Being Good or Going to Mass [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]

StandingonMyHead. ^ | Wednesday, March 02, 2011 | Fr Longenecker

[Salvation]

Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Being Good or Going to Mass

Not long ago I had a conversation with a woman which is pretty typical. She's real nice, wealthy, upper middle class and Catholic. I ask her where they go to Mass. She says they don't go to Mass, but they are "really good people." She then proceeds to tell me how good she is.

So I'm at St Joseph's Catholic School and I ask the kids, "So here's a Catholic question for you..what's better to be good and not go to Mass or to go to Mass and be bad?" They're pretty smart. A few of them say, "Be good and not go to Mass." Some others come up with better answers, "What if you went to Mass and you were bad, but going to Mass made you realize you were bad, and so you went to confession. Wouldn't that be better?" Another said, "You couldn't go to Mass and fully participate and be bad. Just going and being close to God would make you good." Another was even smarter, "The person who says they're good is bad because they're self righteous. It's the person who thinks they're bad who's really good."

So the conversation continues and I ask individual kids, "Steven, are you a good person?" Now they're beginning to get it and they're laughing.  Steve says, "No Father, I'm not good. I'm bad."

"That's the right answer!" I exclaim. "Mary are you a good person?" She comes up with a corker, "By God's grace I hope I might one day be good." Wow! These kids are on it.

This is the how exciting paradox of religion. Anyone who says, "We don't go to Mass, but we are really good people" have missed the Christian bus big time. They don't get it and so greatly don't get it that they are almost uneducable. Their misunderstanding is so profound that you couldn't even say to them what they haven't got because they don't know what they don't know. The astounding blind ness of such folks is that nine times out of then they then turn around and blame the people who do go to Mass for being hypocrites. Their lack of self awareness and spiritual awareness reveals the depth of their own hypocrisy for they think they are good, and never see that the essential prayer--the prayer at the heart of it all is the sinner's plea, "Lord Jesus Christ, Have Mercy on me a Sinner."

This prayer, so simple and so profound is the prayer that truly liberates. See how free and how child like you can be if you simply say this prayer? Within this prayer is the soul's freedom and the soul's joy. Within this prayer is the  simple trust in God on which everything else depends. Therefore, "Being good or Going to Mass" is a totally false dichotomy.

As one of the students said, "You can't really go to Mass and mean it and be bad, and if you don't go to Mass you can't really be good."

 

Posted by Fr Longenecker

[Salvation]

"Keep holy the Lord's Day."

[Salvation]

From the mouths of babes!

[Cicero]

Yes, the kids get it. All they need is some orthodox catechists like Fr. Longenecker. Unfortunately, they are not to be found in every parish or even in every diocese. Although I hope things are turning around.

[Mortrey]

What are your thoughts on Vatican II?

After going to Mass consistently for years as a child, all of a sudden, Catholicism was turned on it’s ear....things were introduced into Mass that were sinful in earlier teachings.

I was taught, as a child, that you did NOT touch the Host as the priest put it on your tongue. It was Holy.

NOW, lay people handle it like a football at the Altar.

Catholic churches invite other religious leaders into the church to “preach” to Catholics, all in the name of “diversity”. Is this apostasy?

Tell me (and CONVINCE me) that we are not dealing with false prophets in the end times, after Vatican II.

Love God with all of your heart...but, in THIS day and age, be suspicious of His “representatives”.

[Judith Anne]

Very amusing, joyous, and Catholic. Just the way I like it!

Thanks for posting.

[HangnJudge]

The Christian Churches are Hospitals for
broken and damaged souls
They are full of severely injured people
Hypocrites, liars, thieves, adulterers,
the entire range of human error and Sin
Christians have no place for Pride and Vanity

It just so happens that
everyone is profoundly damaged and broken

If a person says they are good,
they either are blind, deluded, lying to you,
or various combinations thereof

The statement that they are good Christians
and do not need to come into God's house
it is a horrible error;
is a breach in both Humility and Gratitude,
and makes my skin crawl

[2harddrive]

“Very amusing, joyous, and Catholic. Just the way I like it!”

Good point! I think devout Catholics may be the last TRUE Christians.

[Salvation]

You’re welcome.

[johngrace]

I like this priest Fr Longenecker’s blog!

[Jeff Chandler]

Most of the time I consider going to what passes for Mass as a form of penance and self discipline. I am there for the Eucharist and the rest is to be tolerated.

[notdownwidems]

Most of the time I consider going to what passes for Mass as a form of penance and self discipline. I am there for the Eucharist and the rest is to be tolerated.

I agree, but my wife and I can't even do that, as we are both divorced and not married in the church; therefore, we are forbidden from receiving the sacraments. Let me ask you: are we even Catholics anymore?

[Tax-chick]

Thoughts for you and dear Evelyn Waugh ;-).

[Bringbackthedraft]

I want to chop off the heads of the non believers, that makes me??? I guess some religions see that as being good if I pray 5x a day?

[Anoreth]

Well, I’m obnoxious and disliked, so I guess...

[Salvation]

Good point, sire!