The Necessity of Ritual

A few years ago the Baptist church down the street from my Catholic church bore this message on the sign announcing their service times: “A Spiritual Experience Rather Than a Ritual.” I wrote a letter to the pastor kindly asking him to remove those words. They implied, wrongly, that a ritual is not a spiritual experience—not to mention the suggestion that their services are superior to anyone who worships through ritual. Though I never received a reply, the words were removed from the sign shortly afterwards.

The importance of ritual came to mind as I watched the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. We’ve seen these rites time and again, year after year: the parade of nations, the speeches, the raising of the Olympic flag, the lighting of the cauldron. Even the cultural expressions of the host country through art, music and dance have become an expected part of this ritual.

But why? Isn’t athletic competition the reason for this gathering? What does any of this have to do with sport? Why are these rituals considered so important that the Games do not begin until the ceremonies have been completed?

Because the human spirit needs to express transcendent realities that dwell deep below the surface, and ritual is the best way to do this. The question is not what does this ritual have to do with sport, but what does sport have to do with the greater scheme of life, a scheme that is best explored through ritual.

No matter how many times we've seen the parade of nations, the ritual seems fresh with each new Olympiad. They may be the same flags we've seen before, but each nation is four years older than the last time we saw them, with new experiences and new perspectives. We've seen that flag with the five interlocking rings raised over many stadiums in many lands, but the international unity it represents has a different dynamic each time. And that flame that is relayed across the world and sent ablaze in the Olympic cauldron is perhaps the most revered ritual of all--we would be hard pressed to find someone who does not consider that a spiritual experience.

Whether it be in religion, sports, or any other facet of life that involves body and spirit (which is pretty much everything), ritual will always remain the optimal expression of what ultimately unites us all to each other, our ancestors and our descendants. They present an outward sign of the inner reality of God working through all of us in so many varied and mysterious ways. If ritual appears rote and stale, the remedy is not to throw it away; rather, it needs to be explored to discover its hidden meaning, which can do nothing but enrich the lives of its participants.

"A Spiritual Experience Through Ritual"--now that's a message worthy to put on any sign.