Bishop Kae's invitation
to let your light shine

 

“You are the light of the world.  You do not build a city on a hill, then try to hide it; do you?  You do not light a lamp, then put it under a bushel basket; do you?  No, you set it on a stand where it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, your light must shine before others so that they may see your good acts, and give praise to your God in heaven.” (Mt 5:14-16, Inclusive Lectionary) 

 

Jesus calls us to “let our light shine.”

 

Sometimes the rules of the faith tradition we inherit have the effect of putting a “bushel basket” over who we are and who we are called to be.  For example, maybe we are in a committed gay relationship?  Or a woman called to priesthood?  Or a married priest?   Or we are divorced and quietly remarried?  Or?  So we hide our light.  And then…some incident or the Holy Spirit may nudge us to risk exploring alternatives.     

 

I was called by the Spirit to priesthood from my youth. My faith tradition did not include women priests.  Eventually, the call was so strong that I could no longer remain in the faith tradition in which I grew up – it was too restrictive.  It was painful to disentangle God’s enlivening and affirming presence within me from my family’s religion, and to move toward the radically inclusive Catholicism of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion.  It took time.  Research.  Grieving. The assurance that I could be Catholic AND let my light shine.  The supportive company of others.  The experience of a Catholicism that welcomes and affirms us.  

 

If you are looking for an inclusive Catholicism, we are here to journey with you; we have five communities along the Front Range.  How might it feel to come out from under the bushel basket and shine?