Sunday, December 08, 2013

Knock and the Door Shall Be Opened?


"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you."
                                                                 Matthew 7:7

Can you fathom actually creating a door for the purpose of being knocked on by a cleric, opened for a year, and then sealed? That door with Mary on one side and Jesus on the other will be opened today as part of a special ceremony in Quebec City.

In an ages-old ritual, the Catholic archbishop of Quebec will rap three times on a bronze Holy Door — the first in the Americas — and wait for it to be opened so that he can pass through. The opening of the door Sunday is a powerful moment in a ceremony that dates back to Rome in the 1400s, but has never, until now, taken place outside Europe. Beyond the symbolism of the open door, church leaders hope that pilgrimages and other celebrations around next year’s 350th anniversary of the basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec, may be a turning point in the province’s decades-long slide into secularism. “I believe this is a wonderful opportunity and a concrete way of inviting all to come to Notre-Dame de Québec during the Jubilee year to experience a renewal in their faith,” says Archbishop Gérald Lacroix.    Toronto Star

I don't want to be disparaging, but I don't think a symbolic door opening will cut it for any of the mainline/old-line denominations, including and particularly the Roman Catholic church. We have been struggling to connect with a different demographic in ways that communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ for the time in which we live. I'm not convinced that the entertainment style worship in some churches is faithful, but we don't have a lot to brag about in the way we have responded to a changing world. We continue to choose 19th century practices for the 21st century and while tradition has its place, it can be an anchor that holds up back from what Christ wants us to be. Instead of casting Jesus in bronze, let him breathe and live in our midst.

I  would actually like to be there today to see this ritual, but find refreshing and innovative ways of opening the door.

What do you think?

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/12/06/holy_door_opens_in_quebec_the_first_outside_of_europe.html#

3 comments:

Unknown said...

It might be more effective, as a symbol, and more true to Christ, if a poor person - or someone on the fringes of the culture, were to knock on the door and be welcomed ... Bishops are always allowed into big cathedrals....

colinm said...

What I find interesting is that ritual, ceremony andspectacle were not the focus of Jesus' message in the gospels. Obviously, he adhered to those rituals and rites of the religion of the cay, but they were not central to his message. He consistently told his followerx (the message for us) was to adhere to the golden rule, live amongst your people, help those who need it, and forgive those who hurt you.

David Mundy said...

So the bishop and someone on social assistance walking through the door together would have a much more powerful and faithful act. I somehow doubt it happened that way