We arrived to do whatever was asked of us at this very special event. As volunteers and part of the Missio team we were met by Sr Janet.
It was going to be a very long day for most of us least of all Sr Janet who must have been there at the crack of dawn. Passing through all the security our work was to begin, crowds would soon fill this place, and may need our help.
I called this the living Gospel because of the events that followed during the day. I have no doubt others must have seen these things as well as my sister who was with me.
On walking to the port-a-cabin where Missio volunteers were stationed to help direct people and try to solve other questions, there were a few people also getting things ready, but I felt like the shepherds must have felt on that first night searching for the great event in the quiet of the grounds, being given the chance to see from the beginning. Yet at that point I don’t think I was aware of just how much the Gospel would be re-enacted before my eyes. If it had been rehearsed it couldn’t have been any different.
There we were. Hyde Park was deserted apart from the volunteers, and then the gates opened.
As I stood there the people poured in, the party God had invited us too, began. People were running across the grass to get a good spot, streams of people filled the empty spaces on the grass. In a short while where there had been only grass all that could be seen were a sea of faces, the grass was lost. People were sharing their food with others which reminded me of the feeding of the five thousand, only the numbers were eighty thousand.
We had lots of enquires at the Missio stand, directing people to meeting points, where they were gathering with their banners, also consoling lost children and reuniting them with their parents. This reminded me of Mary and Joseph when Jesus was lost in the temple, their anguish, and panic must have been very similar to the parents we had to try and help, in the time they were parted from their child, what goes through their minds. When reunited seeing the joy and relief on their faces.
We directed people to the water source, which brings to mind Jesus at the well with the Samaritan woman. The invalids came in wheelchairs and on sticks just as they did all those years ago, to hear the Word, all helped by others getting them to a spot where they could see and hear, again like in the Gospel when they were lowered to the place where Jesus was.
All were listening, and waiting as we were, to be fed by the Word.
We gave out mission prayer cards and had a lot of interest in mission; this is what mission is all about, Missio means 'sending out.'
The procession of banners started. All the parishes had a representative. Once again the cheering crowds and waving of flags reminded me of when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on an ass.
Outside the gates about two thousand people were turned away, left outside because they didn’t have tickets. In the Gospels Jesus tells us many will try to enter but will be turned away.
Looking around the joy on the faces of the people said it all: One Body in Christ.
Then the moment came, the cheers of the crowd told us our Holy Father had arrived to greet his flock. St Peter’s successor was here among us.
As he came through the crowd, parents were lifting their children up for his blessing, another passage, let the children come to me.
He took his place and his words and greetings were for all, not only here at Hyde Park but wherever he was heard.
Then the moment the Monstrance was put on the Altar for Exposition. Hyde Park fell silent. I wondered if that was the way it was at Calvary: Silence.
Our hearts beating fast throughout the day with all that was going on; here we were, all united in One God, all equal. God’s party continues every moment of our life: His invitation is for all.
The Holy Father left Hyde Park amid banners and flags, waves and the cheers of his flock and all who had come to see him. The welcome he received was a testament of our love for him. God Bless our Pope.
The crowd started to disperse. There were no fights and no rowdiness: we were happy to be there. My sister and I felt very blessed to have been asked to help, we went home full of hope, having watched a living Gospel unfold before our eyes.
In the words of the hymn: 'Our God Reigns'
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