WHY I GO TO CHURCH

 

 

 

Many people tell me they believe in God but do not feel the need to go to church.  I hear excuses like

1. “God is everywhere; I don’t have to go to church to be with Him.”
2.  “All they are after is money!”
3.  “I live a good life; I do all the right things, why should I need to go?”
4.  “I don’t feel welcome.”   

Let’s examine excuse #1.  Considering, God is our Father, here’s how I feel.  As a parent, I have a son who has not visited, not contacted me in over 1 ½ years.  I am heartbroken.  This must be similar to how God feels when we do not visit His House. I could not agree more that God Is everywhere, yet I don’t see how this is a valid excuse for not going to Church.  If we are baptized in His name, we have an obligation to abide by His rules. 

 

Excuse # 2.  Yes, they ask for tithes and for good reasons.  The Church community must be maintained, just as our own homes require upkeep.  Churches help support the many agencies that care for the needy and poor.  I am on a fixed income and can’t give but a fraction of what many parishioners give, yet I do my part. 

 

Excuse # 3.  First of all, you are not doing all the right things if you can justify not going to church.  The love of God does require something back from you.  “If you wish to follow me, pick up your cross and come.”  If you really have faith, then you should pay your due share.  Feed the hungry.  Visit the sick.  Clothe the needy.  Pray for those in need.  Remember those before us, who gave their lives for our religious freedom.  By staying home, within your domestic church, you will not be strengthened and replenished as you would if you go to the community church.  We are weak sinners and must be fed and forgiven continuously.  If you believe that you never sin, then you make God out to be a liar. 

 

Excuse # 4.  This one’s really a very bad excuse.  I was attending a church and it was about to be sold and closed.  I thought to myself, I will go to a new church.  I picked a new one and began to go daily at 12:10 PM.  About a month after I was going each day, one day, a man came up to me before Mass and said “The priest wants to see you;  He’s over there.  I got up and made my way to him.  He ushered me into a hallway for privacy and said “ Some of the parishioners are concerned about your whiskers in the wine cup.”  He seemed uncomfortable and a bit embarrassed.  I laughed and said “Oh dear!”  He asked me if I would mind coming up to communion last.  I had a real chance to feel not welcome.  My response was “Of course I don’t mind.  I’ve been coming here for the last month for this time slot fits nicely into my day.”  He seemed relieved and I continued to attend that Mass daily.  I know that the elderly man who told me that the priest wanted to see me, was the one complaining about my beard.  That was over three years ago.  Since then, that man and I have been friends.  Since then, I have been going to the early Mass at 0630.  Since then, that same priest who asked me to go up to communion last, asked my wife and I if we would consider joining the pre-Cana team and give our testimony to the couples about to be wed.  We give our talk, twice a year, spring and fall.  It is rewarding to us and do I feel welcome?  You bet I do!       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHY I GO TO CHURCH

 

 

 

Many people tell me they believe in God but do not feel the need to go to church.  I hear excuses like

1. “God is everywhere; I don’t have to go to church to be with Him.”
2.  “All they are after is money!”
3.  “I live a good life; I do all the right things, why should I need to go?”
4.  “I don’t feel welcome.” 

 

Let’s examine excuse #1.  Considering, God is our Father, here’s how I feel.  As a parent, I have a son who has not visited, not contacted me in over 1 ½ years.  I am heartbroken.  This must be similar to how God feels when we do not visit His House. I could not agree more that God Is everywhere, yet I don’t see how this is a valid excuse for not going to Church.  If we are baptized in His name, we have an obligation to abide by His rules. 

 

Excuse # 2.  Yes, they ask for tithes and for good reasons.  The Church community must be maintained, just as our own homes require upkeep.  Churches help support the many agencies that care for the needy and poor.  I am on a fixed income and can’t give but a fraction of what many parishioners give, yet I do my part. 

 

Excuse # 3.  First of all, you are not doing all the right things if you can justify not going to church.  The love of God does require something back from you.  “If you wish to follow me, pick up your cross and come.”  If you really have faith, then you should pay your due share.  Feed the hungry.  Visit the sick.  Clothe the needy.  Pray for those in need.  Remember those before us, who gave their lives for our religious freedom.  By staying home, within your domestic church, you will not be strengthened and replenished as you would if you go to the community church.  We are weak sinners and must be fed and forgiven continuously.  If you believe that you never sin, then you make God out to be a liar. 

 

Excuse # 4.  This one’s really a very bad excuse.  I was attending a church and it was about to be sold and closed.  I thought to myself, I will go to a new church.  I picked a new one and began to go daily at 12:10 PM.  About a month after I was going each day, one day, a man came up to me before Mass and said “The priest wants to see you;  He’s over there.  I got up and made my way to him.  He ushered me into a hallway for privacy and said “ Some of the parishioners are concerned about your whiskers in the wine cup.”  He seemed uncomfortable and a bit embarrassed.  I laughed and said “Oh dear!”  He asked me if I would mind coming up to communion last.  I had a real chance to feel not welcome.  My response was “Of course I don’t mind.  I’ve been coming here for the last month for this time slot fits nicely into my day.”  He seemed relieved and I continued to attend that Mass daily.  I know that the elderly man who told me that the priest wanted to see me, was the one complaining about my beard.  That was over three years ago.  Since then, that man and I have been friends.  Since then, I have been going to the early Mass at 0630.  Since then, that same priest who asked me to go up to communion last, asked my wife and I if we would consider joining the pre-Cana team and give our testimony to the couples about to be wed.  We give our talk, twice a year, spring and fall.  It is rewarding to us and do I feel welcome?  You bet I do!       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHY I GO TO CHURCH

 

 

 

Many people tell me they believe in God but do not feel the need to go to church.  I hear excuses like

1. “God is everywhere; I don’t have to go to church to be with Him.”
2.  “All they are after is money!”
3.  “I live a good life; I do all the right things, why should I need to go?”
4.  “I don’t feel welcome.” 

 

Let’s examine excuse #1.  Considering, God is our Father, here’s how I feel.  As a parent, I have a son who has not visited, not contacted me in over 1 ½ years.  I am heartbroken.  This must be similar to how God feels when we do not visit His House. I could not agree more that God Is everywhere, yet I don’t see how this is a valid excuse for not going to Church.  If we are baptized in His name, we have an obligation to abide by His rules. 

 

Excuse # 2.  Yes, they ask for tithes and for good reasons.  The Church community must be maintained, just as our own homes require upkeep.  Churches help support the many agencies that care for the needy and poor.  I am on a fixed income and can’t give but a fraction of what many parishioners give, yet I do my part. 

 

Excuse # 3.  First of all, you are not doing all the right things if you can justify not going to church.  The love of God does require something back from you.  “If you wish to follow me, pick up your cross and come.”  If you really have faith, then you should pay your due share.  Feed the hungry.  Visit the sick.  Clothe the needy.  Pray for those in need.  Remember those before us, who gave their lives for our religious freedom.  By staying home, within your domestic church, you will not be strengthened and replenished as you would if you go to the community church.  We are weak sinners and must be fed and forgiven continuously.  If you believe that you never sin, then you make God out to be a liar. 

 

Excuse # 4.  This one’s really a very bad excuse.  I was attending a church and it was about to be sold and closed.  I thought to myself, I will go to a new church.  I picked a new one and began to go daily at 12:10 PM.  About a month after I was going each day, one day, a man came up to me before Mass and said “The priest wants to see you;  He’s over there.  I got up and made my way to him.  He ushered me into a hallway for privacy and said “ Some of the parishioners are concerned about your whiskers in the wine cup.”  He seemed uncomfortable and a bit embarrassed.  I laughed and said “Oh dear!”  He asked me if I would mind coming up to communion last.  I had a real chance to feel not welcome.  My response was “Of course I don’t mind.  I’ve been coming here for the last month for this time slot fits nicely into my day.”  He seemed relieved and I continued to attend that Mass daily.  I know that the elderly man who told me that the priest wanted to see me, was the one complaining about my beard.  That was over three years ago.  Since then, that man and I have been friends.  Since then, I have been going to the early Mass at 0630.  Since then, that same priest who asked me to go up to communion last, asked my wife and I if we would consider joining the pre-Cana team and give our testimony to the couples about to be wed.  We give our talk, twice a year, spring and fall.  It is rewarding to us and do I feel welcome?  You bet I do!       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2014

The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord
Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

 

Reading 1 nm 6:22-27

The LORD said to Moses:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on link below to hear Psalm

http://www.gimmesound.com/BuckyGelo

 

 

 

 

Responsorial Psalm ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R/ (2a) May God bless us in his mercy.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R/ May God bless us in his mercy.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R/ May God bless us in his mercy.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R/ May God bless us in his mercy.

 

 

 

 

Reading 2 gal 4:4-7

Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, “Abba, Father!”
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gospel lk 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.