{"id":2301,"date":"2008-02-17T08:23:00","date_gmt":"2008-02-17T08:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2008\/02\/dinardo-when-you-come-to-jesus-you-get-a-job.html"},"modified":"2008-02-17T08:23:00","modified_gmt":"2008-02-17T08:23:00","slug":"dinardo-when-you-come-to-jesus-you-get-a-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2008\/02\/dinardo-when-you-come-to-jesus-you-get-a-job.html","title":{"rendered":"DiNardo: “When you come to Jesus, you get a job”"},"content":{"rendered":"

The new cardinal from Texas was making himself at home with his Episcopalian neighbors the other day, and the Galveston County Daily News<\/a> was there: <\/p>\n

Malcolm Gee of Texas City seemed just a little bit nervous at Moody Gardens on Friday night \u2014 and with good reason. He was at the head of a 150-yard long procession that included hundreds of Episcopal priests and deacons drawn from throughout the Diocese of Texas, along with one Roman Catholic cardinal, Daniel N. DiNardo.<\/p>\n

As the diocesan council convened, Gee was leading this line of notables with an ancient banner from the first Episcopal congregation in the Diocese of Texas, Christ Church, Matagorda. Dressed in a traditional off-white cassock with rope belt, he supported a 7-feet tall staff that displayed the embroidered symbol of church history, which was handmade in 1838 for that initial and successful Episcopal mission effort to evangelize early Texans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really kind of afraid of it,\u201d said the tall teen, referring to the revered, rectangular, cloth. \u201cI mean, if one little thing were to fall off it and \u2014 gosh.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>Located a long \u201cHail, Mary\u201d pass beyond Gee, far down the hallway, was Cardinal DiNardo, who not only was not nervous, but also clearly was at home among friends. He worked the assembly of Anglicans, greeting many of the Episcopal leaders warmly by name. He moved quickly through the massed clergy with the fluid grace of an experienced public person.<\/p>\n

Dressed in the unmistaken orange-red shoulder cape and cap of his office, his vestments seemed electric in contrast to the far more muted beige worn by most of the other clergy lined up in the outside hallway of Ballroom C.<\/p>\n

Although his dress may have set him apart, he made it clear that he was there to encourage unity among Christians.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be here,\u201d DiNardo said. \u201cIt\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve been at anything like this here in Texas. I appreciate the invitation of Bishop (Don) Wimberly. We pray that the Lord Jesus bless us all and keep us one \u2014 particularly in the middle of this Lenten season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wimberly led the liturgical services, which included the Eucharist and a renewal of baptismal vows, that opened the council.<\/p>\n

When asked about internal controversies in both faiths, the cardinal responded, \u201cWhen you\u2019re in your own church, sometimes you fight more than you do with outsiders \u2014 some of our own priests might say the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

This opening event was followed Saturday by a day of business and budget meetings. No controversy was in view this year, and all the clerics interviewed said no matter what fireworks may occur at the national level, they were looking for unity and not division as far as the Diocese of Texas was concerned.<\/p>\n

The congregation of clerics received DiNardo\u2019s speech with rapt attention. There was frequent laughter at his studied informality, his dynamic delivery and emphatic directness.<\/p>\n

He began by displaying the bright green budget book, which the convention was considering during the council meetings.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is Lent; I must confess my sins,\u201d the cardinal said in beginning his homily. \u201cI first opened to the page with the bishop\u2019s salary on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The remark was met with loud applause and laughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cBishop Don, not bad!\u201d he said referring to the annual earnings listed for Episcopal bishops. \u201cThen I looked at the diocesan assessment on local churches. Now you know that I\u2019m a very good bishop.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking of Houston\u2019s Bush Intercontinental airport, DiNardo noted that the Latin word for baggage is \u201cimpedimenta,\u201d meaning something that needed to be left behind. He characterized the disciples\u2019 hesitation to leave behind their preconceptions about Jesus, even referring to them as both \u201cwimps\u201d and \u201cclueless.\u201d<\/p>\n

At one point, he gently struck the podium for emphasis. The motion was magnified by the sensitive sound system, which shook the loudspeakers and sent a small shudder rippling through the audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you come to Jesus, you get a job,\u201d DiNardo said. \u201cIt may not be an official ministry, but you\u2019ll be called and sent. The world wants to hear that Christians are sent, (are) credible and will do what we say.\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There’s more at link. Check it out. You won’t be sorry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The new cardinal from Texas was making himself at home with his Episcopalian neighbors the other day, and the Galveston County Daily News was there: Malcolm Gee of Texas City seemed just a little bit nervous at Moody Gardens on Friday night \u2014 and with good reason. 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