Everywhere we hear of the strong "individualism" that is present in contemporary society. It is bone of the great evils; actually, it threatens society on many levels. Cities, institutions, and families feel the negative effects of too much "me-ism," too much "I." As Church we especially must take note of this; individualism undermines community.

One cannot think of Church in its truest sense without thinking of community. From the very earliest records of God's intervening activity, we hear of "a people": God called Abraham to be a great nation. From then on the image of "gathering" is a constant theme.

When the Church gathers for Baptism, whether at the Easter Vigil or on any Lord's Day/Sunday, the Scripture texts of gathering are abundant. We hear the original text about Abraham, and we hear too about a gathering from exile (Ezekiel). The story of Jesus "gathering the children" around him is also recalled. Baptism begins "the gathering" for each person.

In the action of Baptism, we are initiated into the Church, the people of God, the mystical body of Christ. We are made part of the wonderful "gathering of people" that God seeks. The Sunday assembly is a "gathering of God's people." It is a sign of the final gathering of the saints around God's throne in heaven.

One of the few times Jesus wept was when he looked down on the city of Jerusalem and said, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, . . . how many times I yearned to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling!" (Matthew 23:37; see also Luke 13:34). This made Jesus very sad.

Today we the Church must guard against the strong individualism that threatens our sense of "gathering"-our very identity as Church.

© Harcourt Religion Publishers/BROWN-ROA