Why Church is like Visiting a Museum

Recently I was reading an article entitled, Top 8 Reasons People Visit Museums.  The link to the full article is below.  I was struck by the similarity between the reasons people visit museums and the reasons people visit Churches.

The author notes that museums are to inspire, engage, and educate visitors. Museums are open to everyone and exhibit artifacts, art, and antiques from different eras. There are many different types of museums, and they include art, history, science centers, zoos, aquariums, nature centers, and botanic gardens, just to name a few. People look to museums for various reasons, regardless if there are some who don’t understand the hype. 

Surely, its not hard to imagine that Churches also are called to inspire, engage and educate. They are open to everyone, and depending on what Church is being visited, there are often times beautiful pieces of art, paintings, stained glass, antique furniture - even from different eras. And there are different types of Churches - especially Catholic Churches - that attempt to make God present in this age. Finally, people also look to Churches for various reasons - to be quiet, to present their needs to God, to worship, and the list goes on. 

Using the author’s list of eight, perhaps we can gain deeper insight into some of the reasons people visit Churches. 

1.  Changes your perspective

Churches call us to change - our perspective, our attitudes, even our practices because it gives us a new outlook on things.  Churches ask us to see things from Christ’s perspective and see life in a completely different way. Churches inspire change.  

2.  Makes you happy

The author cites a recent study conducted by Harris Interactive found that people are much happier when they spend their money on experiences rather than buying material items. The study notes that experiences create more happiness than material possessions because they provide positive personal reinterpretations over time. Visiting a Church during a worship service - mass, the Rosary, the Liturgy of the Hours, Weddings, etc, while surely “free of charge” allow us to enter the mystery of Christ and to experience his presence and love, which are priceless. His presence and love bring happiness. 

3.  For inspiration

There are times when we are all feeling down, uninspired, or just need a breath of fresh air. Churches that take seriously the need to have the best Sunday experience can really help.  Great music, an interesting and inspiring message, a warm welcome, and the presence of other believers can all provide the necessary inspiration to recharge. 

4.  To learn something new

Whether we are life-long believers, or newcomers to the faith, Churches can help us to learn - about the Lord, Saints, Sacraments, Scriptures and so much more. One of the main roles of Churches is to educate and engage us and then send us out to bring the message to the world. This is why so many Churches invest in Family Faith Formation, and also Adult Continuing Education programs too!  We can never stop learning about faith.

5.  To meet like-minded individuals

Churches are great places to meet and connect with people who share the same values and beliefs. By regularly attending and getting involved, one can really begin to maximize the Church experience and transform from being just a visitor to truly becoming a member. 

6.  For peace of mind

No doubt that everyone deals with stress in life from time to time. Some people choose to turn to yoga, meditation, food, and a host of other things to deal with life’s pressures - including some that are not so positive. However, like museums, Churches offer a quiet place to rest and relax so that you forget about all of life’s demands, at least for awhile. By taking a closer look at oneself and finding a chance to be with the Lord, one can experience a serene and calming effect.

7.  Tourism

While much like visiting a museum in a place that you have traveled to you can also do the same for a Church - but the purpose is very different. Museums have exhibits that are specific to the area that they are situated in. Visiting a museum while traveling is an interesting way for you to get a feel for the area you’re visiting and enhance your experience with rich insights into the history of your destination, all while having fun exploring your new surroundings. Churches, on the other hand, provide a place to encounter the Lord.  Almost everywhere in the world we have this opportunity to turn a simple act of tourism into a profound act of faith.

8.  For a good time

While museums can be tons of fun, Churches call us to become the best versions of ourselves - by our encounter with Jesus and one another - and that is truly good! 

As society moves further and further away from religion, let’s ensure that we don’t reduce our Churches to museums, because while there surely are similarities - Churches are so much more!

Blessings!

RSM

Source: https://atelier-si.org/top-8-reasons-people-visit-museums/

The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple. The Presentation, which is celebrated exactly 40 days after Christmas, is not mentioned in the other Gospels. Only Luke tells the story, most likely because he writes for Gentile Christians who are not familiar with the Jewish rite of presentation and purification. In addition, the intent of Luke’s Gospel is to show that God’s promise to Israel, fulfilled in Jesus, extends to Gentiles.

Luke recognizes Joseph and Mary as faithful Jews who bring Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem. Here they present their firstborn son to the Lord. Jesus is thus consecrated as required by the Law of Moses. Present in the temple at this time are Simeon and Anna. Being presented in the Temple introduces the Holy Family to the community of Jewish believers.  We learn that even for the parents of Jesus, being part of a community of faith important.

The importance of community counteracts the loneliness that has become prevalent in our society.  Recently, I was disturbed by reading the online article, “Most Americans Are Lonely, And Our Workplace Culture May Not Be Helping” by Elena Renken.  In it, she notes that “more than three in five Americans are lonely, with more and more people reporting feeling like they are left out, poorly understood and lacking companionship …  and workplace culture and conditions may contribute to Americans' loneliness.”

The article notes that more and more research suggest that the impacts of loneliness don't end with mental health but impacts physical health as well. 

The report found several factors that were linked to increased feelings of isolation in 2019. Loneliness appeared to be more common among men. The survey found 63% of men to be lonely, compared with 58% of women. Further, social media use was tied to loneliness as well, with 73% of very heavy social media users considered lonely, as compared with 52% of light users.

In a society where we seem to be more and more “connected” these are disturbing statistics!

The story underlines that in-person connections are what really matter … sharing that time to have a meaningful interaction and a meaningful conversation, to share our lives with others, is important to help us mitigate and minimize loneliness. Where better to have those meaningful interactions than in Church?

As we celebrate the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, we are reminded of how important we are to one another as members of this community of faith.  Perhaps today, we could promise to reach out to someone we think is lonely and welcome them to join us for a tea, meal or worship.  Let’s bring our Church outside its walls, where many of our people suffer alone.

Simeon had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see Christ the Lord, the Messiah, before he died. Let’s be ambassadors of that Holy Spirit and be a light in our day for our people here in Summit and beyond.

[Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/01/23/798676465/most-americans-are-lonely-and-our-workplace-culture-may-not-be-helping]

Two Popes = Two Churches?

It is true that some of what we read in the Sacred Scriptures contain themes that are echoed in our world and Church today, evidenced by Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.

Around 50 AD, towards the end of his second journey, Paul founded the church in Corinth, before moving on to Ephesus, the west coast of today's Turkey, about 180 miles by sea from Corinth. It was while staying in Ephesus that he received disconcerting news of the community in Corinth regarding jealousies, rivalry, and immoral behavior.  The congregation there was requesting clarification on a number of pertinent matters. 

Paul wrote his letter to correct what he saw as erroneous views in the Corinthian church. Several sources informed Paul of the conflicts.  In response to the claims: “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ” Paul wrote, urging uniformity of belief and expounding Christian doctrine because divisions within the church at Corinth have become a problem.

We see that this idea of “uniformity” has been an issue from the very beginning.   The source of our unity is precisely the death and resurrection that we experience with Christ in our baptism, not our particular leaning in the faith. The source of all of this is Christ’s death on a cross, which looks like foolishness to the world and to the secular value system. 

Then and now, we know that a divided church is one which has yet to die completely to the dominant values surrounding it, and subsequently, remain unable to embrace the radical reality ushered in by Christ.

Perhaps this is why I am intrigued by the release of the movie The Two Popes, a 2019 biographical drama film directed by Fernando Meirelles and written by Anthony McCarten, adapted from McCarten's 2017 play The Pope.  The film stars Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI and Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (later Pope Francis).

While the performances of Pryce and Hopkins, as well as McCarten's screenplay, received high praise from critics, I wonder whether there is a more profound truth here than meets the eye – not necessarily in the film’s plot and main characters, but in the hearts of today’s believers. 

Netflix summarizes in these words, the film shows “a key turning point for the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI forms a surprising friendship with the future Pope Francis. Inspired by true events.” While one can decide for oneself where the true inspiration begins and ends, there is surely one truth that is evident: the Church today is also challenged by division – under whatever labels you prefer.

As a body of contemporary believers united in Christ through baptism, we are called to remember that we belong to Christ, never anything else, especially anything that divides us - and that belonging to Christ is what should unify us.  That unity challenges us to figure out how to live together today as a community of faith in light of the Gospel.

While today we experience an historical reality of the presence of one active and one retired Pope, we are reminded that there is only one Church, founded by Christ, that unites all believers by their baptism to his death and resurrection.  As we live that reality, I pray we join our hearts and voices despite our differences, not only to get along, but to take our rightful place in society to work for justice, peace and dignity for all God's people each in our own way.  

RSM