Day 4

The official start of WYD began today with a Mass on the waterfront of Sydney.  250,000 young people plus bishops, priests and religious packed the grounds for a 4 hour long program and Mass. 

 

There were flags waving, crowds chanting, music blaring, lots of men in funny hats and robes sitting in high places and carrying shiny gold objects. 

 

I had a hard time with this Mass.  I was pretty frustrated. It  isn’t a new feeling.  I didn’t let on to the kids in the group.  I chalked it up to the crowds.  I needed to take a walk after – and get a beer.  I just don’t get anything out of such a spectacle.  I am not sure what others do get out of such an event is positive.

 

First of all, I just can’t take anyone seriously who is wearing a ridiculous gold tri-pointed hat with ribbons falling down his shoulders; and is holding a bright golden shepherd’s staff.  It still kills me to see what Christ railed against in the Pharisees and temple authority (“noble robes, and choice seats”) is so present in our Roman Church.  After Christ’s assault on such a decorated and old boyz club religious authority, it is the Jewish tradition that became Rabbinical, that is, centered in the home and small communities. Meanwhile, we got all Roman and Imperial. WYJD? I wonder if Christ would have ever worn such a ridiculous hat. 

 

Moreover, the Mass is a lot of things, but a Rock Concert it is not.  The Vatican Council for the Laity, who plans these things, sure tried to make it one.  What began, and was meant, to be, a small meal combined with scripture reflection and fellowship has become a performance. That meal signifies and makes present, by the action of the Spirit, God/Christ’s love through a meal and sharing insight into God’s activity in history, the community and our lives.  Even on Sunday in parishes some of that is lost in the performance for a larger audience.  Ask me sometime of the effects of Christendom’s confrontation and engagement with Paganism in the “Golden Age” of Roman Catholic liturgy.

 

Not unlike the medieval fathers who adopted “pagan” elements to make Christian services attractive to nonchristians, to make such a simple thing interesting enough for 250,000 young people to wait for hours and sit hundreds of feet away, the event planners used plenty of new, hip and ultimately tacky gimmicks – as well as turning up the Roman Catholic Pomp and Circumstance.  It seems to work for some.  There were lots of kids and chaperones kneeling on the concrete with knuckles clenched white in prayer throughout the thing.  I feel like I am on a foreign planet.  Our kids seem to feel the same way. 

 

The trip continues.  We are still staying in Auburn, a fantastic and diverse neighborhood in Sydney.  One of the other adults snores, so I am not sleeping so well.  And some of the kids would rather eat burger king than have a cultural experience, but the trip continues.