Although Greg has many powerful anecdotes and pieces of advice for us throughout these chapters, I found Chapter 6 to be especially relevant to my life and the overall perception of the Catholic Church. In Chapter 6, Greg talks about erasing the divide between jurisdictions, letting people in, accepting others, and how God accepts us all no matter how imperfect we are. As one of the missions of Homeboy Industries is to erase the divisions and rivalries between gangs, Greg is an expert at facilitating a forgiving environment where enemies can become friends and God can be let in. Even so, he faces many challenges as he tries to erase the divide. Most notably, he has to break down the barrier of revenge and anger because a person who holds onto those types of emotions is unable to grow.
We have all had problems with forgiving others, and these problems can bring ruin to families, friends, and our own peace. We may not have the pressure of stopping violence of gangs on our shoulders to persuade us to be forgiving and open, but there is still a definite urgency to letting go of all of our anger and prejudice so we can expand our personal jurisdictions.
On a broader scale, many of the people who criticize the Catholic Church do so because they believe we have a small jurisdiction. Just last week, my father told me that the Catholic Church near him in College Point, NY is in danger of closing. The administrators already had to cut the religious education classes at this school, and now it seems like the only answer to their financial problems is to close the church altogether. Throughout this conversation, my father compared this church's community outreach programs and general outside presence to that of other churches in the area. His conclusion: This Catholic Church is closing because it hasn't made itself necessary to the greater community.
After contemplation, I realized this also holds true for the church in my hometown of Hawley, PA. Sure, the church is necessary for me, but for someone who is unsure about his or her faith or in need of help, how likely would they be to come to the church and find the program that can help? I then looked online for common criticism of the Catholic Church. I found that many believe we are far too exclusive. This exclusivity is a reputation earned through the hotly-debated issues regarding our doctrine, but also because of our sometimes limited presence in the communities around us.
I have been very happy at Brown to see the BRCC so involved in the surrounding areas, but our involvement is not the norm across all Catholic communities. So my question for you is how can we as Catholics expand our jurisdiction? Do you believe we should add more outreach programs or is there another way for us to become a greater part of our communities?
Please share your opinion on this issue, pose a question of your own, or mention any noteworthy aspect of our reading. Thank you.
I had an interesting chat with Father Nic, which pertains to this issue somewhat. I explained that my fiancee is somewhat intimidated to come to mass with me, mostly due to the fact that she was raised Pentecostal and is very unfamiliar with our customs/way of thinking. He chuckled and essentially told me that he wasn't that surprised because she has about 2000 years of religious thought to catch up on with the catholic church. That caught my attention. Our church, the only church most of us have ever known, is one of the oldest christian institutions in the world. We have a wealth of history (good and bad), many customs, and many sacred traditions.
ReplyDeleteFor myself, it's not surprising to see someone, unsure of their faith or raised in a different faith, intimidated by the church. In this modern world, it can be difficult for many churches to shake any negative connotation they may have. The direction Boyle takes with Homeboy Industries has really spoken to me. From the very first moments in his story, Boyle exemplifies what it means to be christian. That's something that I think is all to easy for Christians to forget sometimes. Not just helping people the way Boyle does, but really being active in the community. Having a church that is very openly involved in the lives of people in the community is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to spread the churches message and our faith. It's so easy to get wrapped up in life and everything else, that I think we forget that we should and must seek opportunity to help others. "Because it's what Jesus would want."
As I read more of this book, I understand more and more how hard it is for Boyle's "homies" to leave behind the life of crime, violence, and irresponsibility. Boyle's story of Richi and Chepe going out to Coco's for dinner hit me hard: they had never been to a sit-down restaurant before. Here's the passage:
ReplyDelete"... he eyes this laminated array seer before him and asks, 'Are these "the things"?
'The things?' I helpfully ask.
'You know, "the things."'
'The menus?'
'Oh, come on, G,' Richie says with a sigh, 'You know I don't speak "rich."'
This was their first time in a restaurant--whee you actually sat down, a waitress came to you, and you didn't have to order by pointing at a luminous plastic picture of a cheeseburger."
The lives of Richie and Chepe are different from my own; in one sense, they live on almost a whole different plane of existence. They aren't even familiar with the small pleasure of a sit-down restaurant. All of their friends are the same way. But this is a testament to how extraordinary an achievement it is for any of them to leave their old lives behind and be reborn as a car mechanic, as a factory worker, as a case manager.
These men depicted by Boyle are role models for everyone. They have climbed out of the deep pit, swatting away the flies of temptation all the way up, and then when they get to the top, stand proud. I pray that God gives me strength like theirs.
Thanks for the post, Rakel, and for sharing your thoughts, Mitch and Kyle! I also really liked chapter 6, especially the portions that addressed love's ability to overcome differences and inspire reconciliation, allowing people to 'expand their personal jurisdictions,' to use Rakel's phrasing.
ReplyDeleteSpecifically, I found it particularly easy to relate to the passage about Artie and Danny, who were originally enemies that vowed to work — but not talk — with each other (142). We all have people in our lives who we consider to be 'enemies'...folks we might be able to work with, but with whom we would prefer not to speak. In spite of this, our faith challenges us "discover our true selves in love," opening our hearts to the possibility of finding common ground with those we might not find easy to love. For Artie and Danny, humor provides an unexpected medium through which they are able to briefly, just for a fleeting moment, see past their differences and appreciate their common humanity. But that brief surrender to love is all it takes...Fr. Boyle writes that they "become great and enduring friends" (143). I too must work to keep my heart open to love's gentle, persistent, and sometimes unexpected presence in my life.
I think Rakel poses a great question: how can we expand our jurisdiction and become a greater part of our communities? Outreach programs are definitely a part of that, but on a personal level, I can simply work to live out my faith in everything I do. St. Francis of Assisi tells us to "preach the Gospel...use words if necessary," suggesting that we can perhaps broaden our jurisdictions — both personally and as a community — by allowing Christ work through us each and every day.