Community
It is so important to have a place in community. Community brings us closer to people, the feeling of belonging and a happy interaction when we attend community events. Mass is a community event. One does not have to have social standing necessarily, but an involvement in community is a very good thing.
All the people that attend mass with you at the time you attend mass, at the church you attend mass is your community.
When lonliness strikes, community helps to heal it. When you feel like you don't matter, community tells you that you do.
Feel free to find your community and meet the members, and let them know who you are. Carefully cultivate your relationships, just as you would cultivate a garden to grow the most beautiful friendships.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
Should we all call God, Allah?
Recently a Bishop proclaimed his theory that we should all (everyone) call God Allah. He surmised that this would end some of the animosity out their between Christians and Muslims. What do you think? I mean every culture has a different name for everything. It's seldom that everyone calls everything the same thing, isn't it? Not everyone calls water, agua, for example.
What do you think?
What do you think?
Thursday, August 16, 2007
How do you proclaim your faith?
It's hard to say how we each proclaim our faith, isn't it? I mean we are supposed to. We are suppose to go out and preach the good news, but it's truly hard to decide the best way to do that.
As a Cradle Catholic, I have to say that I've always struggled with this, and I've always been rather soft spoken about who I am. The funniest part of this is that I am not so shy about saying what faith I follow, or how it is very much a part of who I am, if I am asked.
Recently I was approached with a request to join another church. This church is a Christian Community Church, and I believe that they are very good as their Sunday services. But it just wasn't right for me. I did attend one service on January 1st, after I went to mass, so that I could witness my friend's daughter's baptism. The service was full of music that was very pleasant, and motivating, but it just didn't work for me. I couldn't find any comfort in the loud proclamations of Christianity and how we must spread the word in every breath we take.
I feel that as Catholics, we find other ways to spread the word. We do this in works, and in life choices and actions. Some of the actions that Catholics have taken of late have been quite publicized, but I don't believe these actions were made because of the Catholic faith. I know that we Catholics are facing a little trauma with the selective dioceses who are being attacked for child molestation and sexual abuse cases, and I don't take these lightly, and I don't agree or condone the acts of a few that have made so many suffer. But at the same time we can't forget the life choices of so many who have given their lives to helping others, caring for the sick, teaching and educating those in need, and giving to the poor. The Catholic Church has ministered to the masses. We really can't forget that in light of a few people who made poor decisions, and behaved in a manner that was completely unbecoming of their chosen occupation and station in life.
So instead of yelling from the rooftops who you are, how do you proclaim the good news?
How do you say who you are. I say it softly but unquestioningly. The music I listen to, the clothes I wear, I attend mass weekly, sing in the choir and teach catechism. Is this enough? I hope so.
How do you do it?
Lori
www.faithunltd.com
As a Cradle Catholic, I have to say that I've always struggled with this, and I've always been rather soft spoken about who I am. The funniest part of this is that I am not so shy about saying what faith I follow, or how it is very much a part of who I am, if I am asked.
Recently I was approached with a request to join another church. This church is a Christian Community Church, and I believe that they are very good as their Sunday services. But it just wasn't right for me. I did attend one service on January 1st, after I went to mass, so that I could witness my friend's daughter's baptism. The service was full of music that was very pleasant, and motivating, but it just didn't work for me. I couldn't find any comfort in the loud proclamations of Christianity and how we must spread the word in every breath we take.
I feel that as Catholics, we find other ways to spread the word. We do this in works, and in life choices and actions. Some of the actions that Catholics have taken of late have been quite publicized, but I don't believe these actions were made because of the Catholic faith. I know that we Catholics are facing a little trauma with the selective dioceses who are being attacked for child molestation and sexual abuse cases, and I don't take these lightly, and I don't agree or condone the acts of a few that have made so many suffer. But at the same time we can't forget the life choices of so many who have given their lives to helping others, caring for the sick, teaching and educating those in need, and giving to the poor. The Catholic Church has ministered to the masses. We really can't forget that in light of a few people who made poor decisions, and behaved in a manner that was completely unbecoming of their chosen occupation and station in life.
So instead of yelling from the rooftops who you are, how do you proclaim the good news?
How do you say who you are. I say it softly but unquestioningly. The music I listen to, the clothes I wear, I attend mass weekly, sing in the choir and teach catechism. Is this enough? I hope so.
How do you do it?
Lori
www.faithunltd.com
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