Part 2 with Francis. I don’t know many Indians. As an American, I want to say, “You know like Indian Indians, not like American Indians.” I can not imagine how ignorant that must sound to the people who make up 1.3 billion of the world’s population. If you need something to put that in perspective as I do, that’s over three times the population of the United States.
But wait. What race is Francis? I bet you don’t know. In fact, I bet you are not sure how many races there are in the world. Your mind is saying 5 right? or is it 4? or 7? I’m not going to tell you and if you do know that answer, right now you are feeling insulted and want to tell me. But do I mean race as a biological category or a sociological one? Which is it? Do I really mean ethnicity?
Wait again. Name those races. What are they? Once again I bet you can’t name the major races, let alone the corresponding ethnicities and countries they mainly populate.
But you feel strongly about the race dialogue going on in America, so much so that there is a good chance your friendships are being effected. You are insulted by those who are taking a different view from you. You may think they are ignorant and backward and bigoted or they may be ill-informed and pushy or snobby. I have some friends who are considering cutting off friends and even posted on Facebook if you have XYZ view, you can unfriend me. I don’t want to even be around you. Really?
Some of you aren’t hearing a word because you are stuck on Black, White, Indian, Asian and you are counting on your fingers as you do it. What are you missing?
We could do the same exercise in Major World Religions if we wanted to. What are the major World Religions? I divert.
Back to Francis. I don’t know many Indians. I don’t have many Indian friends. Francis is a new friend for me and I suspect he will be one for life and it is going to be good and deep and filled with humor and teasing and a mutual passion for the God we love, the one Triune God who reveals Himself in Holy Scripture.
Francis is going to teach me more about Indians, the amazing diversity among these people, their land, their history, their food, and cultures. I’ll probably even pick up novels about India that I never would have considered before I met Francis.
His skin has different pigmentation than mine. Of course, I notice it. I’m not blind. Do I care? Not really. Bet you don’t either. Why? Because it is Francis. You know his name, His mission, his values, his love of God and country.
Why do I know Francis? Because as a middle-age man he came to my country and he learned about my people and from my people. When he met me, he smiled and shook my hand. I know Francis because he came here.
I don’t want to push an analogy too far, but that’s also the story of the Gospel the Church has taught for 2,000 years. God made the trip. He came here, to this earth, in human flesh. His name is Jesus. He cared. He loved. He taught. He died. The message: “In my Father’s House there are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you.” Want one of those mansions?
Check out a church today who can tell you more about that. The real estate up there in Heaven sure isn’t cheap, but the price has already been paid. And that is what we mean by “AND” and that is WORTH A THOUGHT.
For Church Hurts AND this is John Bash. Love somebody today and Enjoy God, won’t you?
Finding My Parents with Tim Dyson
Fiction Meets Life with Michael Phillips
Inside a Book Doctor with Dr. Steve Halliday
Creatively Faith with Hope Harrison
Filling In the Ruts with Daren Young
Shoe Dog Decisions with David Corsi
Making the Links with Wally Armstrong
Sinner Saints Revealed with Ben Virgo
Nightmare Before Christmas with Dave Stevens
Standing Stone Ministry with Jim & Debbie Hogan
How to Christmas with Dr. Perry Downs
Catholic, Celibate and Real with Msgr. Paul Dudziak
Children, Agony and Praise with Jana Alayra
Liturgy, Crisis and Culture with the Very Reverend Father Chip Edgar
Practical, Political Correctness with Dr. Dan Lind
Education, Learning and Growth with Dr. Perry Downs
Country, Christ, and Classics with Ben Virgo
Justice, Race and Relatives with Wm. Difenderfer, Esq.
Never Broken, Never with Zack Collie
Change, Absolutes and Church with Richard Dahlstrom
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Hello Heaven Podcast
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Kingdom Power Fellowship Podcast
The Bible Recap
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)