We are hoping that:
If you enter here as a tourist, you
would exit as a pilgrim.
If you enter here as a pilgrim, you
would exit as a holier one.
Words on a sign near the entrance
to the Church
of the Nativity, in Bethlehem, quoted in
Jesus: A Pilgrimage, by James Martin, SJ
(2014)
I don’t think I was
totally naive in believing that something like this could be a realistic hope
for a meeting of over 200 people (bishop, priests, nuns, lay people) meeting to
discuss evangelization in the Diocese of Tlapa, here in the mountains of
Mexico: that we might all emerge from the meeting just a little bit holier.
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| Some participants in the diocesan meeting |
But I confess that I was
shocked on Tuesday evening after Father David (name changed to protect the
guilty) showed a two-hour movie, Jesus of
Nazareth according to the Gospel of Luke, that was narrated totally in Nahuatl, one of the three native languages that is very common in the diocese.
After the movie, the
following conversation ensued between Father David and the audience:
Father
David: “Did you like
the movie?”
Audience: “Yes, it was great.”
“Did you notice what was
missing in the crucifixion?”
“What do you mean by
‘missing,’ Father?”
“Do you want to see that
part again?”
“Sure, Father.”
 |
| A participant in one of the liturgies |
Father David returned to
the scene of Jesus’ crucifixion and showed everyone the final moments of Jesus’
life. Then he started up the conversation again:
Father
David: “Did you
notice this time what was missing?”
Audience:
“No, Father? What was
missing?”
“Where was Mary? Did you
see her at the foot of the cross?”
“Oh, Father, we’re not
sure.”
“OK, I’ll show the
crucifixion scene again.”
 |
| A seminarian (Miguel) helping in the kitchen to prepare pozole for all participants |
Father David showed the
crucifixion scene once again. Then he asked:
Father
David: “Did you see
Mary at the foot of the cross?”
Audience: “No, Father, we didn't.”
“Do you know why you didn't see her?”
“No, Father. Why?”
“Because this movie was
made by Protestants, and they don't like Mary. So they took her out of the movie.”
“Oh, Father, how
terrible! How can those darn Protestants be so devious and deceitful?”
I couldn't take it any
longer. I raised my hand and got permission from Father David to speak:
Mike: “I don’t think that we can blame the
Protestants for removing Mary from the foot of the cross here.”
Audience:
“Why not?”
“Does anyone remember
the title of the movie?”
“Yes, it’s Jesus of Nazareth according to the Gospel of
Luke.”
“Yes, everything in the
movie is taken from the Gospel of Luke. Does Luke place Mary at the foot of the
cross?”
“We don’t know. Does
he?”
“Does anyone have a
Bible here?
“Yes, here is one.”
“Could you please read
what it says in Luke 23:49.”
A reader read: “But
all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,
stood at a distance, watching these things.”
Mike: “Yes, that’s why Mary isn't at the foot of the
cross. Luke didn't put her there; she is ‘at a distance’ along with other
‘acquaintances.’ The only gospel that has Mary at the foot of the cross is
John’s. But this movie is based on the Gospel of Luke. So it’s not the
Protestants who removed her; it’s Luke.”
Audience: “Oh, maybe the Protestants
aren't as devious and deceitful as we thought they might be. Maybe it’s us that
have to know our Bible a little better.”
 |
| Some more participants in the diocesan meeting |
We still have a long way to go to promote and live ecumenism in the
mountains of Mexico, but my hope is that, at least, we “pilgrims” in that
meeting emerged just a little “holier” than when we entered—and just a little
bit more open-minded about our non-Catholic acquaintances.
