Google Earth Pictorial: St. Justin Martyr
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I came to St. Justin Martyr parish last night as it began to snow. I don’t know if this will be the only time I see snow on this pilgrimage, but it was certainly enjoyable. Since I was the first one to drive on the fresh snow on the parking lot, I took my friend’s advice of doing at least one crazy thing on every continent, so I ended up doing doughnuts with my car in the parking lot. That is until… the cops came by and ruined my fun. Oh well.  

St. Justin Martyr is a parish where my long time friend Fr. Joe Weber is pastor. You can visit their website at http://www.stjustinmartyr.org/community. If you have loaded Google Earth on your computer, you can view my pictorial of the parish by clicking here.

When you study liturgy, you are bound to come across this principle from the Second Vatican Council - it is the assembly that best adorns a Church. This has been a truism for the design and redesign of churches ever since the Second Vatican Council. It has also led to a great deal of tension within the Catholic community. Some love the openness of newer spaces, while others long for the stained glass windows and high altars of the past.  

Today, at St. Justin Martyr in Sunset Hills, Missouri, I discovered why the fathers of the Council included this teaching in the council documents. Part of why it became evident to me is because I am now going to Mass everyday. Unfortunately, not everyone can do this. It is a wonderful practice. Every Mass is wonderful, but on Sundays, it is the abundance of the people, in comparison to the smaller crowds of daily Mass, the children and adolescents, young adults and married couples, parents and grandparents, retirees, widows, and widowers, that makes the church more beautiful than can be easily captured in photography (especially since churches usually have very poor lighting.) 

The importance of the assembly was the narrative of the first reading today at Mass. Ezra, the high priest stood before the assembly in what amounts to the first and oldest documentation of liturgy in the Judeo-Christian tradition (Nehemiah 8:2-4, 5-6, 8-10). 

The importance of an assembly was also realized as I watched the Bears game with Fr. Joe this afternoon. I listened to the football game on the road last Sunday through broken radio stations along the southern coast of the United States, but being in the presence of a friend made a huge difference in my ability to enjoy the game. I could only imagine what a disappointment it would be to play such an important football game in an empty stadium. The crowd of fans is what makes the stadium beautiful.  

The second reading was also important. It was the often referenced reading from the First letter from Paul to the Corinthians, chapter 12. St. Paul calls the community of the Church “one body.” As a body, when one member rejoices, we all rejoice, when one member suffers, we all suffer. This text from Sacred Scripture is a prime reinforcement for the teaching AD SODALIATEM seeks to promote, namely solidarity. It is solidarity that should guide the Christian to a just response when a young mother does not have the education, the financial means, the job, or the support to care for an unwanted pregnancy. It is solidarity that calls for a just response for the life that dwells within her. There is no either / or choice, no matter what politicians and ideologues claim. The principle of solidarity is a principle which calls us to respect all life, mother and child.  

I personally pray that in the next few days, as advocates for various sides of the abortion debate march on Washington D.C., true respect, for the lives of both the born and unborn, are honored, that solutions for the flourishment of life, both before, and after birth, are sought, and that even when people disagree, there would be sincere and honest dialogue, over and above the trite dismissal of political positions. I pray this because I believe that true conversion will come when we can tackle these issues in sincere and honest dialogue. Conversion will change what laws cannot - otherwise this country would not have a drug problem.. 

This is my prayer because it is grounded answer to the difficult topic of abortion and because it is a self-realization about my own life. I have personal difficulties dealing with those who disagree with me and who think differently than me. I was greeted by many extraordinary parishioners at St. Justin Martyr today. The foremost of whom was Fr. Joe Weber. The parishioners were inspired by the action of a young man making pilgrimage through the world. I receive laud for these blogs from people who are taking time out of their day to pray with me and for me through these online blogs. 

Despite the overwhelming number of people I meet who support this project, my devils are my critics, the one’s who don’t think that I can make a difference, the one’s who are attached to their own contribution over and above what I can contribute, the one’s who walk by without a word and without concern, the one’s who never really listened, and never really supported.  

The goal of the spiritual life is a complete surrender of self to God. Today, as I sat in silent prayer before Mass, I realized that fear of criticism and disagreement is an attachment that keeps me from surrendering my life. This fear is like a prison from which I am failing to escape. I don’t know how to really let go of all that completely, and if anyone else does, please send me an email – (david@adsodalitatem.org) and let me know what works for you.  

This prison traps me, and perhaps that is why the Gospel today is so important. Jesus read from the scriptures that he has come to set captives free. I’m always surprised at the way Christians hear this and don’t panic. What! The whole idea of this Jesus character is to take criminals and let them go free!!!! It should make any who is part of the established construct of modern society a little nervous. The work of Jesus destabilizes all that we find secure, but it is a destabilization that brings freedom, especially to those who are confined. It seems to me that we are all confined by something. We are all in some type of prison. If we are truly to be the one body in the way that St. Paul names for us today, it means working to release each other from the captivity we each face. In doing this, we should all rejoice. This is solidarity. 

And I would be remiss if I didn’t say… Go Bears! (though a Christian response would also say, we feel sorry for your loss New Orleans Saints) Bring on the Colts!