Latin Table Talk

Reflections from the Popular Church

http://davidjohnkalke.blogspot.mx davidjkalke@gmail.com www.comunidaddesanmartin.org Facebook: Comunidad de los Martines Facebook: Caf los Martines Suffering is the seventh mark of the church, according to Martin Luther. A living church will enter the reality of the suffering of this world and give witness to the Power of Life over the Power of Death. The mystical Body of Christ is the church incarnate and is to be found, as Luther also says in his Commentary on the Beatitudes, among the poor. Among the poor becomes the mystical Body, the church. Sometimes it is hard to see this theology of the cross being lived out by the institutional churches, of whatever Christian denomination. The realities of war, poverty and political oppression are divorced from the celebration of the sacraments and the pastoral action of the church. In this reality of political and social insensitivity, the day-to-day needs of the poor are pushed even further to the bottom of the list of ecclesial pactice. Purity of doctrine, risk management and complacency in the comfortable boat of neo-liberalism have become the ecclesial modus operandi. A Pastoral Experience in Aguascalientes Once a month we gather. Simple people whose humble lives are tempered by the reality of blindness. Either born blind, or persons suffering from diabetes, glaucoma or an accident, these persons cannot see with their eyes. They see only with their hearts and souls. This month Jos wants to talk to me. A father of three adolescent and pre-adolescent girls, he and his wife are adjusting the best they can to his being blind. Jos is present but quiet during this weeks workshop. Released only yesterday from the hospital, he is weak and troubled. An ulcer in his arm related to diabetes required serious treatment. He is uncertain of his future, his familys well-being,

Almost hidden in the opulent Baroque Cathedral of Aguascalientes, a simple crucifix reminds us of the suffering of Jesus and his preferential option for the poor.

his ability to provide for his family. His wife has also had to quit her job because of his need to be cared for. He cant be left alone. He is discovering light in a new way in a dark world. Father, he says in a soft and hurting voice, I was so glad when the priest came to see me in the hospital. I wanted to confess. I wanted to receive the Blessed Sacrament. I need -ed to know that Jesus was with me. His voice falters. But, Father, you know what happened? The priest came. We talked. I told him I wanted to confess and receive the sacrament. Tears swell up in his eyes. I told him I had a wife and three lovely daughters. I told him I was recently blind. I wasnt looking for sympathy or asking for anything. It becomes harder for him to talk as his emotions reflect a deep pain, a suffering in the soul; a sense of being rejected sets in. And Father, you know what happened? He asked me if I was married. I told him no. Well, then if you have not been married in the church, you cannot confess and receive the sacrament. The pain was very deep in his tear-filled eyes which no longer see. That hurt me very much, Father. He sobs as we embrace each other. Jos, do you love your wife? Do you love your children? Surprised and almost offended by the question , he gives a stong, affirmative, YES. Then in Gods eyes you are married. Struggling to hear the good news, his face is torn between confusion and dissipating pain. A faint smile breaks in. Jos, you need and deserve the Sacrament. Jos is looking for strength and guidance. He is not looking for pity or handouts. He is yearning to be a part of the mystical Body of Christ, the church of the poor, that can get off of its knees and walk in blindness with complete vision toward the light! Why would the churches want to stand in the way of that? Why would the churches, not want this man empowered? Why would the churches prefer he stay on his knees, dependent upon their acts of self-fulfilling charity?Why would the churches be happier keeping him an object rather than allowing him to become a subject sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ? Why is a social ministry organization so much easier than the Eucharist?

Participants each tell one another something they like about that person. A simple act of acceptance and affirmation is a powerful tool for those who have been excluded.

We continue talking. Jos, in the eyes of God you are married. You have produced and love three beautiful children. You live together. You deserve the Eucharist. He asks me if I will give him communion. Jos, I want to encourage you to receive communion. Return to the church in your neighborhood. Go to Mass tonight. With your daughters. And walk forward at the time of the distribution and proudly recieve the Blessed Sacrament as a gift from God. Your sins are forgiven! You are free to believe and receive! He struggles to retain the smile and new joy he is feeling. But Father, I will not have confessed. Jos, there is public confession at the beginning of every Mass. That is all you need! He sits up straighter. The lines in his torn face become less pronounced. He has a moment of peace, of belief in the midst of his disbelief of what just happened. Jos, promise me you will go to Mass at least 2 times a week and receive the Eucharist. It is a gift from God, not from the priest. God invites you. The priest cannot control you. A look of resistance and freedom now appears on his face. I can do that! It will make me strong. It will make my family strong. Grace is taken to the streets! With this attitude of freedom and resistance, the Popular Church has one more member. One more faith-filled member claiming the mystical body of Christ as his own. With this simple conversation and act, suffering has been reclaimed as a mark of the church. The cross of Christ is lifted high once again as a simple man , a humble man, discovers the power of the Eucharist in a community that now challenges him and grows with him. He and his wife are introduced to Lulu, the sister who manages the small factory that the Comunidad helped finance that produces natural skin cremes. Lulu, Jos and his wife would like to get involved in making cremes. They will be walking more in the streets and will also be able to sell. The econom -ic power of the community is strengthened. Jos and his wife have an option for a small income. During this Lenta time for fasting, prayer and walking in solidarity with the poorpeople like Jos become our guides leading us in our blindness toward the light. These simple prophets proclaim the resurrected Christ before he has risen. Let those who have eyes to see, see. Let those who have ears to hear, hear.