“Please take a moment to greet those around you,” says the choir leader at my parish immediately before each Mass starts. You might be familiar with these words if you belong to a parish that strives to create a welcoming and hospitable environment.
I was quite pleased when I first heard these words. My experience in new parishes hadn’t always been the most welcoming one. I would occasionally get a few half-smiles and a couple hand waves during the sign of the peace. Yet, I was desperate for kind gestures and warm interactions. I wanted more.
Recently, these words inspired me. What exactly does greet mean? To greet someone is “to address with expression of kind wishes upon meeting or arrival.” That makes a lot of sense when we consider greeting cards and the reasons we send them. It seems so simple, yet how often do we make the effort to greet those beyond the walls of our parish community?
When we greet someone, we acknowledge their presence. We recognize that they are fellow human beings journeying with us in this wonderful adventure of life. We are not isolated beings. When we ask someone how they are doing, or wish them a good day, we show that we care. We realize that they have moments of joys and struggles, just like we do, and that they are worth caring about. Too often, people are searching for someone to share these moments with but they struggle to find the right person or opportunity. What if we could be the person that provides them that opportunity?
As the popular saying goes, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” If we want to share the joy of a life well-lived with Christ, we need to start by showing people that we care about them, that they matter—to us and to God. What a great opportunity to spark a little bit of curiosity about the Resurrection joy that moves us!
Most of us have daily interactions with people who often remain anonymous. Sometimes we don’t even realize it. We pass by them on the way from our apartment to our car— sometimes without even bothering to make eye contact, as if they would be offended if we did so. We stand in awkward silence with them in the elevator. We exchange glances when we are filling our gas tanks. We share individual phone time as we wait for our daughter’s ballet class to be over.
How wonderful it would be if the next time we go to the grocery store we ask the cashier for her name and wish her a great day. A simple “Thank you for what you do, Susan” shows her that we notice her work—but most importantly, that we notice her—and that we appreciate her. Maybe the next time we see her after that, we can ask how her day has been and go from there. We might be surprised by the response we get.
Every day, God gives us countless opportunities to acknowledge His presence in others, particularly the outcast and those who go unnoticed. May we learn to lovingly greet those around us and may our smile be always accompanied by the words “I’m glad you are here.”
