Lenten Reflections #29
Prayers.
At my parent’s home, we go to church on Saturday evenings. It’s the one time of the week, for me, when Mom and Dad are completely one. They sit on the blanket we place on the pine pew every week, hold hands, rest their feet on the red leathery plastic kneeler and pray with reverence and confidence. They know the words, when to kneel, stand, shake hands, receive communion, and (just mom) plug her ears when the music is “too loud” or when the musicians are “playing between the notes”.
The routine is something they’ve been doing all their lives. They’ve spent thousands of hours inside churches, looking up at Jesus and Mary stare down at them. They’ve baptized children, went to First Communions, Confirmations, Weddings, and lately way too many Funerals.
The comforting sameness of it all is like the baseball cap Dad pulls on every day that says “Calibra” on the front or the delft blue and white coffee cup Mom reaches for every morning. The fit is predictable and familiar.
I remember back in 2010, when several parts of the mass responses and prayers changed. The new word patterns were like memorizing the ABC’s starting with Q. Prayers were longer, Latin words returned, and the word “consubstantial” crept into the Nicene Creed as we googled its meaning.
My generation whined.
Mom and Dad were all in. In their heads, church was church: read the Gospel, say your prayers, show up.
I guess change came easier for them when God was at the helm. Even as their daughters had varying (and strong) viewpoints on hot topics like abortion, female priests or “the ridiculously right-winged sermon the priest gave last Saturday”, they respected our perspectives.
Starting this year in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, another change is upon us:
The age for the sacrament of Confirmation will be changing from 10th grade (15-16 years old) to 6th grade (11-12 years old). Due to the challenges most tweens and teens face these days, the church is hoping an earlier Confirmation date will keep kids in church and bring the whole family closer to God.
The other thought, conversly, is that of my friend who stated after the announcement at church: “Looks like we won’t be seeing many teenagers at church anymore.” I tend to agree, yet pray the change is one that will keep our youth as faithful as my 87 and 90-year old parents.
What I learned:
Change is our only constant.
Prayer remembers who we are and were, even if we don’t.
Thank you for joining me.
I’m so glad you’re here,
Lucretia
runonmom.com 