So where do you find Christ? I think it’s safe to say that most of us would answer that question by saying it was “in Church” that our thoughts were turned to Christ and to God the Father.
Each week we hear the actual words of Jesus in the gospel. The homily tries to help us understand his words. And then we enter into the Eucharistic Prayer which brings about Christ’s actual presence on the altar. We then eat and drink Christ into us in Holy Communion.
The Church calls this the “Source and Summit” of our relationship with Christ. The Eucharist is where we experience Jesus most clearly in our week.
But what about the rest of the week? If it’s only on Sunday, in our beautiful church, with the choir and church bells that we meet Christ, then it would seem we don’t meet him out in the world. The Eucharist becomes a private affair.
Pope Francis has the nation in great anticipation about his visit to our country this September. Since his election nearly two years ago Francis has been helping us to meet Christ in our city streets, our schools, our ghettos, our social issues.
He coined a phrase not long ago saying we need to meet “Christ on the Fringe”. He went on to clarify that it was not to go rushing about, but to basically slow down so that we can really listen . . . really be present to someone who has faltered along the way.
So in that spirit we would like to pause this year and listen to the voices and the stories of those on the fringe of our society and culture. We want to hear the voice of Christ that comes from the poor, the marginalized, the stranger.
Below you will find in rough outline 5 evening sessions where a guest speaker will help us hear the voice of Christ in various places on the fringe. (All sessions begin with a pot luck supper. Talk and discussion to follow).
** Saturday October 3, 6 pm. – “As often as you do these things to my least brethren . . . you do them to me.” Mt. 25. Seeing Christ on the Fringe. Talk by Fr. Tim.
** Saturday, November 14, 6 pm. – Christ in the City. Talk by Fr. Mickey McGrath, Pastor, St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Church.
** Saturday, December 5, 6 pm.- A Christmas Carol. Theatrical presentation of Charles Dickens moving tale of the Christmas Spirit in the midst of human suffering.
** January (date to be announced). Meeting Christ in Impossible Situations: A look at the spirituality be-hind the 12 Step Fellowship and the freedom mil-lions have discovered.
** February (TBA). Finding Christ in Sickness: When the pills don’t work.
** March (TBA). Finding Christ in Emotional Suffering: Is therapy enough?
Please join us in two weeks as we begin this journey of Hope.
A blessed week.
Fr. Tim
Papal Visit
Hundreds of Thousands are expected to see Pope Francis when he visits the US. Even if you are not among those who will see the Holy Father in person, you can still make his visit a time of spiritual renewal and evangelization.
USCCB Website
World Meeting of Families
