Are you a bridge or a fence?

Are you a bridge or a fence?  Father Vince’s homily from this past weekend, the 26th Sunday in Ordinary time, gave us some images that we encounter every day in our drives to and from work.  He pointed out different bridges, the wooden covered bridges of Parke County to the long steel bridge going over the Ohio River and that they connected a span that was hard to pass without them.   Bridges were meant to connect and bring people together.  Fences can be seen everywhere as well, from picket fences around yards to the high barriers around I-465.  Fences are meant to keep people out and separate.   In the Gospel the rich man put up a “fence” by ignoring poor Lazarus by not even acknowledging him, even though Lazarus was right at door of his house.   After the rich man died he could see Lazarus who was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham, but the rich man suffered in torment.  The rich man requested relief but is told by Abraham, “Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.”  The rich man built fences rather than bridges in his earthly life so there would be no bridge to cross the chasm of torment in the netherworld.  Jesus' story about the rich man to Lazarus calls us to be bridges rather than fences.

Father Vince told us that one of the terms for Pope, Pontiff, means bridge and is symbolic for him as leader of Church that bridges heaven and earth.    Pope Francis has really been a bridge by reaching out to many early in his pontificate, and is leading by his example to go out to others on the margins to share the faith.  

Fr. Vince’s image of bridges and fences was really a good one and helps me to think of how can I be a bridge to bring people to Christ.  Sometimes it may be sharing the Gospel with them.   Other times it may be to know when not to say something so I won’t be perceived as a fence to shut people out.   Both images are very helpful when encountering others and sharing the Gospel through words and actions.