Adoration day…
“You, O man, are without excuse.”
Every Wednesday we have adoration at my parish all day long, so I won’t be online much - although I want to fill the calendar in my sidebar and I’ll do a short post about nothing…
A very nice man commented on another post and told me I write a lot of rubbish. I appreciate that and must say I agree with him. Vanity of vanities - that pretty much sums up weblogs - or maybe just mine.
Mush for brains.
This morning at Mass, I had to battle thoughts about others… I often have to do that. I think it is normal. All of us make snap judgements about others - although in my case, because I live this virtual-cyber-life, which means I spend many hours alone, I tend to assess most people from a rather insulated paradigm.
For instance, every day at Mass there are a few people who continue to stand throughout the Eucharistic prayer, when the rest of the congregation kneels. So I try not to think about them and do my best to mind my own business. Nevertheless, one older couple in particular impressed me as being rather arrogant about it and I supposed they were progressive modernists. Okay - so I stop myself right there - I say to myself, “Who cares? Mind your own business.”
Getting down - to earth.
When Mass was over, Father comes to get me and insists I go downstairs with him for donuts and coffee - see, I never do stuff like that. I went down with him and sat at one of the tables where this couple I didn’t like were sitting. They turned out to be so friendly and nice to me, engaging me in a wonderful conversation. They were the complete opposite from what my negative little mind was telling me. Just like Father, who often doesn’t genuflect because of knee troubles, they too have really bad knees and can’t kneel - I should add that they are in their late 80’s.
Afterwards, I went back upstairs for adoration and laughed to the Lord, thanking him for showing me what rubbish my judgements of others can be. And when I got home, I found that wonderful comment - “what a lot of rubbish you write!” How true, how true!
“You, O man, are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgement. For the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things.” - First reading at Mass; Romans 2
October 17th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
This is (almost) the most shocking thing you’ve ever written. You socialized?!?
October 17th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
I DID! And I think they thought I was normal. (They’re so damn old - what do they know?)
Anyway - I got roped into doing something - you know - like church stuff: Yeah, I said I would volunteer!!! See what happens when I’m off my meds! Let’s see if I show up. I wonder if I should start going to another church…
Funny thing though. I go back up to adoration, then visit Our Lady on my way out. When I bow to her icon, my hands touch below my waist. My zipper was down! Throughout Mass and the coffee-talk, my fly was open! Thank God they are old - they can’t see either. Isn’t the Infant Jesus funny how he likes to humiliate me though? LOL!
October 17th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Good post Terry. This same thing has happened to me time and time again - sometimes I think God needs to use a 2 x 4 with me.
I have some friends from my parish and we all like to think we are the “light” in our secular work places and of course - almost every day - the log in our own eye is pointed out to us. *sigh*
October 17th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
One man’s trash (rubbish) is another man’s treasure!
We went out to dinner the other night (had a free meal coupon). My son’s fly was down and his Scooby Doo’s were on display the entire time he was engaging the elderly couple sitting near us in conversation (he talks to EVERYONE!!!). I hope this elderly couple couldn’t see either.
October 17th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
I can’t believe you “came out” and have become social…
You went to coffee and donuts with strangers and you didn’t come to Thanksgiving with us!
I’m so mortified
October 18th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
You are one clever guy. Instead of going out for breakfast, as many do after Sunday morning Mass, you get yourself invited to FREE [I presume for a donation?] coffee and donuts. You entertain an elderly couple who will tell Father all about that nice young man that came and sat with them. Now, Father KNOWS it was the right thing to do, and it worked so well he’s going to call on you more. I think you got duped. But it was a nice way to discover your fly was open.