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As I write this many of my readers are probably out at the fireworks - hope it's dry and the illuminations are beautiful!
But when you get home, make sure you're ready to be illumined by the Lord's Word this weekend. Here's my earlier reminder post with links to the scriptures for adults and kids, too.
The gospel text this week is a comforting one:
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.
Mt 11:25-30
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.
Mt 11:25-30
-ConcordPastor
I so need rest from all of this CP.
ReplyDeleteBut I hope others who read your blog, they may find peace. It hurts those who read things written from previous comments. It hurts me.
Sometimes,topics that are brought up; bring back old memories. Things that I have hope and pray have long ago have been forgiven by Jesus.
My prayer is that people who read this blog are not discouraged by others that may judge. It can only ruin their lives. Trust only in the God that loves all. :-)
One of the many pitfalls of comboxes is that quick responses may carry unintended tone, including the judgmental.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that anyone here intends to be hurtful (and the very few instances of hurtful remarks were moderated out before getting to the combox).
I hope that you're not discouraged, Mary, and that you will once again put your trust in Jesus who never goes back on his mercy and pardon - never.
From anon 1:50,
ReplyDeleteI see a basic problem, which is the substitution of "I feel" for "I think." One can argue facts, doctrine, issues in terms of reason. When discussing Church law, reasoned and measured argument is most fruitful. But "I feel" is unanswerable. And unfortunately, most posters here seem to think that that trumps "I think." That others should quickly back away when anyone claims "I feel" lest they "hurt feelings."
(The posts above are off-topic here and are more appropriate to the com box at the post "Prayers and Wishes, Hopes and Dreams" from June 27.)
ReplyDeleteThe distinction made in the comment above is an important one. At the same time: scripture, tradition and Church teaching have as their object the hearts as well as the minds of real people.
The hope is that both heart and mind are engaged with the Lord and what he asks of us. Pastoral ministry serves to link the two when one begins to eclipse the other.
From anon 1:50,
ReplyDelete"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me..."
This is the condition Christ sets up for obtaining peace and rest. Taking the yoke is walking with Him and under his guidance. Learning from him lays on us the burden, light or heavy, of actively seeking to discover what He has taught and accepting what He has said.
To obtain the promise of Matthew 11:25-30, we can no longer go our own way. We can no longer assert our will over that of Christ's. We have a duty of finding out what Christ taught and obeying.
When we satisfy these conditions, we find our burden light because He carries it with us. That is peace, not as the world gives it...
Mary- glad to see you are still here despite the tone/words in several of the 6/27 combox comments. I too participated in that series of exchanges and felt your pain and hoped I lent a few words of support. I note that a commentor, who perhaps has more theological training than many of us, has also responded under this post. I appreciate their earnest desire to clarify church teachings, but, like many things in life, it is all in how you say it.
ReplyDeleteThese are intense issues that are emotional, spiritual, intellectual and perhaps political. We are all always learning and should be comfortable exploring a wide range of topics. Meekness and humbleness of heart go a long way to foster inclusion.
From anon 1:50,
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of a quote from the TV show "House." House says something to the effect of, "Yes, it really stinks that this little girl has to undergo such a painful procedure. Let's treat her with puppies and sunshine!"
House is often sarcastic, but he has a point: Puppies and sunshine would make her happy for a short time. Painful, disfiguring surgery would save her life.
I think House would reject "inclusion" at the cost of truth. I know Jesus would. He who was
"meek and humble of heart" was sharp of tongue when it was needed. He called the Pharisees vipers and hypocrites and compared them to whitewashed tombs, corrupt on the inside. When Peter tried to deflect Him from His mission, Jesus told him, "Get thee behind me, Satan!"
Jesus also backed up words with action. When He saw the moneylenders at the Temple, He drove them out in rage, literally overturning tables. He would not allow the Temple of his Father to used for any other purpose than worship. He did not tolerate disrespect of the Father.
He forgave sinners, but demanded reform. "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and do not commit this sin again."
He came to heal, but before He healed he required faith -- or a striving for faith. ("O Lord I believe, help me in my unbelief!")
He was not politically correct.
People of faith do not need "political correctness" but it is important to FEEL that members of one's faith community are not exclusionary. Faith is a journey undertaken at varying rates of travel and with a wide range of skill sets and opportunities for learning. God accepts all on this life long path despite their pace or ability. When a member of this faith community, be it on the parish level or via the web, senses the pain of a fellow traveler I believe God desires that we acknowledge their hurt and provide comfort- ranging from simply sliding further into the pew to provide seating, extending a nod of welcome, or writing soothing words via the blogspot. Perhaps more travelers would participate in weekly Mass or via virtual scenarios if people did not feel their level of faith was being evaluated/challenged by those who have perhaps had access and/or ability to explore Church doctrine in depth. From more years ago than I care to state, I recollect that part of an answer to a Catechism question was that simple "fear of the Lord" sufficed as a test of faith. How much better the Church would be if we could encourage those with Fear to comfortably exchange it for Love of the Lord.
ReplyDeleteDear last anonymous: Thank you for your intelligence, eloquence, and compassion in your comments. You are so on target with everything you've written. It's so nice to know we can all learn from comments such as yours; as we do everyday from concordpastor himself! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteFrom anon 1:50,
ReplyDeleteCharity makes demands of us as Catholics. It requires acknowledgment of pain inflicted, deliberately or unintentionally.
Thus, I apologize for any pain caused by the tone of my remarks, to any of you on the blog. It was not personal. I don't know who any of you are. It was not deliberate, in the sense of being written to cause harm or trouble.
I simply disagree with what some of you have had to say.
When I disagree, I offer reasons.
I stand by the substance of all of my posts. I have no special training or revelation. All the information comes from the Catechism, Scripture and online Catholic news services. There is nothing new, nothing doctrinally incorrect, nothing startling here. It is simple, boilerplate Catholicism.
God exists. Sin, mortal and venial, exists. Reconciliation exists. Our faith makes demands on us, to the point of martyrdom. The Pope and the bishops hold teaching authority in the church. While no one can judge the state of an individual's soul, the church can, with moral certitude, judge an individual's actions (including writings and statements) and impose penalties or confer honors.
While we can hope for an empty hell, we cannot assume our own salvation, which we must work out in "fear and trembling."
It is what it is.