I don't know if you watched on Friday night, but I did, and I really liked the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics this year. And maybe it was just because it was on the eve of our Confirmation Retreat - but when I started thinking about what all was going on during the Ceremonies, it made me think of Church, and Liturgy, and the Mass!
Could the Olympics start without a ceremony? Yes. We don't need all the singing, or the drama, the costumes, or even the torch in order to end up with champions in the various sports. In fact...there's really not a need for all the athletes to compete in one place, or at one time. Why not have the figure skating Olympic competition in January in Russia, while the snowboarders might compete in Utah in March? They could simply list the winners on a website somewhere.
In fact - why stop there? Why have graduations, or Weddings celebrations, or even birthday parties? We all KNOW you're done with school, we'll know you're married when you show up to everything together and start a family, and who wants to celebrate getting older anyway?
We do. We...the humans. There certainly seems to me to something in our very nature that cries out for celebration, and ceremony - a way to put our ideas about what something means to us into images and words that we can all understand together. Therefore - the big moments...the moments we want to celebrate, to be inspired by - become beautiful Ceremonies. A way for people to connect what's going on inside us and unseen, with something that we can see, something in which we can participate with one another to share the experience.
Hence - the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. A ceremony that is supposed to instill in us a sense of pride for our country, a recognition of the various talents the athletes have, and a celebration of what is to come! I can't help it - this makes me think of Church...what the Mass is all about!
At the Opening Ceremonies this year, it was beautiful. I tuned in to see that all the Athletes from varying countries, cultures, and backgrounds, were wearing the same thing...a light colored garment that reflected the lights in the stadium beautifully. When the images were projected into the stands, those there became more than observers...they became the image themselves.
What an awesome image of Baptism. Our White garments: our purity, innocence, make us ready to be part of the the telling of God's story to the world. We are not simply observers...through our Baptism, we become partipants! Our reflection of Christ's light tells God's story to the world.
The Opening Ceremonies feature drama, speaking, song, dance, poetry, the Olympic "hymn," and the participation of the Athletes themselves. There's even an Olympic Creed! The Ceremony tells a story, and means to unite, inspire, and prepare for the competition to follow.
Could the Olympics start without a ceremony? Yes. We don't need all the singing, or the drama, the costumes, or even the torch in order to end up with champions in the various sports. In fact...there's really not a need for all the athletes to compete in one place, or at one time. Why not have the figure skating Olympic competition in January in Russia, while the snowboarders might compete in Utah in March? They could simply list the winners on a website somewhere.
In fact - why stop there? Why have graduations, or Weddings celebrations, or even birthday parties? We all KNOW you're done with school, we'll know you're married when you show up to everything together and start a family, and who wants to celebrate getting older anyway?
We do. We...the humans. There certainly seems to me to something in our very nature that cries out for celebration, and ceremony - a way to put our ideas about what something means to us into images and words that we can all understand together. Therefore - the big moments...the moments we want to celebrate, to be inspired by - become beautiful Ceremonies. A way for people to connect what's going on inside us and unseen, with something that we can see, something in which we can participate with one another to share the experience.
Hence - the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. A ceremony that is supposed to instill in us a sense of pride for our country, a recognition of the various talents the athletes have, and a celebration of what is to come! I can't help it - this makes me think of Church...what the Mass is all about!
At the Opening Ceremonies this year, it was beautiful. I tuned in to see that all the Athletes from varying countries, cultures, and backgrounds, were wearing the same thing...a light colored garment that reflected the lights in the stadium beautifully. When the images were projected into the stands, those there became more than observers...they became the image themselves.
What an awesome image of Baptism. Our White garments: our purity, innocence, make us ready to be part of the the telling of God's story to the world. We are not simply observers...through our Baptism, we become partipants! Our reflection of Christ's light tells God's story to the world.
The Opening Ceremonies feature drama, speaking, song, dance, poetry, the Olympic "hymn," and the participation of the Athletes themselves. There's even an Olympic Creed! The Ceremony tells a story, and means to unite, inspire, and prepare for the competition to follow.
In Christian churches around the world - you'll find the stories of our Lord being told through reading of Scripture (often poetic), in song, in the words, garments, and actions of the Priest, in what is happening on the altar, and in the actions in which we ourselves do. The "bells and whistles" of the Mass are there to speak to our human senses...to help us understand an invisible reality, and participate in it in a way that makes sense to us through our human senses: hearing the words and songs, smelling the incense, seeing the candles, colors, each others' faces, feeling our bodies move as we kneel to worship, stand to be active, and sit to listen and reflect, tasting the Eucharist.
And what does all this lead up to? The end, the highlight of the Opening Ceremonies? The torch. Fire. A flame that has been passed on from person to person to ultimately light the Olympic Cauldron. This large flame burns throughout the Olympics...and the lighting of it signifies not an ending, but a beginning, a constant reminder and inspiration for all to see as they do their best and give their all in what they are there to do.
Fire to us, as Catholics? The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit who came as tongues of flame to the Apostles, and since has been passed on, person to person, through our priests, and comes to us at the highlight of the Mass to change the bread and wine to the body and blood of Christ. The Holy Spirit that we receive in Baptism, who seals us with gifts in Confirmation, and shines forth throughout our Church as a reminder and inspiration to do what we are called to do.
Every Mass we attend is an Opening Ceremonies for Christians - one that sends us forth to use our own gifts and talents to do the best that we can to speak God's message of love to the world. Go for the Gold!
"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete excercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one."
- 1 Corinthians: 24-25
No comments:
Post a Comment