Shaping God's People

For a couple weeks now, this space in the bulletin has invited reflection on what happens when we gather at Christ the Redeemer to celebrate Sunday liturgy. One of the mysteries of the Liturgy is that it a wonderful mixture of the divine and the human. In a liturgical tradition like our own, Liturgy combines actions and thoughts, mind and body, and allows the community and all believers an integrated experience of God’s actions in our lives.

Like so many parts of life, these past weeks of liturgical thoughts have been a chance to observe, think, and now to act. Hopefully, we as a community have taken a renewed look at our worship and each of our roles in that experience. After looking around both in the physical space on Sunday and taking a look in our mind’s eye, we gave some thought to how it all works together. Hopefully, each person and each family has given some thought to their role in the experience of praising God within the believing community.

This week’s thoughts will be more on the practical side of things. This is the so-what part of the endeavor. What did he mean by that? What does he want? What is he asking me to do?

As leader of the worshiping Assembly with the other priests and as co-worshiper with the many people who worship together at Christ the Redeemer, I’ll put forth some, hopefully, positive, realistic thoughts for changing our liturgical behaviors.

Reverence
Reverence is recognizing God among us and publically showing the holiness of that experience.

– Enter the Church through the main doors so as to participate in the renewal of your baptismal life. Sign yourself and your children. Note the presence of God in other believers around you.

– Genuflect or bow to the Presence of Christ in the Tabernacle or as seen in the Altar Table. Teach your children to do the same.

– Greet each person as you enter, for they are temples of the Spirit, the dwelling place of God.

Respect
Respect is the visible side of reverence.

– Respect each person as the Presence of God, especially when they are engaged in prayer. Be careful of respecting their physical

presence as you ask them to move, or as you “climb” over them; teach your children to be gentle with others already in the pew.

– Show care and respect for the church space. The Commons is part of the Church. It is a place of prayer and for hearing God’s Word. It is not designed for use in worship. Bring your children into the Church proper. Help them to understand what is happening.

– If you must use the Commons, if your children are having a “bad” day, remind them of the sacred nature of the place. Children should be kept near parents so as not to distract others at prayer. The Commons is not a playground.

– Honor the moment of hearing God’s Word. Listen carefully and with faith. Help your children to understand.

– The same is true of the moment of communion. Help the children to understand the holiness of the moment. Never should the host be shared with children before their First Communion. The Eucharist is special food and drink and not to be given lightly to people without understanding of the mystery.

– There should be no eating or drinking of any kind in the church. This applies to both adults and children. Certainly, gum is out of place. More out of place is the placing of gum on the pews, kneelers, or in hymn books. This fails to show reverence or respect for either God’s House or for God’s People who come there.

Catechesis
The mystery of Christ within the Sunday liturgy invites the whole community to give shape to that mystery around and within us. Of special importance is the catechesis or the sharing of the faith by the community and by parents as “the first teachers” of the faith. The passing on of the faith and the shaping of the Eucharistic community is what we are called to celebrate each Sunday.

In liturgy, believers sustain and support each other in love. The whole community shares faith with our younger members. Both families and individuals find a home in the presence of God. Let us reverence and respect these special moments of the liturgy.

CDH