From "I" to "We"

Have you had your I’s examined lately?  In other words, have you ever noticed how often you use the words “I,” “me” and “my” in a conversation, email or text message?  Psychologists tell us these small pronouns give us a big glimpse into who we are.   Researchers say that those persons who use the “I” words less frequently are generally those who tend to be leaders, more comfortable with themselves and less self-conscious.

If you’ve ever looked at the words we use in the Mass, you will find that 99% of them are “we”, “our” and “us.”  For example, 

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ…be with you all.”

Introductory Rites

“We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory.”   Glory to God

“Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.”

Preface dialogue.

As researchers suggest, this indeed gives us a glimpse into who we are.  We are a people who are a part of a long communal tradition.  Throughout Biblical history, God has called a people, a “we.”  God has called individuals, but only so that they can contribute to the “we”:  Abraham to be the Father of Nations, Moses to lead the people out of slavery in Egypt, etc.   So it is with us today, we are called as a people and we respond as a people.  This weekend, we celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the founding of the Church, the great commissioning of the “we.”    St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians for Pentecost Sunday sums it up:  “To  each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”  Amen!