Posting on Behalf of Judy

February 9, 2015 Church, Sacraments and Liturgy

 Rausch compares and contrasts the Catholic understanding of the marks of the Church with the understandings of the Reformer and the Restorationist churches, showing the strong and weak points of each. His is never an apologetic for the Catholic position, but more of a “God’s eye view,” calling all of the churches to grow and to learn from each other. I found this, as always, enlightening.
 Even more challenging was Vonday’s chapter, “One Bread” in People of Bread. After Pentecost, the small Christian community gathered in the temple every day to pray, and in the evening went to someone’s home where they celebrated the breaking of bread. It would seem that this ritual would separate the Christians and the Jews, but Vondey says that since there were no churches at that time, “houses were the center of companionship and hospitality, particularly as the companionship of Christians with those who did not (yet) belong to the Christian faith” (198). Sharing beyond the Jewish/Christian community was another thing, as Gentiles were considered unclean (Acts 10) (Vondey 201-204). In the story of Cornelius, a Roman centurian, this barrier is broken, as an angel appears to Simon Peter telling him not to call unclean what God has declared clean. At the angel’s bidding, Peter offers hospitality to Cornelius’ envoys. The next day he goes with them to Cornelius’ house and accepts hospitality from him. It is in the midst of this mutually offered and accepted hospitality that the Holy Spirit comes upon Cornelius household, and Peter is able to stand before those who question his discernment, and prove to their satisfaction that God has chosen the Gentiles, too. What strikes me about this analysis is the idea that discernment is not something done in the abstract. It is not before, but in the midst of concrete events that discernment is achieved (204).

 This reminds me of an experience when a community I was in went through a discernment process regarding a new direction we were taking. Everyone was peaceful about the decision. After trying it for a year, someone proposed that changes be made. Another person said no, because this was where the Holy Spirit had led us. I believed God was showing us something on the ground which we had not considered beforehand. We needed to discern once more in the light of that new situation. It was not about breaking bread together, but I think that this principle applies.

The women I work with in the prison are from several different faith traditions, primarily Baptist or Catholic, but some have switched several times, and some have no affiliation. Over the weeks of praying and sharing together, this group has grown closer, extending support and the wisdom of their experiences to each other. God speaks to them powerfully through the scriptures. They are amazing.
 Last week for the first time, one woman said she would like to receive Communion, that she really missed it. I asked her if she was Catholic. She isn’t, but said she always goes to Communion in whatever church she attends, especially in prison, since there is no choice there. The other women agreed. Only Catholic chaplains visit them where they are now. What can I do? Vondey’s analysis would lead me to say yes to them, but I don’t think that the Catholic church has arrived at that point. My heart is torn.