I used to be floored by the responses to my submit on Monday, documenting the state of NYC after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Thanks to everybody who commented and handed it alongside to household and pals.
Within the submit, I recounted my go to to St. Patrick’s Cathedral on the Sunday after the Courtroom’s determination, and the way each entrance to the church, and the entire perimeter in itself, minus one facet door, was barricaded with police barricades.
It was completely surreal, strolling as much as the church to go to Mass, solely to search out that it was utterly guarded by armed policemen with giant rifles, and personally getting searched earlier than coming into by way of covert entrance, as if I used to be heading right into a bunker or one thing.
That complete episode actually caught with me all week.
What has develop into of our world the place, in an effort to go worship, you need to face the specter of imminent private hazard?
I imply, actually?
Going to Mass in a barricaded constructing full with bomb sniffing canines?
If the specter of Covid scared folks (myself included) away from attending church in individual, think about how this new risk of assault goes to fare on folks!?!
However I’ll say — even with the specter of a “Weekend of Terror” following the Courtroom’s determination, St. Patrick’s Cathedral was nonetheless full of Mass attendants.
They’ve Mass each hour on the hour, just about, on Sunday. And although we had been at an “off-peak” time: 1:00, it was nonetheless absolutely attended with folks, who, actually on this local weather, put their lives on the road to be there.
Which is one thing that I’ve actually been considering not too long ago: what are we prepared to danger to comply with Jesus?
What am I prepared to danger?
As a result of frankly, it took each ounce of braveness to publish Monday’s article, fearful that folks I do know in my “on a regular basis life” would come throughout it, and disapprove of my beliefs. What am I prepared to danger?
If going to Mass signifies that, particularly right here in NYC, I’m placing my security in jeopardy, given the hostile nature of this metropolis, and the extremes folks will go to in an effort to categorical their rage over the Courtroom’s determination? What am I prepared to danger?
If I’m unwilling to hitch a dialog about abortion and make my beliefs know, for worry of offending a buddy…what am I prepared to danger?
We’ve two choices: we could be just like the disciples, who hid within the higher room after Jesus’ demise, managed by worry. Or, we will take heed to Jesus’ instruction in Matt 10:28 “Don’t be afraid of those that kill the physique however can not kill the soul. Relatively, be afraid of the One who can destroy each soul and physique in hell.“
Religion from behind the barricades takes braveness. It forces you to look potential hazard within the eye, and say “Sure” to God together with your presence on the sanctuary. Jesus by no means stated that following Him could be straightforward, secure or well-liked. However somewhat, that we’d be hated, persecuted, martyred, and mocked. Identical to HIm.
My one ultimate thought, is that the hazard with barricades is that, although they maintain the “unhealthy” from coming in, they’ll additionally intimidate us to maintain the “good” from getting “out.”
My prayer is that we, as a physique of believers, don’t let their intimidation performs snuff out our religion. Although they could vandalize, protest, and act with violence in direction of the Church in response to the overturning of Roe, could it not dim the attractive gentle that shines forth from, not simply the bodily sanctuaries throughout America, but additionally the dwelling sanctuaries inside our hearts.
That may be a gentle that, I pray, isn’t snuffed out as a result of worry or intimidation.
What are you prepared to danger?
“Freedom of faith means far more than the precise to worship in your chosen church, mosque, temple, or synagogue. It means having the liberty to stay out your deeply-held spiritual beliefs… It’s a basic human proper, and is core to American id. The specter of violence in opposition to folks of religion is antithetical to human rights.” – Cardinal Timothy Dolan
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