From Father Grassi - October 1, 2006
Why did I request the song All are Welcome to be sung at my installation on October 15? Let me quote former president Jimmy Carter:
“There is a remarkable trend toward fundamentalism in all religions - including the different denominations of Christianity as well as Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam. Increasingly, true believers are inclined to begin a process of deciding: ˜Since I am aligned with God, I am superior and my beliefs should prevail, and anyone who disagrees with me is inherently wrong,’ and the next step is ˜inherently inferior.’ The ultimate step is ˜subhuman,’ and then their lives are not significant.That tendency has created, throughout the world, intense religious conflicts. Those Christians who resist the inclination toward fundamentalism and who truly follow the nature, actions, and words of Jesus Christ should encompass people who are different from us with our care, generosity, forgiveness, compassion, and unselfish love.
It is not easy to do this. It is a natural human inclination to encapsulate ourselves in a superior fashion with people who are just like us and to assume that we are fulfilling the mandate of our lives if we just confine our love to our own family or to people who are similar and compatible. Breaking through this barrier and reaching out to others is what personifies a Christian and what emulates the perfect example that Christ set for us.”
For me, these words from his latest book Our Endangered Values, speak to my hopes and dreams for all of us together at St. Gertrude parish and what sets us apart from some others. It will remain for us all a struggle and a goal to continue to welcome all to St. Gertrude with arms and hearts wide open.
I hope you will be there at 11am on October 15
DJG
Filed under: From Fr. Grassi
