Question of the Week, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Matthew 15:21-28
Several years ago, I served as music minister of a merged parish whose members were African-American, Hispanic, Italian, and Polish. Each culture brought to the table a variety of feasts, celebrations, traditions, and—of course—music, that invited growth in awareness and understanding.
At that parish, I first explored the wealth of bilingual psalmody and music that engaged voices and hearts. I learned to sing “Silent Night” in Polish and Italian. And there we sang the spiritual “I’ll Be Singing Up There” as the Song of Farewell for a beloved mother-figure to many and “Good News, the Chariot’s a’Comin” at the funeral Mass for Beulah, a long-time choir member who, at the end of her life, had no recognition of who I was, but could still join me in singing her alto part to “Amazing Grace.”
And faith was shared at table, as Erlinda invited Michael and me to a Guadalupe feast of tamales, and Romie and Jesse introduced us to the rich and flavorful mole. Faith was shared at the table of Bobbie, who could cook fried chicken and greens to perfection, and at the family sausage-making gathering hosted by Andy and Floyd. All of these families worked together to make any parish dinner a tasty celebration of culture and community.
As I think about our friends today, and all that Michael and I learned from them, the sixth verse of “Where Charity and Love Prevail” comes to mind: No race nor creed can love exclude if honored be God’s name; Our family embraces all whose Father is the same.
May we continue the work of peace and justice, welcoming all to our tables, until these words are true in our lives and in our world.
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on the topics of prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. In addition, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.
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