Forget the superficial

by Letters Editor · October 6, 2011

From Sergio Acquisto, Johannesburg

We read in the gospels of the time when Jesus cured the man with a withered hand, and he did so on the Sabbath. To the scribes and Pharisees, the cure was irrelevant. They persecuted Jesus for the fact that he cured on the Sabbath. He had disobeyed the law!

There is something wrong when the rule of the law supersedes the spirit of the law.

I read week after week how incorrectly we dress for Mass, conduct ourselves at Mass, the inconsistencies in the format of Mass and so on. Where are we going with this?

Pope John Paul II said that we must open the windows of our Church so that we can see what is happening outside and others can see what we are doing inside.

I have learnt such an important tenet: that of sacred space; a space where people feel safe enough to enter and share their gifts with us and in turn are able to receive ours.

Let�s be aware of whether we are creating sacred spaces in our churches or not. Are we just insisting on obedience to the law, forgetting the greatest command to love our God with all our might and to love our neighbour as ourselves?

We have such a beautiful richness within our Catholic Church�our sacraments, the depth of wisdoms and collective life stories of the saints, our beautiful churches. It is so wonderful to travel outside my neighbourhood, yet to be able walk into a church and be at home�to receive Communion is such a grace.

Whether in silence, or with loud applause, whether in our Sunday best or our clothes of comfort, whether with guitar or with organ, let us serve and praise our Lord and Saviour in community. Reverence, obedience, respect, understanding and service�all of these will follow.