“Let us build a church founded on God's love, a sign of unity, a missionary church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made restless by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity.”
– Pope Leo XIV
Over a decade ago, I traveled practically every week to South Florida for a work project. So, during my recent trip to Miami, I decided to go to Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary where I was instantly re-immersed into what I loved about my visits all those years ago. What made the experience even more memorable was that the Mass I chose to attend was the confirmation Mass for the cathedral parish’s young people.
The tri-lingual Mass was far from brief, yet it remained engaging from beginning to end. The celebration was both lively and reverent. The use of Latin at times was unifying and accessible. The organ was both powerful and inviting. The congregation was neither universally old nor young. As the long-time archbishop preached seamlessly, weaving between Haitian Creole, Spanish, and English languages, no one was disengaged or disenfranchised. It was simply the Church as she needed to be and where she needed to be. It was worship that reflected the identity of this community is and – more importantly – for whom it exists.
It was the call to worship that reminded me of an important truth I so easily forget: we are made for worship and made to be animated for the proclamation of the Gospel. We are made to worship as one for the One. While I may have my preferences, the Church doesn’t exist to serve them. I exist to serve Her in the name of Who founded Her, as She needs to be, and where She needs to be. In life, leadership, and especially discipleship, how well do I integrate context into mission? How faithful am I to purpose over preference? How hard do I work to be proficient (if not fluent) in the languages of my mission field?
I commented on the beauty of the liturgy to a long-time friend and Miami native and she astutely quipped, “It’s kind of like the anti-Babel.” As we move from our recent celebration of the birthday of the Church at Pentecost, let’s give witness to the gift She is, and how the Holy Spirit continues to animate us to serve where She needs to be present and how She needs to be present.
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