The Adventures of Fric and Frac: Adventure 385: Flagstaff, AZ/KOA/Post C

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Adventure 385: Flagstaff, AZ/KOA/Post C

The vibrant parish of San Francisco de Asais

Father Pat, pastor of San Francisco de Asis, welcomed us on our way into Mass. His genuine warmth made us smile as we found our seats. He then did something I've not seen in a Catholic service. He took time to recognize visitors, connecting with each one in turn. When Judy admitted we were from Spokane, he commented that it was drier than Portland, which was where the previous visitors were from. I found it amazing because this is clearly who the man is. His focus, and thus the focus of his parish is clearly on humans as equals. And perhaps coincidentally, his homily discussed Jesus' communication with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. Here, our Lord broke all convention by not only talking to a person from a group of "lessers", but a woman, which was worse. Father Pat's homily discussed his church's recent trip to Mexico where his group built four houses in four days, but before that he talked about his father, a Presbyterian, who lived in a small town in Ohio where Catholics and Presbyterians would coexist without connection. Fortunately for Father Pat, his father fell in love with a Catholic girl. All of this is to accentuate his point that people are the same all over, once we get over perceived differences. In our world where splits are sharp, differences are palpable, and the ironies are so delicious they taste like bad fish, it makes me wonder if and when we'll meet in the middle. I don't yet have Father Pat's faith, but I'm encouraged by a message that proposes that with grace and generosity even men of difference can come to agreement. I loved it when he asked his congregation, "When is God good?" In chorus they answered, "All the time." And I really appreciated the prayer of the day:
"Most high glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me true faith, certain hope, perfect charity, sense and knowledge that I may carry out your holy and true command."
The fact is that each of us who come to church every Sunday, come broken, and all we should ask for is for the Lord to soften our hearts. That is my prayer in these days of cruel irony. And I continue to believe that is good, especially today.