The Chasm Between
The Chasm Between
As I was recently mixing the water and wine at Mass, preparing the altar and praying the words,“By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity”, something profound came over me. Jesus alone can breach the unreachable chasm between. Not only between heaven and earth, but so so so much more..
In ministry I most always am blessed to encounter and accompany a person caught in the chasm between. In listening to them speak, watching their expression, and pondering what they struggle to express I witness something. I witness a human caught or stuck between destinations too far to see clearly. What I hear far too often is that the organization or structure of order where they seek to arrive cannot help them. Sometimes it is the government, other times health care, sometimes financial institutions, commonly a church or other non profit organization. The person that I am talking to just doesn’t seem to fit the necessary qualifications to receive the standardized response designed to streamline efficiency and mitigate risk aversions. They are too far from the average and desired client for services. They are caught in the chasm between. This is overwhelmingly demoralizing for the person before me and embarrassingly very ordinary in our western world. It is people who cannot find affordable housing, mental health services, immigration assistance, spiritual direction, sacraments, financial assistance, or addiction recovery support. This is a generalized and condensed list of major barriers in our community. In short, where institutions miss the mark with individuals, Jesus does not. Jesus is there in the chasm between. Mercy revealed. So much depth in contemplating the Mercy of God extending the reach between the unreachable chasm, with his Son Jesus.
The chasm between, heaven and earth, rich and poor, intentions and action, rubrics/ritual and love/compassion, rules/restrictions and encounter/accompaniment, the world's great need and our God given gifts/talents, the professional action and the need for action, humanity and divinity, formality and chaos, military order and rebellion, laughter and tears, justice and injustice, order and disorder, past and future, creation and destruction, seen and unseen, known and unknown, confidence and ignorance, saint and sinner. A greater proportion of our world's population fits somewhere in the continuum between these destinations of the chasm. Most institutions and organizations wouldn’t dare pivot off the polarized destination they manage efficiently and risk free.
I wonder if Pope Francis’ and Pope Leo’s messages pleading with the people of Christ to listen, encounter, and accompany will be heard? Please move off the polarized positions of safety and efficiency, at least for moments of mercy, please. I wonder if the church first, of all institutions and organizations can dare enter further into the chasm where Jesus lives in mercy? Can we spare a few courageous missionary disciples to venture in? If not the church first, then who will? Why does it feel like most leaders and followers are rushing to the polarized places of security and comfort? Will Jesus alone occupy the expansive chasm with the lost, weary, and weakened souls? I feel this is the measure of mercy deeply woven in scripture. I feel this is where the church is most sick and lacking. Possibly a bit too much navel gazing. Is this where talk is cheap and faith is tested? We sure tend to love the sanctuary of the sanctuary, but do we dare enter where the light of Christ is needed most? While we debate right and wrong with words alone could we dare respond with love, mercy, and compassion in the chasms of despair around us? In the least, may we be present to the abandonment in the chasm. Is this synodality? We may just find Christ is there to teach us something.
May God continue mixing His divinity among us until we better humble ourselves in humanity.