As a little girl, I was very loving and very communal. Apparently, I really did believe that strangers were just friends I hadn't met yet.
Then my life got a little strange, I withdrew into a shell of my own making and decided that who I really wanted to be was The Lone Ranger. I can do it myself, doggone it! (Somehow, I always seemed to forget that even he had Tonto.) No matter what happened, I could get through it. On my own. I'm strong enough. Really.
Nope.
I was reminded recently that Catholic spirituality has no room for Lone Rangers. Even God is a community of love. We aren't decanted from jars like the babies in Huxley's dystopia, we are born to mothers, usually in families. And the Sacraments are all communal, they require at least one other person(the priest) and usually more: parents, godparents, spouses, etc. We are all created for God, and because of that we are also created for each other. And just in case we still don't get it, Jesus was born into a family. He lived in a town. He travelled around with his disciples. Simon of Cyrene helped him carry his cross. His mom, her friends(relatives?), and the beloved disciple stayed with him on Calvary. He rose and appeared to still more people, then rejoined his disciples for awhile. Now, he's at the right hand of the Father, and on every altar for each of us at least every Sunday. Still feel like the Lone Ranger?
Check out The Magnificent Seven.
1 comment:
i am so glad to have found your blog, via your comment on mine! i've added yours to my sites i check out. i get this way sometimes, too ... lone ranger ... but all the kids won't let me, especially that social Joel who makes me get out even when i don't feel like it! i'll be back to your site!
Post a Comment