No Need to Be Popular

 After contemplating today's readings, I found the Reflection for it and posted it here. When reading through the list, a lot of people would say "Wow, these ideas are so outdated. Why on earth would anyone still believe half this stuff? And why on earth would Carmen even list these things knowing some people may be incredibly offended?" 

Problem with today's denominations and churches is that most are "feel good places". Pastors say what they believe their congregation WANTS to hear...Pastors WANT to be popular. By teaching the ideas below, most Pastors would be extremely unpopular, right?

Part of my pull towards Catholicism is the search for the truth. There is NO sugar-coating what God wants for us. Now, God knows I am far from "holier than thou" and I don't pretend to be. I'm human just like everyone else. But, I don't want to hear God's word all sugar-coated and mushy, stuff that makes me feel like my sins are ok. I want the truth! I want to be put in my place when I'm not walking the right path. And guess what? Hearing the truth and God's word makes me feel good! Imagine that? :)

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for February 3, 2012

HUMAN RIGHTS

"John had told Herod, 'It is not right for you to live with your brother's wife.' " –Mark 6:18

Like John the Baptizer, we need the love and courage to say:
"It is not right to have sexual relations outside of marriage."
"It is not right to abort babies."
"It is not right to have homosexual relations."
"It is not right to use artificial means of contraception."
"It is not right to look lustfully at a person."
"It is not right to masturbate."
"It is not right to tell 'dirty jokes,' condone pornography, or dress immodestly."
"It is right, holy, and beautiful to have sexual relations in the context of the marriage covenant."
"It is right to be a virgin or celibate until marriage."
"It is right to respect, cherish, and defend life from the moment of conception until natural death."
"It is right to respect those with homosexual tendencies and to offer them healing and encouragement."
"It is right for married couples to have children and always be open to conceiving them."
"It is right to look at a Christian's body and recognize it as a temple of the Holy Spirit" (see 1 Cor 6:19).
"It is right to be and look pure, free, and holy."
"It is right to be unpopular with those who aren't living for Jesus."
"It is right to give Him thanks and praise."

PRAYER:

"Through the intercession of St. Blase, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

PROMISE:

"The Lord forgave him his sins and exalted his strength forever." –Sir 47:11

PRAISE:

St. Blase was a physician, bishop, and martyr.