Rewind to last Sunday... My husband, Kyle, and I were looking for an early mass, and the nearest one was St. Peter Claver's African American Catholic Church. We went to 7:30 AM mass, and when the priest asked for guests to stand and be recognized, he actually pointed at us because, well, we stood out! We stood up, and a man came immediately to us with a welcome brochure and a hug.
We said the same prayers, read the same readings, received the Body and Blood of Christ...it was Catholic mass after all. But it was different. I wasn't used to clapping along to hymns, but it felt more joyous to do so. I wasn't used to saying "AMEN" when prompted by the priest, but it felt more energetic to do so. I didn't expect the whole congregation to hold hands for the Our Father, but it felt more powerful to do so. Possibly our favorite part was the "God is good- all the time, All the time- God is good" chant. We even say it to each other randomly at home now :)
We said the same prayers, read the same readings, received the Body and Blood of Christ...it was Catholic mass after all. But it was different. I wasn't used to clapping along to hymns, but it felt more joyous to do so. I wasn't used to saying "AMEN" when prompted by the priest, but it felt more energetic to do so. I didn't expect the whole congregation to hold hands for the Our Father, but it felt more powerful to do so. Possibly our favorite part was the "God is good- all the time, All the time- God is good" chant. We even say it to each other randomly at home now :)
Sunday, July 10th
Today, we decided to go back. Following a week of horrible news- two black men shot by police with chilling video capturing their deaths and five police officers gunned down at a peaceful protest by men angry over the previous events. From working at a news station, to visiting family, even going to the hair salon... I couldn't get away from it. It's all anyone was talking about and for good reason. We NEED to have these conversations.
Immediately as we entered the all African-American church, my mind raced. As sad as I am, how must THEY feel? Should we have come here? We're probably the last kind of people they want to see. But every person smiled at us, even held open the door and thanked us for coming. At first, it didn't seem so different from last week, but we knew it would be.
It began with dancing. Young ladies dressed in beautiful, bright, tribal-patterned outfits danced down the aisle. Men playing drums and the claps of the congregation kept them on beat. They were amazing! Then Father began mass and called all the children to the front. This is where my eyes welled up with tears. They were so young, so innocent, so undeserving of this hateful world. We prayed for their safety, and my heart tore as I realized what that prayer meant to every parent in the room today.
The choir was phenomenal. Each song was so elaborate and passionate. Seriously, if you've never been to mass at St. Peter Claver- go, do it, this Sunday. But the readings were even more powerful following this week's events.
Immediately as we entered the all African-American church, my mind raced. As sad as I am, how must THEY feel? Should we have come here? We're probably the last kind of people they want to see. But every person smiled at us, even held open the door and thanked us for coming. At first, it didn't seem so different from last week, but we knew it would be.
It began with dancing. Young ladies dressed in beautiful, bright, tribal-patterned outfits danced down the aisle. Men playing drums and the claps of the congregation kept them on beat. They were amazing! Then Father began mass and called all the children to the front. This is where my eyes welled up with tears. They were so young, so innocent, so undeserving of this hateful world. We prayed for their safety, and my heart tore as I realized what that prayer meant to every parent in the room today.
The choir was phenomenal. Each song was so elaborate and passionate. Seriously, if you've never been to mass at St. Peter Claver- go, do it, this Sunday. But the readings were even more powerful following this week's events.
LUKE 10:25-37
Of all the possible Gospel readings, this was the one for today. Catholics all across the world read this same thing, and it couldn't have been more appropriate.
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said,
"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"
He said in reply,
"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
"And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied,
"A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
'Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Father Maurice, Director of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University, gave the most incredible homily. He began,
"I don't know about you, but today, I needed Church."
We all did.
I said at least five times after mass that I wished I had video taped the homily. The world needs to hear that, all of that, I told Kyle. Fr. Maurice detailed each line of the Gospel, relating it to modern times, and asking us to truly consider "Who is your neighbor?" And the answer is, of course, everyone. No one is beneath your grace and love. Jesus died for ALL. OF. US.
Looking around, I wondered, Do they know that I consider each one of them my neighbor? Do they know I love them and want the very best for them? Do they want to be my neighbor too? Or does the color of my skin remind them of years of injustice where white people always come out on top? Do they know how guilty I feel for the past and present? How badly I want to make things right...immediately?
The priest spoke loudly and emotionally. He listed name after name of black men killed by police, to which the crowd clapped and expressed their grief. He quoted President Obama. He quoted Pope Francis. He talked about the Black Lives Matter movement, and he emphasized how it doesn't mean "All Lives *Don't* Matter" or "Blue Lives *Don't* Matter"... because they do. The point is that "Black Lives" aren't being treated like they "Matter", thus the need for meaningful change.
Then, he asked everyone to listen closely. This was very important. Quietly, as if for more emphasis, he said,
"Those 5 police officers gunned down in cold blood...They are our neighbors too."
Everyone in the church ROARED with applause in agreement. Many stood, so moved by the power in his statement. Some joined me in wiping away tears. He spoke louder as he read each and every officers name, and demanded we hear those names just like we heard the names of the black men killed unfairly.
Mass went on, and as we said the Our Father, the woman next to me squeezed my hand extra tight as if to answer my question. Yes, you are my neighbor. When we were instructed to give each other the sign of peace, I hugged the people around me. They too, without words, told me, Yes, you are my neighbor.
As we left the church, I needed to tell Father how much the homily meant to me. I waited in line, and when I got to the front, he threw his arms around me.
"Thank you, sister, for coming here today. Thank you." he said, and gave Kyle a hug too.
We walked away feeling wholly amazed at the power of Christ's love. I am so thankful for the neighbors I have at St, Peter Claver Catholic Church, and I pray that the Lord helps guide all of his children toward mercy in the months and years to come.
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said,
"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"
He said in reply,
"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
"And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied,
"A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
'Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Father Maurice, Director of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University, gave the most incredible homily. He began,
"I don't know about you, but today, I needed Church."
We all did.
I said at least five times after mass that I wished I had video taped the homily. The world needs to hear that, all of that, I told Kyle. Fr. Maurice detailed each line of the Gospel, relating it to modern times, and asking us to truly consider "Who is your neighbor?" And the answer is, of course, everyone. No one is beneath your grace and love. Jesus died for ALL. OF. US.
Looking around, I wondered, Do they know that I consider each one of them my neighbor? Do they know I love them and want the very best for them? Do they want to be my neighbor too? Or does the color of my skin remind them of years of injustice where white people always come out on top? Do they know how guilty I feel for the past and present? How badly I want to make things right...immediately?
The priest spoke loudly and emotionally. He listed name after name of black men killed by police, to which the crowd clapped and expressed their grief. He quoted President Obama. He quoted Pope Francis. He talked about the Black Lives Matter movement, and he emphasized how it doesn't mean "All Lives *Don't* Matter" or "Blue Lives *Don't* Matter"... because they do. The point is that "Black Lives" aren't being treated like they "Matter", thus the need for meaningful change.
Then, he asked everyone to listen closely. This was very important. Quietly, as if for more emphasis, he said,
"Those 5 police officers gunned down in cold blood...They are our neighbors too."
Everyone in the church ROARED with applause in agreement. Many stood, so moved by the power in his statement. Some joined me in wiping away tears. He spoke louder as he read each and every officers name, and demanded we hear those names just like we heard the names of the black men killed unfairly.
Mass went on, and as we said the Our Father, the woman next to me squeezed my hand extra tight as if to answer my question. Yes, you are my neighbor. When we were instructed to give each other the sign of peace, I hugged the people around me. They too, without words, told me, Yes, you are my neighbor.
As we left the church, I needed to tell Father how much the homily meant to me. I waited in line, and when I got to the front, he threw his arms around me.
"Thank you, sister, for coming here today. Thank you." he said, and gave Kyle a hug too.
We walked away feeling wholly amazed at the power of Christ's love. I am so thankful for the neighbors I have at St, Peter Claver Catholic Church, and I pray that the Lord helps guide all of his children toward mercy in the months and years to come.
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