Other Sheep Not Of This Fold
2021년 4월 25일Other Sheep Not Of This Fold
< Fourth Sunday of Easter >
Growing up in the pre-Vatican Catholic Church (before 1965), I was taught not to go to Protestant service. It was a sin. And God-forbid a Catholic wanted to marry a non-Catholic in those days. It didn’t matter what kind: Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Jewish (!), Muslim — this was strongly discouraged. They were, after, not saved. Only Catholics were going to heaven. Or so we were taught.
Then Vatican II happened. It was more than changing the language of Mass from Latin to all the living languages people actually understand and live by. Our attitudes changed as well. We still believe Catholicism to be the best way to live God’s will in this world and praise him in the Eucharist. But we no longer blame people for following a different religion. And we can actually learn from them! These are the “other sheep” Jesus mentions who are not of our fold. They too are precious children of God. When people of faith see others as companions rather than competitors, perhaps then we can join together to address the terrible violence, poverty and racism that infects our nation and our world.