Posted on 09/17/2001 3:25:57 AM PDT by fly_so_free
I went to Mass tonight and did not find the comfort I was seeking. To make a long story short, I'll tell you what bugged me the most about it.
The Pastor was talking about how the love of Jesus is shown in what people do for others, he mentioned the rescue workers but then he said it's shown when a father shows love instead of anger to his teenage daughter who has just told him she's pregnant, and then he said the love of Jesus is shown when a child writes to a death row inmate. There was no American flag in or out side of the Church. I was trying to keep my cool, but by the time Mass ended I said to the Lord, "If this doesn't end with some kind of Patriotic song , "I'm outta here." We sang God bless America as the closing song. The sad thing is the church was absolutely packed with people(more than I've ever seen) but the service was so flat, I don't know if all the people will come back next week.
The church I mentioned is not my usual church, but I have to go there because they are the closest one with a 6pm Sunday mass (thiss is the only time I can go because I work all weekend)
My usual church had a disturbing incident (according to my cousin) He said he went to Mass and at the part where you pray for people the lady asked the church to pray for Usama Bin Laden and our attackers. Both of these masses had lots of "we need to pray for peace-mustn't act in vengence- talks. My cousin said when the lady asked for the Bin laden prayer only about 1/3 of the church said the "LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER" response. A letter from Archbishop Mahony said "Let us be mindful to avoid unsupported speculation and to refrain from harmful stereo types" wich I think is in English but I'm not sure what he's getting at.
I watched the replay on Fox news of the attacks and I started thinking : What would Jesus do/say? As the famous question says. As the WTC collasped and the Pentagon burned and all the greiving families were shown, I said to myself: Are they really trying to tell me that Jesus, when confronted with all this terrible pain and greiving would really tell people to Pray for their attckers and to hell with their feelings ?
I mean there is turn the other cheek , but did he mean it in this way? Hitler would have won WWII if we turned the other cheek. The Jewish people turned the other cheek and 6 million were murdered.
I wonder how may people returned to church for the 1st time in a long time and were turned off by this. I wonder if there were any people in the church who lost family members, and might not come back because of the ladies Pray for Bin Laden comment. I think of Jesus's response to Lazarous's death as a clue. He (Jesus) knew he could raise Lazarous from the dead, and yet when he comes upon the greiving people it makes him cry. I've always thought this passage was unusual but also comforting. It seems to say that Jesus really does understand the pain of people greiving, and he didn't say anything preachy .
The reason I've said this is I want to confront the Pastor (he's a good friend of mine) about the whole Pray for Bin Laden thing. I find it down right offensive.
A Time to Grieve; A Time for Resolve.
I think the highest hurdle that keeps people from thinking about the events of the past week in the proper framework is the post-modern idea that love is always "warm & fuzzy". It's not. In fact, Biblical love is oftentimes downright harsh. We've forgotten that.
And, at another time, he also said:
Luke 22:
35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
Consider this, though: "Mercy cannot rob justice." There MUST be justice; a price must be paid somehow.
But in the end, consider that without the atonement of Jesus Christ, NONE of us would have mercy; ALL of us would be in danger of judgement. We would all deserve death, not just physical but spiritual.
Right now you are hungering for justice. That is NOT incorrect. But you have to consider that proper justice and proper mercy are the hallmarks of godliness.
The title 'Lady' is used so indiscriminately today that it no longer has any meaning.
A woman is not entitled to be called a Lady until she overtly earns, by her behavior, the right to be so distinguished.
And, yes, the same is equally true of 'Gentleman'.
This woman sounds like a goofy old liberal broad who braces herself with a tumbler of vodka before venturing out to Mass. The old hide may not even remember broadcasting the obscenity she's reported to have spoken here.
I'd have gotten up and walked out at that instant.
It's refreshing to hear you say this; I only wish more churchmen (churchpersons?) took your view. The response of the Churches (generally and in my experience) to this atrocity has been so maudlin and treacly that it's turned me completely off.
Ah ... you've just been going to the wrong churches, that's all. :-)
I believe this is covered in the Lord's Prayer.
"..and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil....."
lol and I didn't think that was possible. :-)
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