IMAGINE
A poem by Nimmi Candappa.
[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]Imagine belonging to a Catholic Church that valued women.
Imagine being a Church unaffected
by some influences of St Aquinas and the like,
who referred to us as defective and misbegotten,
a gateway to a sewer, and the devil,
our very nature thought to evoke feelings of shame in us.
Imagine being part of a Church
that recognised, honoured and empowered us,
rather than criticised, excluded and abused us.
A Church that might imagine what it is like for us,
knowing we have a lot to give
yet, for bias, compelled to keep it to ourselves.
Imagine feeling at home in our Church.
Recognising ourselves on the altar
rather than a sea of males.
Listening to Scripture as though it related to us,
not addressed only to men.
Imagine being able to delight
in the mighty treasures of the Catholic Church,
feeling as though we belonged,
rather than needing to draw on every sinew
to stop ourselves from walking away. Fed up.
Imagine encountering courage, openness and wisdom
when seeking to reignite our Church.
Not rigidity and indifference, territorialism and fear.
Imagine a Church that learns from its mistakes,
not reinforces these for the sake of tradition.
Imagine a Church that knows Truth is found in a soft heart,
mellow and ready, to give in and give way, change and accommodate,
in order to expand, and flourish, and nourish.
Imagine explaining our Church to God,
the servant Church that buried its talents for fear of the Master.
The servant too controlling, too fearful:
to change things, to take risk, in case it gets things wrong.
The servant from whom all will be taken,
talents stripped and given, to other Churches more willing
to trust in the goodness of their Master,
and work from a place of love and generosity and surrender,
in order to grow the Kingdom of God.
Multiply the talents given for safe keeping,
all the while, soft-hearted, receptive, humble,
working for the other, not for self-gain.
Nimmi Candappa
Melbourne academic and member of the Plenary Council[/s2If]
