The opening of line of the Pope’s address on Easter and Christmas, “Urbi et Orbi,” acknowledges the presence of several diverse groups of people that have come together in union of belief and faith. In this way the Pope is reaching out to those congregated in St. Peter’s Square, along with those around the world that are unable to attend . All corners of the world are touched with this gesture- showing that all are welcome to come and take part in faith as well as solidarity among other people, fulfilling the Roman Catholic Church’s meaning of being universal.
While in St. Peter’s Square, my personal experience has added to my outlook on the Church and its role in the global community. The way in which the Pope addressed many groups of foreigners, in their native tongue, suggests his willingness to incorporate others in the faith. From the books of Acts we see this occurrence as Peter reaches out to Gentiles. ‘While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”’ Acts 10: 44-47.
This passage suggests that God can be reached by any individual. Personally I believe that anyone can have this relationship with God and are quite capable to make it their own. Being in Rome, the idea that there are other ways in which to do things has definitely set in and I realize that my “American Mentality” has somewhat influenced my views prior to studying abroad in Italy. Being able to see that there are other avenues to do something, to make a meal, to have a conversation, and in that respect find God is real. In Vatican II, Pope John Paul suggested that the Church open its windows and let in a fresh perspective. In this manner the Church is like Ancient Rome. Ancient Rome was definitely a place in which foreigners from across the global came and visited leaving their mark as well as leaving a part of their legacy and culture with the Romans while also taking a piece of Rome home with them. This exchange assists in the integration of people all over the world which can essentially make Rome an Eternal City because it continues to live on in others that have taken a piece of it with them. Much in the same way has the church incorporated others in its teachings as well as left its print on those that have come to take part in its beliefs and ceremonies, such as the Papal Audience.
Continuing on with the Roman Catholic Church’s universal outlook, I find that people all over the world have their own views, opinions, and way of doing things and no one can change or force them to conform to one and only one way of doing things. I personally, do not think that this is the intent of Jesus or God – instead we are to accept everyone as they are and to establish a brotherhood-which can flow through the newly opened window of the Church. The Poet Kahlil Gibran has eloquently stated this through the following passage: “You are my brother and I love you. I love you worshipping in your church, kneeling in your temple, and praying in your mosque. You and I and all are children of one religion, for the varied paths of religion are but the fingers of the loving hand of the Supreme Being, extended to all, offering completeness of spirit to all, anxious to receive all.” (A POET’S VOICE part 3). I believe this is part of the Church’s fresh perspective: that those all over the world are still connected to one another in our humanity and to the divine.
I believe that this was the intent of Pope John Paul and his encouraging the Church to open its windows to reach out and be more universal and global. His out reaching to Muslims and Jews has helped facilitate the idea of trying to understand and accept others that may have other ways of expressing their beliefs. In this way the Church has evolved and in another sense returned back to its original roots in extending its hand to all because no one can “withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Hold Spirit.”
No comments:
Post a Comment