27 Sun B - Proposed Women's Pastoral

Title: Reflecting Upon a Meeting on the Proposed Women's Pastoral

Date: Sunday, October 1, 1988 - Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time (B)

Readings: Genesis 2:18-24 / Psalm 128:1-2,3,4-5,6 / Hebrews 2:9-11 / Mark 10:2-16

This morning I attended a consultation held at Blessed Sacrament Parish for those concerned about the first draft of the bishops' pastoral on women. Four groups corresponding to the four chapters were formed. The first three topics, entitled, "Partners in Personhood," "Partners in Relationships," and "Partners in Society" drew moderate numbers but the fourth topic, "Partners in the Church" was so large it had to be broken in two. This was the part of the document which most made the news, dealing with the question of the ordination of women. Wearing my collar, and fearing that I would be leaped upon as a symbol of patriarchal oppression, I was happily surprised by the generally sober tone the discussion took. I listened more than I spoke; however, a few times I did contribute. It seemed that a majority present favored the ordination of women, even after the Papal clarification against it this week. A representative of the National Organization for the Ordination of Women was particularly concerned about the role of the so-called "institutional" Church. She said that she resented the fact that each time a woman's response was offered in the letter, the bishops would counter by quoting official documents which did not reflect women's sentiments. Earlier, she had interpreted the Pope's recent pronouncement as his attempt to play the Devil's Advocate in forcing more theologically in-depth inquiry into the issue. I don't know, I cannot help but think that the Pope meant exactly what he said and that it reflects not only human rhetoric but in some mysterious fashion, the will of God.

Others, like our Sister Mary Madden went to the discussion which encountered the issues surrounding relationships. These are especially pertinent today, given our readings regarding the unity of man and woman intended from the beginning of creation. The first sentence of our very first reading states: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." Partner -- that is a word which our Holy Father used and which the U.S. bishops used in the title of their letter, "Partners in the Mystery of Redemption." In marriage and out, the sexes complement and aid one another in their pilgrimage back to God.

For those who have encountered problems in their relationships, and who have even endured the death of marriage relationships, the readings today might be particularly painful. They point to a unity that they have failed to achieve; and it is not always the fault of both, either. If one is willing to work with a relationship and the other is not, where can you go? It is for this reason that the Church works so hard with couples prior to marriage to help avoid the tragedy of separation and divorce. The bishop's letter seeks improved avenues of healing and acceptance for those who have gone through these difficulties. We as a community need to refrain from stereotypes and seek to console and work with these fine people. As for those who remarry, unable to receive an annulment of a previous bond, the request that they refrain from the altar of communion is a sign of love and not of disgust or rejection. We all know how hard life can be; it is not our place to condemn another, even if they have sinned grievously in our eyes. The sacrament we share is a sign of a complete and full unity of the Catholic people throughout the world. Marriages outside the Church fracture that unity and the sacrament of unity, the Eucharist, is forfeited; however, what is not lost is our love and concern for them as our brothers and sisters.

For those of you contemplating marriages or who have been particularly blessed in solid and intimate ones, these readings stand for you as an ideal which you need to ever seek to achieve. It can be such a lonely existence. Even the author of Genesis realized that. Philosophers and psychologists alike tell us that human beings are among the loneliest creatures in the world. Maybe that is why so many of us cluster to cities, and yet there in the midst of tight schedules and cold apartments, the loneliness seems intensified. Sometimes, maybe the loneliness and fear causes couples to play at spousal love even before they have a right to it? Slow to condemn, prudent to offer correction, and quick to heal should be the way we deal with those who walk the road of prodigal brothers and sisters.

Marriage was meant to last a lifetime. To minimize this teaching would only cause more harm than good. In this special sacramental covenant we see reflected back just how much Christ, the groom, loves his bride, the Church. He will never abandon us. This is the reality that fidelity would offer us. Christ will never divorce himself from his Church. He will love us over and over again, until we meet him face to face. In this life he does not compete with the love of one spouse to another. In every word and gesture of love, from the prayer on their lips to the glory they give to God in their flesh, they surrender themselves to God. To the extent that they love one another, they love Jesus. This is the core of the partnership they share, they are helpers to one another in becoming saints. Sometimes it will be hard, maybe very hard. But from those who succeed in being faithful to one another, we can take heart and be glad. Like the little children whom Jesus calls to himself, whatever comes, all of us need to trust the Lord who is ever with us and guiding us, yes guiding us, even when the road seems long, and hard, and maybe even lonely. I end on this note because the pain of separation is something most all of us will also have to experience, either in a marriage where one stops giving or when death comes and takes away a beloved. God willing, there will be times on that pilgrimage of ours for great joy. And one day, that unity symbolized in the unity of man and woman will be fully realized, and we will all rejoice in the happy and peaceful presence of God forever.