2023.11.07

Reflections from Gloucester 2023

Part I – From Seven to Two

On the last weekend of October, I returned to Gloucester for a weekend retreat. The following few bLOGs originate from reflections from that experience.

At dinner the first evening, just after orientation, we were encouraged to sit and chat with others as this would be the last opportunity to do so until after the retreat was over on Sunday afternoon. I dined with two older gentlemen and a woman approximately my age and learned that they were related: two uncles and a niece.

Eventually, the dinner conversation turned toward vocation, and the three Catholics discovered they were commingling with a Presbyterian minister who had grown up Catholic. The oldest uncle asked about the differences, and I focused on what we had in common. He wouldn’t let me off the hook and pushed for a difference, so I focused on the number of sacraments. I pointed out that they had seven, and we had two.

I explained that we shared baptism and communion and had different theological views on what happened when the sacraments were administered. They were attentive to the discussion, not pushy or argumentative.

Then we turned to the remaining five. I explained that we do have confirmation, ordination, marriage, and anointing of the sick and that all four are important to us as well. Then we turned toward confession, and I explained that we ask for forgiveness directly from the Lord but that I see a value in having a trusted someone to be accountable to as it can bring catharsis to the sinner.

In the end, we parted from the dinner table with love and respect for one another, and one of the uncles wished me a blessed retreat weekend, and I offered the same. How refreshing it was to be in the company of people who shared mercy, grace, love, and respect instead of being angry, divided, and hateful like the world we have left for a few short days.