One of the issues that seems to divide Catholics these days is the issue of the old versus the new. There seem to be people who want more of the "old"-- more liturgies that harken back to the days before Vatican II, with the use of Latin and lots of incense and bells and fancy vestments and Gregorian chants. There are also those who want more of the "new"-- more modern hymns, more modern instruments and vocalizations, vestments that don't draw attention to themselves, liturgies that are long on substance and short on show. Sometimes those two points of view are expressed by folks who sit right next to each other in the pews. That seems to be the case here at St. Richard's, where we are engaged in a long-range planning process and we have heard from folks who want more of the "old" as well as from folks who want more of the "new." The good news, of course, is that the parrish has both perspectives. I think it is a sign of a very-healthy place when it attracts and keeps people who differ on things. It tells me that the place is truly "catholic" in that it accommodates differing perspectives without driving people away. Sure, the Mass isn't in Latin, but isn't it vibrant and holy and reverent, and filled with joy and beauty, folks who want the "old" must be saying. And sure, the Mass doesn't have electric guitars or current "praise & worship" songs, but isn't it great that the people sing with enthusiasm and that the musicians are competent, well-rehearsed and members of the parrish, folks who want the "new" must be saying. So there are "treasures" both old and new there. I use the word "treasures" because, while that word isn't put in Jesus' mouth by the New American Bible translation that we use-- we have Jesus say: ..."the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the old and the new"(Mt 13: 52)-- if you look at the New International Version of the Bible, that passage is rendered: "the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old." I suppose the idea that what is being brought out is a "treasure" is implicit in the notion of a "storeroom," for one wouldn't bother to store something worthless, but I have to say the NIV translation gives Jesus' statement some more clarity by adding that word. The teachers of the law-- "scribes"-- are charged with being like people who bring out both old and new treasures once they have been instructed in the kingdom of Heaven (Mt 13: 47- 52). Maybe the key here is to recognize that both the "old" and the "new" contain treasures, but not everything "old" or "new," depending on one's perspective, fits into that category. It takes discernment on the part of the "scribes" to figure out what is a "treasure," and what is simply "old" or "new." And it takes a certain kind of acceptance and an attitude of charity by the people in the pews not to dig one's heels in and say either: "we must do this because that's the way we used to do it," or "we must do it this way because that's the way it is done now." Jesus is certainly advocating a "both/and" approach here. We would be well-advised to do the same. It is a very "Catholic" way to proceed.