A MOST INTERESTING LETTER
FROM THE POPE
[Instead of a homily for this 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year A, I decided to write a story - coming out of today's gospel - especially - but today's first reading also mentions water.]
It was a most interesting letter from the Pope.
It was clear, simple, short and to the point.
Such a letter had never been sent to the whole church, the
whole family of Catholics, around the whole world before.
The pope was asking that every church – every church in the
Catholic Church – around the whole world – if possible - to have a water
fountain available for anyone and everyone who wanted to have a cold drink of water.
And he gave specific details in his letter: “If possible have steps – or a lower fountain –
so little kids can reach the water fountain – in case they don’t have with them
an older brother or sister – mom or dad – grandmother or grandfather - to lift them up – so that everyone can have a drink of cold water – especially
on a hot day."
He even said, “If possible have bowls of cold water near the fountain for dogs.” And the Pope
added: “It’s good to be nice to each other and all of God’s creations and
creatures.”
People scratched their heads when they heard about this in
the newspapers or on TV. “Strange they thought. Very strange. Why would the
pope be bothering with words about water fountains? Holy
Water Fountains – yes – but regular fountains - when there are so many other
problems in the world – and in the church – going on.... Why, why, why? Why
talk about having water fountains at churches.”
Others said, “Very smart. Before words should come charity
and awareness of the basics for everyone.”
Plumbers loved it. It meant more work. Pipe sellers and
water fountain sellers loved it – because it meant more business.
But this was not all. The pope also wrote: “The churches
should be open as well – so people can come in and sit down for a while – and
get out of the sun – if it’s hot outside – after they have had a nice drink of
cold water.”
And this is not all. The Pope also gave one more very
specific suggestion. He said, “A copy of the 4th Chapter of the
Gospel of St. John should be left sitting there – right inside the church – for
people to read.”
He said that’s the Gospel Story about the moment – at
noontime – when one day Jesus met the
Woman at the Well – in the town of Samaria – in
the Holy Land .
It’s the story – the Pope wrote – about how everyone is thirsty for
water, for love, and for God – and it takes time for each of us to figure that
out – sometimes very slowly.
And that was the letter the pope sent out. Just one page.
Just one short letter. Just 202 words.
Well, most letters from popes get forgotten in time – or
another letter – some of them 8,202 words long – get placed on top of an earlier letter – and not too much happens as
a result of these letters from a Pope.
But this letter – this 202 word letter – had a great impact – all around the world.
It gave a lot of people – Catholics, Protestants, Jewish,
Muslim, non-Church going folks - a chance to get a taste of nice cold water –
especially on hot days – and also dogs – Catholic and non Catholic dogs - got a
chance to get a nice drink of water – because churches that didn’t have water
fountains in the corridors or near the church – had them put in.
And after a nice drink of water people went into church – who hadn’t gone to church for years.
And it also got a whole new group of men and women volunteering
at many of the local churches. Some of these groups were called the CWV’s or the Cold Water Volunteers or the WUG'S –
the Weekday Ushers Group - or what have you.
And more and more people started talking to each other
outside of churches – but in the shade if possible – and more smiles appeared
on faces than were on them before the Pope’s 202 word letter.
And people started sitting in afternoon churches – some
snoring – some relaxing – just for 15
minutes or for a half hour of prayer.
Some people found out some people couldn’t read – so they
couldn’t read that 4th Chapter of John – so some people volunteered
to read that chapter for anyone who needed it. So there were volunteers who did
that.
And some churches then – it wasn’t in the Pope’s letter – but
the Pope’s letter triggered the idea – they made the 6th Chapter of
John available as well. That 6th
chapter is a whole chapter on Jesus feeding people with bread – teaching
everyone that everyone is hungry for bread, for Spiritual Bread, Eucharist - for
Jesus – for the promise that if one eats this bread, one will live forever.
And surprise all around the world that one short 202 word
letter got a lot more people back to Church – back to Mass – because they got
it – that we’re all hungry and thirsty not just for water and bread, but also
for each other, for company and community, and for God who gave promises on how
to live forever and forever.
And the Pope – with great smile - said he learned something
from his 202 word letter: Short is better.
