The Unprofitable Servant: There, But For The Grace of God.....

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

There, But For The Grace of God.....

Yesterday, I was stunned to see the lector at Noon Mass approach the altar in a dress I can only describe as beachwear. I found it difficult to look at the woman who was doing the readings and instead turned myself in the chair so that I could hear her but not see her. What's wrong with people, I thought to myself, that they think it's ok to come to Mass dressed that way? Such disrespect for the Blessed Sacrament, I thought. I asked God to forgive me for being so judgmental and as I reflected on this later in the day, I thought how uncharitable I was to react this way.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying there isn't a wrong and a right way to dress for Mass. But I have no idea what this person's station in life is. Perhaps she is a convert to the faith and had no catechesis to teach her a respectable way to present herself at Mass. Maybe despite the way she was dressed, she's a more faithful and charitable Christian than I am. Maybe she never had parents to show her a right and a wrong way. There, but for the grace of God, go I!

How timely then, that the priest's homily today centered on all of us being called to follow Jesus and how He shook the religious establishment in His time to the core by eating with sinners and tax collecters. Father went on to explain how we are not capable of seeing "the big picture" as God does, and therefore, we should leave the judgment to Him and concern ourselves with our own spiritual well-being. Something in Matthew made Jesus call him to be one of His disciples though he was considered one of the lowest forms of life in that society. Was I much different than the skeptical and judgmental Jews who would sooner spit on Matthew than look at him when I found myself repulsed by the lector?

None of us have the ability to look into another person's heart and see what God sees. There must be something very good about a person who would brave 100 degree heat to walk to church to read. A person isn't drawn to making that kind of commitment because they're an exhibitionist and they just want to scandalize people at Mass, right? Could it be that this woman is simply in love with the Lord and has no idea how offensive her manner of dress is? In the proper time, one would hope that someone could charitably instruct her in modest dress for Mass, but until then, I need to concern myself with my own lack of charity. There's plenty I need to fix before I have the audacity to think I can instruct another.

2 comments:

KellyJuly 8, 2010 at 10:26 AM
I have been in this situation more times than I can count. The funny part is, I think I have been on BOTH sides of this situation more times than I can count! I am a convert, and having the customary "convert zeal" offered to lector and sing and anything else I could in order to be a part of the life of the church. God bless our priests who never spoke to me about my choices of dress or even songs, who waited for God to work in me and grant me wisdom and maturity. Nobody crushed my joyful zeal, they allowed me to grow under God's gentle hand. Now I say that, but I STILL have the audacity to be made uncomfortable by others' faux pas or simple ignorance. Of course, there is always the obligatory posting in the church bulletin at the beginning of summer, about appropriate church attire, but our local social climate is diametrically opposed. :) SO...there are always challenges. I think having multiple teens and young adults in the house reminds me that people are always evolving, and that the person who comes dressed inappropriately to church is at least _in church_. I agree that it's tougher when that person is front and center. But know you have a sister in "crime" and a least a prayer partner ♥
ReplyDelete
Replies
TLWJuly 8, 2010 at 12:06 PM
Your points are very well made and very well taken! Father Check actually reminded me once that the fact that someone makes the effort to get to church on a regular basis, especially when they're not obligated to be there, makes them an inherently good person. Someday, if we're lucky, we'll get to Heaven, where we may find out that God never noticed what we had on our bodies in church because He was only looking at what was in our hearts. Thanks for the comment Kelly!
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Comments which reflect true Christian charity are always welcome. Comments which attack the Pope, the Church, priests or other bloggers will go in the dustbin, especially if they are anonymous. Thank you and God Bless you!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Mary, Queen of Peace

Ever glorious and blessed Mary, Queen of Virgins, Mother of Mercy, hope and comfort of dejected and desolate souls, through that sword of sorrow which pierced thy tender heart whilst thine only Son, Christ Jesus, our Lord, suffered death and ignominy on the cross; through that filial tenderness and pure love He had for thee, grieving in thy grief, whilst from His cross He recommended thee to the care and protection of His beloved disciple, St. John, take pity, I beseech thee, on my poverty and necessities; have compassion on my anxieties and cares; assist and comfort me in all my infirmities and miseries, of every kind whatsoever. Thou art the Mother of Mercies, the sweet comforter and only refuge of the needy and the orphan, of the desolate and afflicted. Cast, therefore, an eye of pity on a miserable, forlorn child of Eve, and hear my prayer; for since, in just punishment of my sins, I find myself encompassed by a multitude of evils, and oppressed with much anguish of spirit, wither can I fly for more secure shelter, O amiable Mother of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, than under the wings of thy maternal protection? Attend, therefore, I beseech thee, with an ear of pity and compassion, to my humble and earnest request. I ask it, through the bowels of mercy of thy dear Son; Through that love and condescension wherewith He embraced our nature, when, in compliance with the divine Will, thou gavest thy consent, and whom, after the expiration of nine months thou didst bring forth from the chaste enclosure of thy womb, to visit the world, and bless it with His presence. I ask it, through that anguish of mind wherewith thy beloved Son, our dear Saviour, was overwhelmed on the Mount of Olives, when He besought His eternal Father to remove from Him, if possible, the bitter chalice of His future passion. I ask it, through the threefold repetition of His prayers in the garden, whence afterwards, with dolorous steps and mournful tears, thou didst accompany Him to the doleful theatre of His death and sufferings. I ask it, through the welts and bruises of His virginal flesh, occasioned by the cords and whips wherewith He was bound and scourged, when stripped of His seamless garment, for which His executioners afterwards cast lots. I ask it, through the scoffs and ignominies by which He was insulted; the false accusations and unjust sentence by which He was condemned to death, and which He bore with heavenly patience. I ask it, through His bitter tears and bloody sweat; His silence and resignation; His sadness and grief of heart. I ask it, through the blood which trickled from His royal and Sacred Head, when struck with the sceptre of a reed and pierced with His crown of thorns. I ask it, through the excruciating torments He suffered, when His hands and feet were fastened with gross nails to the tree of the cross. I ask it, through His vehement thirst, and bitter potion of vinegar and gall. I ask it, through His dereliction on the cross when He exclaimed, "My God! my God! why hast Thou forsaken me?" I ask it, through His mercy extended to the good thief, and through His recommending His precious soul and spirit into the hands of His eternal Father before He expired, saying, "It is consummated." I ask it, through the blood mixed with water, which issued from His Sacred Side when pierced with a lance, and whence a flood of grace and mercy has flowed to us. I ask it, through His immaculate life, bitter passion and ignominious death on the cross, at which nature itself was thrown into convulsions, by the bursting of rocks, rending of the veil of the Temple, the earthquake, and the darkness of the sun and moon. I ask it, through His descent into hell, where He confronted the Saints of the old law with His presence, and led the captivity captive. I ask it, through His glorious victory over death, when He arose again to life on the third day, and through the joy which His appearance for forty days after gave thee, His blessed Mother, His Apostles, and the rest of His Disciples; when in thine and their presence He miraculously ascended into heaven. I ask it, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, infused into the hearts of His Disciples, when He descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, and by which they were inspired with zeal in the conversion of the world, when they went to preach the gospel. I ask it, through the awful appearance of thy Son, at the last dreadful day, when He shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world, by fire. I ask it, through the compassion He bore thee in His life, and the unspeakable joy thou didst feel at thine assumption into heaven, where thou art eternally absorbed in the sweet contemplation of His divine perfections. O glorious and ever blessed Virgin! comfort the heart of thy supplicant, by obtaining for me, (Mention your prayer intention here...) And as I am persuaded my Divine Saviour doth honour thee as His beloved Mother, to whom He refuses nothing, because thou asketh nothing contrary to His honour, so let me speedily experience the efficacy of thy powerful intercession, according to the tenderness of thy maternal affection, and His filial loving heart, who mercifully granteth the requests and complieth with the desires of those that love and fear Him. Wherefore, O most blessed Virgin, beside the object of my present petition, and whatever else I may stand in need of, obtain for me also of thy dear Son, our Lord and our God, a lively faith, firm hope, perfect charity, true contrition of heart, unfeigned tears of compunction, sincere confession, condign satisfaction, abstinence from sin, love of God and my neighbour, contempt of the world, patience to suffer affronts and ignominies, nay, even, if necessary, an opprobrious death itself, for love of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Obtain likewise for me, O sacred Mother of God, perseverance in good works, performance of good resolutions, mortification of self-will, a pious conversation through life, and, at my last moments, strong and sincere repentance, accompanied by such a lively and attentive presence of mind, as may enable me to receive the last Sacrament of the Church worthily, and die in thy friendship and favour. Lastly, obtain through thy Son, I beseech thee, for the souls of my parents, brethren, relatives and benefactors, both living and dead, life everlasting, from the only Giver of every good and perfect gift, the Lord God Almighty, to Whom be all power now and forever. Amen.

Prayer of St. Bonaventure

Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee, may yearn for Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.
Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delightful taste.
May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, Whom the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the fullness of the house of God;
may it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end; and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. Amen.

What You Read On This Blog....

You may use anything I have written on this blog. You do not need to credit me, though it would be nice if you did to increase traffic to this blog. Somewhere in "The Story of a Soul", St. Therese commented that she could not concern herself with whether someone took credit for one of her ideas or observations because, after all, everything that is good and holy is inspired not by ourselves but by the Holy Spirit. If you find something useful here that you'd like to print on your own blog or elsewhere, be my guest. It doesn't "belong" to me in the first place.

If you email me, rest assured nothing you send me will be used, unless you have explicitly granted me permission to do so.

Blog links which appear on The Unprofitable Servant may contain content with which I do not necessarily agree.

God Bless You!

The Unprofitable Servant

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

There, But For The Grace of God.....

2 comments:

Mary, Queen of Peace

St Michael the Archangel

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

St. Teresa Benedicta of The Cross