Many years before I joined you here at Holy Family (which was in 2009) I began to state and restate a very strong conviction of mine namely:
We all share ONE world and the world that we share is both physical and spiritual.
You have probably heard me convey this both in homilies and in meetings, and probably here in my weekly article.
We often hear a philosophy that separates our ONE world into two worlds: one that is physical, and the other one spiritual. I believe this separation categorizes, and actually diminishes, the ONE world and the creative source of it – God’s love. This separation limits the potential for grace.
I have found not only a platform for my convictions here at Holy Family but kindred spirits who view the sacredness of our ONE world so similarly. So many of you have lived this philosophy.
This is an excerpt from my writing about work that may help to clarify:
“Put another way – REAL or REALITY is both physical and spiritual. Put yet another way, as the spiritual and physical come together—that is REALITY.” Work is just one arena for reality to play out. There are countless others.
I attended our Priest Convocation this past week and one of the keynote talks was given by Cardinal Wilton Gregory from Washington DC, who was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago and served in many priestly capacities here. The convocation is about hope and in his presentation the Cardinal said, “Hope is born by facing reality.”
I find this melding of physical, spiritual, reality and hope gives further substance to my view. This spiritual mindset was really the earliest movements of my soul leading to and underpinning our Adventures in Grace pilgrimage. One of the strongest statements is a song that we sang often this past year, “Everything is Holy Now” by Peter Mayer. Give it a listen if you haven’t yet.
Our year-long spiritual adventure has been a powerful collaboration between our wonderful staff, Dr. Terry Nelson-Johnson and his Soul Play staff.
This whole thing has been such good and renewed church. It has been lay led, creative, evocative, moving and oh, so sacred. Collaboration is not often Catholic. We are dominated by the competitive Catholic attitude of …”another parish has THIS program, why don’t we?”
Adventures in Grace was a tender, warm collaboration with Soul Play. Terry’s creativity supplemented the sacred rituals of our Seven Sacraments with new, fresh and expansive rituals. I so regularly ask you to spiritually place on the altar your sorrows, frustrations, worries, joys, triumphs, hopes and anything else you want to offer to God, then be guided by the priest at Mass who ritually offers them to God.
This spiritual/physical connection has really deepened my appreciation for the all Sacraments, but most important, the most sacred thing for all of us Catholics – the Eucharist. Physical elements such as water, oil, fire and touch are central to the celebrations of our faith. Christ’s REAL presence is conveyed by the physical elements of bread and wine. Here the spiritual flows from the physical most powerfully, and physical makes the spiritual a reality.
Without physical, real world elements such as vines, vineyards, seeds, coins, treasures, pearls, sheep and so much more, Jesus has no basis for parables and images for the kingdom.
One Wednesday evening during the pilgrimage when we all placed Sacramentals on the altar it was a very tactile ritual that connected and expanded my invitation of offering. Led by Mary Whiteside’s bell, it was one of the most sacred rituals I have participated in because so many made the spiritual offering that I urge to be manifest in a more physical way, placing them physically on our ONE altar, and simultaneously celebrating meaningful death and spiritual experiences.
We were empowered during the pilgrimage to see that we all have the authority to mediate grace. This extends the vision that the founders of Holy Family had of a flexible sanctuary space – movable altar, ambo and presider chair so the experience of sacred could be expanded. Our young Spirit Campers dance in our sanctuary. Our teens dramatize Christ’s Passion every Good Friday in our sanctuary. I believe these make the space even holier.
We have begun and are passionate about the next phase, where the spiritual and physical will continue to come together. Our Sunday/Wednesday pattern for the next year will include GIG (Gatherings in Grace) small groups, expanded Social Justice components and more.
We are still forming specifics and AIG follow up will merge nicely with the Renew My Church initiative as well. More details to come.
Roe v. Wade Statement
Fr. Kurt and I shared this simple statement at all Masses last week:
We are all beneath this beautiful Cross that I believe invites us into even deeper reflection on life in light of the Supreme Court overturning the Roe v. Wade law on Friday. This decision has caused much debate, and although we may have differing opinions about the law, let us protect all life like a seamless garment from womb to tomb. Please see Cardinal Cupich’s statement on our website and the Archdiocesan website for further wisdom in this dialogue.