The Value of Community.

Do you remember your family gatherings for birthdays, Christmas and weddings?  Mine always had lots of folks gathered around the table. Sometimes we needed to add a kid’s table because there were so many people.  We gathered, prayed and passed the food while engaging in conversation that wondered over many topics.  It would have been strange for someone to take a plate of food and go off into a separate room to eat. Sometimes folks come up to me and say they came to church to be with Jesus and all this talking is distracting to them.  After listening to them I try to point out that there is time for private prayer and a separate time for community prayer.  Sunday worship is a time for community prayer.  I believe it is unrealistic to have folks come to Sunday Mass and think they are going to have a personal time slot with Jesus.  We stress that unless we can see Jesus in one another, we really cannot see Jesus at all.  What Commitment to Parish Life is about is recognizing that it is my faith family that has gathered.  We all bring something to the table to share.  Serving one another unites us as that family of God.  Fr. Mike