Thou art Peter

In my first post I said that I wasn't too keen on thinking of the Church as INSTITUTION. Of course, there are advantages as well as disadvantages of this model, but there are other ways of thinking of Church. I thought that for the next few posts I would go through a few of these ways. Some of my thinking has been formed by a Diploma in Pastoral Theology I took, and the book, 'Models of Church' by Avery Dulles, but most of what follows is personal 'meanderings.'
Right. Institution. This is the obvious and very visible model. Especially visible when the organisation is as big as the Catholic Church. There are advantages. Any 'successful' institution will have clear branding, and a well developed constitution. Most commercial organisations even have 'mission statements' now!
So a lot of people will feel 'safe' with this model. They know what they have to do. I've heard people say the Church is like a club. If you don't like/keep the rules get out. I hasten to say this is not what I believe Jesus says to us. He welcomes sinners. In fact, the Catholic Church has been called The Church of Sinners.
But anyway, the institutional church has an unbroken tradition going back to the apostles. It is the Church who organised Scripture as we know it today,(different from the Hebrew Bible) and there is a long tradition of moral teaching easily accessible through Vatican documents.
However, there are disadvantages with large institutions. They become unwieldy, and slow to change, and they can become very paternalistic.
I think it was to protect the ordinary Christian that the Church condemned Galileo when he discovered the earth was round. His findings didn't seem to correlate with the creation story, which puts us at the centre physically.
The same thing is happening today. Psychology is a comparatively new science, and it has taken the Church a long time to afford Christian burials to people who commit suicide. Thank God we do now, but there are other areas that need updating.
Much of the moral teaching of the Church needs rethinking. For example, sex should be a life-giving experience, but an African with Aids, making love with his lawfully married wife, could be giving her death if he doesn't use a condom, but the Church still says artificial contraception methods are wrong.
I think the fact that church leaders are male celibates, and usually getting on in years, contributes to the problem.
However, I want to end on a positive note. The visible church gives us all the 'smells and bells' experiences that address our senses.

And all these liturgical traditions are very symbolic. It's just that we need to take time and remember.
For example, (as the Pope has been in the public eye in England recently) bishops with their mitres and crooks should remind us (and them) that they are shepherds of the people. It must be a difficult line to tread. We mustn't be sheep, following blindly, and they mustn't be too paternalistic.
Oh let's finish on a whimsical note. Shepherds in the time of Jesus, were outcasts, as they couldn't keep the strict rules (washing etc) that were laid down. That's why St Luke makes a point of saying the Good News was first announced to shepherds. Jesus came for sinners. we all in it together, pope and people. The Church of Sinners.

Pilgrim's Progress

I went for a hike with some friends today. High up in the hills, and down valleys. We had a map between us, a book guide, and a compass on my i-phone! What should have been a four and half mile walk turned into a 6 mile walk as we got lost twice, once quite badly. To get back to the path, rather than retrace our footsteps we had to slide down a hill on our bottoms.
We also encountered two walkers who assured us we were on the right path, and a farm hand who said the same.
Four hours later we reached the pub where we had left our cars.

I will let you make your own conclusions about the journey of life, wrong turns and  guides, but I had another thought on the way home -


We had done a sort of Emmaus journey. Part one was when we travelled along, swapping stories, and not realising that Christ was at our side - The Liturgy of the Word. Part two was when we shared a meal, and at last were refreshed. The Liturgy of the Eucharist.
At that meal the travellers were unaware of Christ's presence too, and as soon as they recognised him he disappeared.
We can't see Christ now, but he is the stranger who walks next to us, and sits next to us on the bus.
It would be so good if we could treat everyone with the reverence they deserve.

There is an ad in England at the moment, asking for sponsors, where a young girl from a Third World country talks about how invisible she is. That's another whole area to consider. Christ isn't only next to us, he's far away. Do I recognise him? And what do I do about it.

Brass Serpent Paradox

The readings in church the other day were full of paradox. That's why I love scripture. It makes me question things. Questions give life. Once you have an answer the issue is dead.
Anyway, the first reading was about the Hebrews grumbling in the desert, and God sending snakes to bite them in punishment.  (Numbers 21:4-9)
When Moses prayed, God said make a brass serpent, and if anyone looks on it when they have been bitten, they shall be healed.
(First, I should say that I don't take this Bible story literally - it is there to teach us eternal truths, not historical facts.)
Anyway, it got me thinking about sin, punishment and forgiveness. I think sin  is selfishness, and it brings its own punishment. This is fairly obvious to me, but what was strange was the bit where Moses had to make a brass serpent for the healing to take place. Why not an eagle, or some creature that kills snakes?

Then I thought that it was because we need to face up to our sinfulness to be really healed. The people had to look at that serpent, and remember their weakness. This links so well with the second reading, (John 3:13-17) which was about Jesus having to be lifted up, and finishes with stating that God so loved the world that he sent his only son, not to condemn us but to save us.

Jesus died for us. Sin is deadly, but by facing our guilt, we are given life.

Papal Visit

What a subject to start this blog with. I'm a Catholic, and should be over the moon that he's coming to the United Kingdom, but the Institutional Church isn't that important to me.
I criticise the Church. A priest I used to work with once said to me, 'Criticise, but do it within the church. So many people leave.'

So I'm here to criticise.

I also love the Church. I love the little parish I attend, with the wonderful people there, all with their stories of hurt and guilt, love and happiness.

So I'm also here to celebrate.

But I'm here for many reasons. That's why I call this blog Alannah's Meanderings. I hope to post my ideas, questions, insights, anything.
I don't want it to be flippant. I have other blogs where I joke and chat.
This is my serious blog with my deeper thoughts in it. As I'm an introvert, I do not reveal myself very easily, and so this blog is anonymous. That way I can write from the heart.
I hope you enjoy it, dear non-existent reader. I'm sure I'll enjoy creating it.