“I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’” // Acts 22:7-8
I walked into the packed church, blessed myself with holy water, genuflected before entering the pew, and knelt down to pray. It was so incredibly noisy that I couldn’t seem to focus. Instead of gazing at the crucifix, I decided to close my eyes to block out the surrounding chatter. It wasn’t working. I opened my eyes and saw football jerseys, short skirts, and workout attire. Parishioners walked by the altar and neglected to genuflect before the tabernacle.
Where is the reverence here? I thought. I will never become a parishioner here.
I could feel myself becoming more and more agitated at what I judged to be poor church etiquette. I was here to scope out a new parish since becoming a Mrs. and moving across town.
I had been formed by an Irish priest who had zero tolerance for anyone who showed any disrespect in God’s house. From the pulpit, he would tell parishioners to dress their very best for Sunday Mass as it wasn’t optional. I can still hear him say, “If you wouldn’t wear it to meet the president of the United States, don’t wear it here.”
As God would have it, I did join this parish. But I didn’t forget the truths about showing reverence that were instilled in me. On the contrary, Jesus softened my heart to have compassion for those who hadn’t encountered Him or been taught that physical posture and dress have meaning. Only through a real relationship with Jesus Christ do you learn reverence for love broken open on the Cross and desire to show it with your body. Instead of seething at my pew, Jesus asked me to see the good of my neighbor despite his or her lack of understanding.
I have since learned reverence cannot be imposed on a person that has never been taught. The flock is always teaching and lifting up one another in whatever we lack collectively through our witness.
Sisters, let us ask Jesus in humility to break down the barriers of judgment that we carry. May our Good Shepherd unify us and guide us towards radiating His mercy towards one another.
