The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind.
The Englishman who coined a fine kettle of fish might have been thinking of Saint Matthew's parable about the Church as he gazed upon the congregation. When the Lord commanded his disciples to announce the Gospel to every nation neither he nor they could imagine the marvelous variety of faces that might crowd together to hear the preacher's words. Nor were they prepared for the questions and suspicions that might arise as thousands of different cultures clashed over hundreds of years, each with their different foods, songs, clothes, expressions, and philosophies.
Saint Luke described the first major dilemma as the Jewish disciples encountered gentile converts. Jesus had preached only to Jewish people, but the first missionaries saw the gentiles moving closer to the dais even as the Jews edged away. They soon found themselves eating food they'd never dreamed of eating, and speaking in languages they'd never heard. Now there's a fine kettle of fish! someone might have said.
The story is told of the young missionary in a tropical climate, who was nonplussed by the bare-breasted women nursing their babies during the Mass. He came up with a brilliant solution and distributed identical t-shirts to everyone, men and women alike. However, on the following Sunday, he was again dismayed to discover the ingenious women had cut convenient holes in their new shirts, to nurse the babies.
The Holy Spirit teaches us to welcome everyone into our churches, neighborhoods, homes, and hearts. The same Spirit teaches us the words, songs, gestures, and rituals of our faith; we share them enthusiastically with everyone. (from the Greek from enthousiazein ‘ to be inspired or possessed by a god.’)
Occasionally we have to disinvite someone who seems possessed by a spirit of mischief, but we do so with great reluctance. When their morals or manners seem intentionally disruptive and their focus is on themselves rather than the all-consuming, awe-inspiring presence of God they don't belong.
But ordinarily we let the little disturbances pass as the the choir harmonizes and the people congregate (Latin congregatus, past participle of congregare "to herd together, collect in a flock, swarm; assemble,")
It's a known fact that we learn more from what we don't know than from what we do. And we especially learn to delight in the LORD from enthusiastic strangers who join us as our hearts expand to welcome them. If a sorting has to occur, the Spirit will do it at the proper time; perhaps not till Judgment Day, when time has run out.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.