Sin and Judgment

Faith was challenged, or was it judgment, when I realized how I feel about certain sins? I mean, there are things in life that I know are completely wrong, and I could never understand how someone could do them. Even if I were tempted, I know I would fight and win the battle against those big things that ruin people’s lives.

Suddenly I am helplessly reminded that little things have just as much power. They seem so harmless, while bit by bit, their destructive power nullifies our love for God. Sin is the result of turning away from God, regardless of how we do it. The consequence of sin can be devastating, and sometimes, it doesn’t take a very big sin to cause all sorts of problems.

Sometimes we confuse judging sin with judging people. Knowing right from wrong and judging things accordingly is necessary. It often prevents chaos from ruining our lives. Having little or no mercy on the people weak enough to sin, which includes ourselves, is another way of turning away from God; it too keeps us from accepting the love that saved us, and that’s just not Catholic.

Effects of Alcoholism

Most Catholics drink. It’s a given that we look forward to a nice cocktail now and then, and we love to party. I’ve been around Catholics all my life, and the one thing too many of them seem to have in common is their love for the almighty bottle.

Booze in itself is not bad. When people drink responsibly, there’s nothing wrong with it. Unfortunately, what happens in many families that drink is that the alcohol becomes a bad habit or escape. Without even realizing it, booze takes over the dynamics of life in the family, and sometimes everything revolves around it or the people who drink too much.

When people get drunk, they tend to hurt people. They lash out at others with their words, very few that would be appropriate to repeat in this blog, they drive without realizing how impaired they are, they always seem ready for a fight (verbal or physical—take your pick), and they use the excuse that they didn’t know what they were doing far too often.

Drinking is not wrong when done responsibly. However, using booze to numb your problems and hurting others in the process is. Too many lives get torn apart by alcohol abuse. The pain suffered by victims of people addicted to alcohol is very real, and it takes a lot of patience and effort to heal from it. The behavior of alcoholics harms others, and that’s just not Catholic.

Respecting Life and Welcoming Sinners

Yesterday was Respect Life Sunday. The priest who celebrated our Mass made some excellent points in his sermon that I believe bear repeating. Catholics need to be part of the solutions in life. We need to step up and claim those unwanted babies, just like Mother Teresa did. We need to welcome the unwed mother, and never shun her. We need to embrace the sinner as one of our own.

People matter! One of the easiest ways to respect life is to welcome those created, regardless of the many excuses we can think of not to. It is to love without judgment, no matter what. It is to provide a safe alternative to abortion, even if it means finding a home for an unexpected child of a drug addicted mother. Father accepted Mother Teresa’s challenge when he said, “Bring those unwanted babies to me. I’ll find a home for them even if I have to move heaven and earth! They are wanted, for they were created by none other than God, Himself!”

Then he challenged the Church to do the same, and offer refuge to the sinner, welcoming anyone and everyone into her loving embrace. This is the Catholic Church I believe in, and it’s the rock that Jesus built his Church upon. Ostracism is wrong and it hurts far too many people. Shunning people for any reason, but especially when they are facing hard times, sends a very cold message, and that’s just not Catholic!

Catholic Ministry

What is Catholic? Is it elevating our priests even when they clearly oppose the teachings of the Church (in their actions—if not in their words)? Ministry fairs have been happening in my neck of the woods lately, and I couldn’t help but be embarrassed when I heard an individual claim that they wouldn’t volunteer at their new parish, because of how they were treated when they served at their old parish.

It’s simply not enough for pastors and parish staff to talk the talk without walking the walk. The Church wants and needs people in ministry. It seems reasonable then that they would respect those who step up to serve. This doesn’t mean they can’t address concerns, or implement proper training of their volunteers. It means they need to appreciate and acknowledge the willingness of their helpers to engage in the community, without putting themselves on a pedestal.

Unfortunately, negative experiences in one parish often carry over into the next. The ripple effect of overpowering clergy and staff impacts the entire church for years to come, and that’s just not Catholic.

Justice vs. Vengeance

There are times in our lives when we wish someone would finally get what’s coming to them already. Maybe it’s because they are so mean or deceitful. Perhaps it’s that little whisper we mumble under our breath when we witness a crazy driver run a red light or speed through a school zone. It’s not that we’re vindictive. We simply want justice served and everyone out of harm’s way, meaning that want the perpetrator squashed like a bug, once and for all.

And then there are times when we set things in motion to help our cause. We begin keeping score and doing our best to notice every flaw, often gossiping about the tiniest details. Without even realizing it, we soon become a part of the problem; sometimes we even become just like the people we are pointing fingers at.

Let it go, dear friends. Let people move on and release the worry and pain of past injuries or circumstances. Hoping someone gets what’s coming to them is a far cry from trying to give it to them personally. “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.” Fighting for justice is right and noble. Wishing for someone’s downfall and helping to cause it out of vengeance or jealousy is wrong. In fact, that’s just not Catholic.

Parent and Teen Struggles about Mass Attendance

A lot of teens don’t like going to Mass on Sunday, and their parents either make them go, fight with them about their decision not to go, or ignore the behavior completely and leave them to their own devices. Many parents have probably engaged in all 3 methods throughout the course of their child’s teenage years. Some may have even resorted to bribery to get their teen to continue going to Mass.

I have several questions about this topic, and unfortunately very few answers. We raise our kids to be independent and make their way in the world. We teach them to be responsible and care for their own needs so they can grow up and function as adults in society. At some point we trust them to get to and from school, secure and manage their first job, open a bank account, drive a car, make their way into a profession or college, and hopefully recognize the silent messages they receive in their hearts.

We are training them to be able to function on their own, yet many of us force them to go to Mass if they live in our homes, like this is some magic formula that will keep them out of harm’s way. I’ve struggled with this whole idea, and I don’t have an answer. Part of me says we should make our kids go to Mass no matter what. Another part questions our right to do that. One thing I know for certain though, is that we should never have an all out blow out power struggle to force our kids to go to Mass. At some point we have to trust God and our teens to sort things out on their own, based on the relationship the two of them have.

I guess I don’t feel as strongly about having parental control, as much as I’d like to continue having parental influence long after my teens are old enough to move out. Parents should have a relationship with their kids, even when they disagree with them, and they should trust God to maintain His own relationship with their teen on His terms too. Teens need us, not to control their every action, but to help calm the storms as they make their own way in the world.

Engaging in fights by forcing our teens to go to Mass is more about parental control than love and trust, and that’s just not Catholic.

Jesus Truly Lives in the Eucharist

Catholics believe in the true presence of Jesus in Communion. We do not believe we receive anything other than Jesus Himself, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity according to what He said at the Last Supper, the initiation of the Eucharist:

“Then he took the bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given up for you; do this in memory of me. And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” (New American Bible, Luke 22: 19 – 20)

The substance may look and taste like bread and wine, but it is Jesus, as He so clearly stated. The ceremony of transubstantiation is performed in memory of the Last Supper, but it does not diminish the essence of what takes place. Catholics believe through faith that Jesus gives Himself fully to us through the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

“Wonderful and hidden is the grace bestowed by this Sacrament on the faithful of Christ, which unbelievers and those who give their lives up to sin can never experience! For spiritual grace is conferred by this Sacrament, lost virtue is renewed in the soul, and the beauty destroyed by sin returns again.

Sometimes the grace of this Sacrament is so powerful, that from the fullness of devotion granted, not only the mind, but also the frail body recovers its former strength.” (Imitation of Christ p. 269)

When you receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church, you are to believe in the true presence of Jesus that you humbly accept and eat with due reverence and respect. Anything else is a mockery of the faith, and that’s just not Catholic.