Apple school
I go to an all-boys Catholic high school. It’s an eye-opener to take a day and look around this place because, wow. Nobody is the same. But they change themselves to fit into niches. People feel the need to fit in, because let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to fit in? That isn’t what I find bothersome, however. In a society that pumps individuality into us, we don’t live it out very well.
Maybe it’s because it isn’t cool? Not swag enough? Hmm. Now this poses a question: how does conformity tie into our faith? Well, pop a squat, Billie Jean, because I’m about to tell you. It has EVERYTHING to do with faith. Let’s rewind. We’ll use my school for an example. It’s Catholic. It provides a very good education. However, I don’t always agree on a moral standpoint during the required religion classes. Which is fine, I don’t have to agree with everything. I’m simply being taught a Catholic standpoint. Totally cool with me, just not what I believe.
Now, it should be said, that there are people of other religions at school. I know folks that are Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Protestant, even Atheists, but no other Methodists. Once a month, there is an all-school Mass. We sing hymns, do the Eucharist thing, and just act Catholic, in general. Now, during the Eucharistic Sacrament, people who are not Catholic cross their arms over their chest to receive a blessing instead of a wafer. When I’m standing in line at communion with my arms over my chest, people stare at me like I’m some kind of monster. Which is super weird because it’s like, “C’mon, guys. I’ve been here for three years. You know I’m not Catholic.” Yet, it still happens. I’m the black sheep.
Where I go to church on Sundays, it is said before the bread is broken that EVERYONE is welcome at God’s table and that we are welcome no matter where we come from. So why is this different at the school Mass?
The other day, during my required religion class, a woman from the Serra Club came in to talk to the class. One of the first things this woman said to the class was if any of the guys had thought about becoming a priest when they were older. Five or so guys raised their hands. After this, she asked the class who would even THINK about becoming a priest. Most everyone raised their hand, save for about three, myself included. We drew sour looks from the other people in the room.
The teacher and speaker seemed especially disappointed. After the speaker left, the teacher asked us why we didn’t raise our hands. One guy said he didn’t want to do it because it didn’t pay enough and he already had his mind set on being a doctor. Another said he just wasn’t interested. When I was asked, I decided to just say my mind instead of just being neutral on the topic. I can be critical of the Catholic church often, but hardly ever vocalize my opinions. So I went for it.
“I don’t want to be a priest because in my faith, women can become pastors too,” I said.
The air left the room. Everyone looked at me. Shocked, disgusted, almost scared expressions were on many faces. Even the other guys who didn’t raise their hand distanced themselves from me. People didn’t know what to say. It was as if it would’ve been better to be looked down on for not wanting to consider priesthood (something not even in my faith) than to stand up for what I personally believe.
So why do we conform to specific beliefs and simply accept them as concrete truths? You can read a book by simply running your eyes over each word of each sentence of each paragraph of each page of each chapter, but is that really reading? To understand what the author is trying to convey, a person needs to use their head, and not simply adhere to the physical ink on paper. God gave you a mind to think, use it! Are people such horrible sinners that they can’t receive communion with the rest of the people simply because they aren’t the same? No. Are women such vile beings that they are unworthy to be ordained and perform worship? No. Jesus accepted every single person with the same open arms, no matter who they were or where they came from. Just think, people.
Image by Pixabay user jarmoluk. Used under Creative Commons License. Cropped from Original.
Jacob Cannon is a high school student from St. Louis, Mo. He is an active member of the Gospel Rocker Youth Group at Lafayette Park UMC and is a member of CCYM of Missouri. He also loves animals and hopes to go to Veterinarian School at the University of Missouri. This article is reprinted with permission from UMC LEAD.