Cinderellish

[Drafts 2010] Pastoral Concerns.

I can remember many moments when the term “Pastoral Concerns” became a joke. We laughed. Especially when someone liked someone in the community. A “Pastoral Concern!” is shouted on cue. Instantly follows an uproar of people laughing. It’s the day when in some way, we all began to suck at “Loving Correction”.

Pastoral Concerns are Real. It’s not all about talking structure. Who’s going to lead next event. What kind of song is appropriate to sing for Mass or at an Archdiocese event. How we’re going to” implement a culture of prayer” in our community. Being consistently in “planning mode”. Coming up with the secret ingredients that makes our Worships rival those of our Protestant brothers and sisters. Yes, service is natural to us; we speak of it as easily as we breath.

NTS: It’s all out War and It calls us to go back to the grass roots. Back to simply claiming our members’ hearts for our God. Back to entering into a deeper conversations with our brothers and sisters. Yes, talking about Pre-Marrital sex, the identity of a Man or a Woman of God… Simply, not as Master Connoisseurs of Theology of the Body or the Bible, but as Ates and Kuyas. Being fearless in lovingly asking the questions that we are afraid to ask. No, not all of us have had sex and we don’t know what it’s like. But do we not know or truly believe that He is Victorious, already? So why are we afraid to speak? We are Anointed to speak. Why are we afraid to move, simply yes, but with Purpose? We are Anointed to bring all that dwells in the Dark into His Light.