In this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus meets a Canaanite woman who begs him to heal her daughter. At first, Jesus explains that his mission is to save only the house of Israel, but the great faith of the woman overcomes cultural boundaries. Faith transcends all cultures, making the foreign, familiar, transforming the distant to close, and the exclusive, inclusive. Our call is to live our Catholic faith with openness, and to bring all people, with respect and without judgment, to be agents of unity in Jesus.
Sitting at the front of the church and looking out at the congregation during Mass is such a joy for me. I see people of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds, and a rainbow of diversity. We live in a time that has become increasingly divided fueled by biased media personalities and political leaders, yet we can cast that aside and come together in church because we are a family in Christ.
This broad spectrum of diversity and inclusion is found even more so at our 5:30 “Sunday Night Mass,” which is why it is my favorite Mass. I see more unfamiliar faces (i.e. probably not all parishioners) and more diversity. I see people attending in shorts and t-shirts (which is how I prefer to dress) and just coming as they are which is how Jesus calls us to his table. All of this creates a beautiful energy at this Mass that is somehow different and uplifting. Even after having a full weekend of singing and playing at Masses, the energy of the 5:30 Mass is truly palpable and invigorating for me.
Embracing inclusivity and therefore unity in the Church embodies its core values of love and compassion while fostering a stronger, harmonious community. Inclusivity nurtures belonging, allowing for deeper connections and meaningful relationships that foster spiritual growth. By setting an example of unity, the Church serves as an example to create a more interconnected and compassionate world. Let’s actively embrace inclusivity in our Church family and beyond, ensuring that everyone feels truly valued and accepted, and together, we will cultivate a more vibrant and harmonious world.
-Matt Kush
