Today, I lectored the 12 noon Mass at our church. It's probably the largest of the seven Masses held on a Sunday there. Stepping up to the ambo in front of some 800+ people can be an overwhelming feeling at first, but each experience provides me with a vivid insight of the church and leaves me with much mental imagery.
Having been a lector for 4 months now, I am fortunate enough to see and learn much more about the Mass than one typically gets from sitting in the pews. Instead of "going through the motions", I have to know more and more about the so called "motions". Each time I participate, I delve more deeply into the Mass. Scripture comes alive! The Mass is a beautiful thing and it doesn't need to be marketed. It markets itself! All of the thoughts in my head today reminded me of the following video, which I've been meaning to post. It's sad that non-Catholic churches go to extremes like the parody here to pull people in, trying to "Feed" them. Jesus didn't send direct mailers. Actions spoke louder than words or trumpeting in the streets.
Alas, no Eucharist they have to feed the flock.
As my post about "The Price is Right" discussed, actions should be done without trumpeting, and the church services don't need to be tailored to the people. We have to conform to the church.
Anyways, have you "Planted a Bean Today?"...
Showing posts with label protestant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label protestant. Show all posts
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Come on down! It's the Price is Right!
The Price is Right? At a church? Well, the first video below exposes (in my opinion) a widespread issue in Christianity. Let me first say that I do wholeheartedly admire their zeal for Christ and what they have done for the member, but a lot of this seems rather prideful in the fact of showcasing it to the congregation.
Let me clarify my point further before you write angrily at me for apparently putting down Christians who are placing an honest effort to help someone out in need.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:1-4 - "(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you."
Part of the problem is that a lot of Christian churches are in competition. I mean, how else does the pastor get his salary? From the offering. Simply put, no people in the pews, no pay. They have to entertain and draw in people, and keep them. A second video below illustrates the point of the "seeker" church movement. Does it seem like things like this are a lure to get people to come to the church? See, we give away stuff, we help people, come! Free coffee. We do great things! Look at us! Attention! We sent out 50,000 door hangers to the unchurched,etc. Join the revolutionary church reaching to the unchurched! Well, Jesus is the same yesterday and today (Heb 13:8), and his church doesn't need to modernize. In fact, Jesus gave us a model for worship at church services, the Eucharist. He didn't show case what he did at the feeding of the 5000. He just did it.
The next video illustrates further...
The question is, are they truly being fed? Of course, outside of the church that Jesus founded, they don't have the Eucharist. Take an hour out of your day and listen to the following audio of Jeff Cavin's faith testimony. It is powerful. http://www.catholicscomehome.org/lighthouse-popup.php?song=NotBeingFed
This is one of the beautiful things I admire about the Catholic faith. It operates day-in-day out, doing uncountable charitable works in the world, not blaring a trumpet about what it does. It just does it for the glory of God, and not man. It's also universal and has no real competition between parishes. (shouldn't). The bottom line is let the actions speak for themselves. I see no need to tell the whole church you gave away a car to someone. Jesus didn't advertise what he was doing. In fact, he just did it and people followed.
Let me clarify my point further before you write angrily at me for apparently putting down Christians who are placing an honest effort to help someone out in need.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:1-4 - "(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you."
Part of the problem is that a lot of Christian churches are in competition. I mean, how else does the pastor get his salary? From the offering. Simply put, no people in the pews, no pay. They have to entertain and draw in people, and keep them. A second video below illustrates the point of the "seeker" church movement. Does it seem like things like this are a lure to get people to come to the church? See, we give away stuff, we help people, come! Free coffee. We do great things! Look at us! Attention! We sent out 50,000 door hangers to the unchurched,etc. Join the revolutionary church reaching to the unchurched! Well, Jesus is the same yesterday and today (Heb 13:8), and his church doesn't need to modernize. In fact, Jesus gave us a model for worship at church services, the Eucharist. He didn't show case what he did at the feeding of the 5000. He just did it.
The next video illustrates further...
The question is, are they truly being fed? Of course, outside of the church that Jesus founded, they don't have the Eucharist. Take an hour out of your day and listen to the following audio of Jeff Cavin's faith testimony. It is powerful. http://www.catholicscomehome.org/lighthouse-popup.php?song=NotBeingFed
This is one of the beautiful things I admire about the Catholic faith. It operates day-in-day out, doing uncountable charitable works in the world, not blaring a trumpet about what it does. It just does it for the glory of God, and not man. It's also universal and has no real competition between parishes. (shouldn't). The bottom line is let the actions speak for themselves. I see no need to tell the whole church you gave away a car to someone. Jesus didn't advertise what he was doing. In fact, he just did it and people followed.
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