All welcome in Church: Open doors, arms, hearts

Published: September 16, 2023

By Betsy Wiederkehr Huss
Blessed Sacrament Church, Jonesboro

Ever since hearing the crowds in Portugal at World Youth Day this August cry out, “Todos, todos, todos!” (“Everyone, everyone, everyone!”) I have wondered how well (or not) I am opening my heart to all of God’s children.

In Fatima at the open-air Chapel of Apparitions built on the site of mother Mary’s appearances, Pope Francis shared, “The Church has no doors, so that everyone can enter. And here too we can insist that everyone may be allowed to enter, because this is the mother’s house, and a mother always has an open heart for all her children, for everyone, everyone, everyone, without exclusion.”

Can we expand our mental picture of who is in the family of God? And then after doing so, open our hearts and arms more, to embrace the whole family of God? Remember, all eight billion of us are created in God’s image and likeness.

Humankind is full of gifted, unique people who have foibles, and flaws, and are sinners who are called by God. Pope Francis also shared this wisdom, “Let us think about this a little in our hearts. We are called as we are — with the problems we have, with the limitations we have, with our overflowing joy, with our desire to be better, with our desire to succeed. … Jesus calls me as I am, not as I would like to be. We are a community of brothers and sisters of Jesus, sons and daughters of the same Father.”

In Luke’s Gospel (8:19-21) Jesus expands the idea of family to include more than just blood relatives. He states his family “are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” Are we hearing God’s Word and acting on God’s Word? Or are we hearing what we want to hear and acting on our own bias?

The following is gleaned from, “Life and Dignity of the Human Person” on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website.

• “God loves the orphan, the widow, and the stranger.” (Deuteronomy 10:17-19)
• “God formed each of us and knows us intimately.” (Psalm 139:13-16)
• “The good Samaritan recognized the dignity in the other and cared for his life.” (Luke 10:25-37)
• “Jesus broke with societal and religious customs to honor the dignity of the Samaritan woman.” (John 4:1-42)
• “Love one another, contribute to the needs of others, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:9-18)
• “See what love the Father has for us, that we should be called Children of God.” (1 John 3:1-2)

Why do we have trouble seeing or accepting some people? Or treating all people with respect and human dignity? Or welcoming all into our places of worship? Our sinfulness is one big reason. And another is not being able to comprehend how gigantic and enormous and all-encompassing God’s love is for each one of us.

“The Lord does not point his finger but opens his arms, embraces us all, as we see with Jesus on the cross who opened his arms so wide to be crucified and die for us. Jesus never closes the door, never, but invites you to enter; Jesus receives, Jesus welcomes,” Pope Francis enlightened those at WYD and us.

So, will we point fingers at or embrace others? Will we carry grudges or forgive? Will we exclude or invite? Will we open our doors, open our arms, and open our hearts? All are welcome to come to Jesus, may we hinder no one from being welcomed by God.

Betsy Wiederkehr Huss, a member of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro, has a master’s degree in theology and has been involved in ministry to all ages for more than 40 years. This article was originally published in Arkansas Catholic Sept. 16, 2023. Copyright Diocese of Little Rock. All rights reserved. This article may be copied or redistributed with acknowledgement and permission of the publisher.