“Be agents of communion, capable of breaking down the logic of division and polarization, of individualism and egocentrism. Center yourselves on Christ, so as to overcome the logic of the world, of fake news, of frivolity, with the beauty and light of truth.”
– Pope Leo XIV
Recently, my wife and I made the quick trip up to NYC to see a show. I’ve shared before that the city is one of my least favorite places to visit, but if I am there, I always make it a point to make a stop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
As we approached the church, we were only able to enter through the side doors as the center aisle and sections were closed off for a wedding Mass that was underway. The scene was a first for me. Up and down the side aisles, a constant flow of tourists flashed pictures of altars and art, whispering quietly and occasionally glimpsing around a column with some curiosity as to what the people in the center were doing. Every so often, some visitors, like my wife and I, especially during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, would pause and recite the response. At the consecration, my wife and I found a pew to kneel, and a tourist took a photo of us praying. I was even more distracted by that, to say the least.
Emptying from the overstimulation in the cathedral to the even more overwhelming hustle and bustle of Fifth Avenue, I couldn’t help but reflect on how that church was a microcosm of the Church Universal and even my own discipleship. How often am I entering worship as a tourist? When am I walking the aisles, taking in the sights and sounds, but not really conscious or focused on what’s really happening? How do we welcome those on the sides to the center? How do we invite those who are curious, those who might think they are merely exploring a museum, to realize who’s actually alive in their midst?
We might prohibit flash photography in church, but what mental photos of the Church and our faith do we want those who are visiting for the first time — or visiting us in everyday life — to hold onto after they leave?
As we begin this new week, let’s remember that regardless of what door they enter, every time someone walks through our doors, it’s an opportunity for us to help them realize they could be home.
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