the powerful and privileged.  He worked to lift up Samaritans, who were not just strangers but the enemy.  He made himself neighbor to the oppressed.
 
 Holy Trinity Welcome Well!
We know that Holy Trinity Church has a sizable and devout population of Spanish-speaking Catholics.  In fact, one of the commonly recognized observations at the town hall meetings is that such a cultural community is a blessing to our family of parishes for their vibrancy, devotion and love for Jesus. It is also wonderfully clear that Holy Trinity Church strives to welcome them well!  At the same time, we can up our game, whether in this example or in so many others in our lives.
Weeks ago in the bulletin, I related that in the future we would be working to make Holy Trinity Masses more bi-lingual, adding one reading in Spanish every weekend.  While we have not yet implemented this for the first or second readings, it is a goal of mine to proclaim the Gospel in Spanish on Sundays when I preside.  This stretches me and helps me to prepare to celebrate Mass in Spanish on special occasions or in the regular rotation of bi-monthly Spanish Masses. 
               I know the previous practice of bilingual Masses at Holy Trinity was to have a reading proclaimed in both Spanish and English.  However, that practice is a misunderstanding of what a bi-lingual liturgy ought to be.  Readings should not be proclaimed two or three or four times in the native languages of the congregation.  A reading ought to be proclaimed only once, providing a translation of the reading for those who cannot understand.  Holy Trinity has the English translations of the Sunday Scriptures in our blue Gather books.  The location of the reading corresponds to the first number on the number board.  Our Spanish-speaking parishioners have a copy of the Spanish missalette. 

 Questions and Concerns.
Why make the majority of people at a Mass look up and follow a Spanish-only reading?  Because we are a community and a family no matter the language.  Striving toward greater unity, we share the burden and carry the cross together. 
Shouldn’t “they” “the other” “the stranger” do the work and not the majority?  In civil society this can be the attitude.  But not in Christ’s body, the Church.  Immigrants will assimilate over the course of a generation or two.  Until they do, like our first-generation immigrant ancestors, keeping language and tradition for a time roots them.

Mass is Sacrifice
Thanks to parishioners who see a more truly bi-lingual Mass as a measure of the cross, a way to make a sacrifice.  Sacrifice is after all the central act of the Mass: Jesus' complete sacrifice of self to make us strangers no more. 
 
Sincerely and with Love in Christ,
Fr. Pat