Posted on 11/02/2013 4:18:08 PM PDT by NYer
It was such a weird assignment. But, then again, it was a college sociology class, so that may explain a lot.
Assignment? Deliberately do something counter to social mores, observe reactions of those around you, and write about it in your journal.
One student – a middle-aged man with a large beer belly – went to McDonalds and ordered a Happy Meal. He asked for a boy’s toy and proceeded to sit directly in front of the counter and eat the meal himself.
Then, he played with the toy.
Another student entered an elevator and stood in front of the closed elevator doors – staring at the other people in the elevator rather than standing face-forward in silence like everyone over the age of five has learned to do.
I remember the assignment because it was extremely uncomfortable. I like to fit in. I care what people are thinking about me. I feel this crazy compulsion to explain myself to perfect strangers even when I merely suspect that my actions might not make sense to them.
I don’t like breaking social mores – ever.
I like to blend.
But the world has changed. Catholics cannot just blend in with society at large. We stand out because we stand up for Christ and His Church, and we hold to Church Teaching.
There was a time when that meant there wasn’t very much difference between Catholics and the rest of the grown-ups in the United States. Yes, there was Mary and the Pope and no-meat Fridays, but in general, we could blend.
Today, people look at us like we are a grown-up who just purchased a Happy Meal and is entertained by the toy inside. Today, people think we are as odd as the person in the elevator who faces away from the doors rather than staring at the closed doors in silence.
No college assignment required. We break social mores all of the time.
And it is kind of uncomfortable.
At a glance, our Catholic practices and beliefs don’t make sense to the public. But they do make sense. There is a Truth here that is so deep, so rich, so eternal that we must not sacrifice it to feel like one of the crowd. The stakes are too high.
Now more than ever, we must be the salt of the Earth – even if the world has lost its taste for this kind of salt.
More than ever, we must be the light of the world – even if the world likes to dance in the dark and play dangerous games with their eternal souls.
The world may like us to follow along blindly. But we cannot. The Shepherd is calling us to follow after Him.
So, we stand and face the people in the elevator when we stand up for the unborn, for holy matrimony, for chastity, for beauty, for sacrificial living, for suffering-made-holy, for the immigrant-among-us, for peace and peaceful resolutions to conflict, for the aged-and-infirm, for family meals and family values, for Mass attendance because Jesus IS waiting for us in the Eucharist. The crowds may say we are only playing with McDonaldland toys when we pick up our rosaries and light candles in the Adoration Chapel.
Get used to feeling uncomfortable under the gaze of the world. St. Paul’s prediction is upon us:
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. II Timothy 4:3-7
Ping!
Hilarious, but also very true. A real gem NYer!
For law and order?
Jesus never said we’d be comfortable following him.
No, in fact we’re told to take up the cross...
We are told we will be persecuted for His namesake.
If you are ‘comfortable’ in your faith, something is wrong.
Catholic Prep Ping
I like them to know this early on.
That was the reason for the wooden kneelers, wasn't it?
Good list.
yes....
The crowds may say we are only playing with McDonaldland toys when we pick up our rosaries and light candles in the Adoration Chapel.The Adoration Chapel in the new area we moved to actually has little votives anyone can light (no light bulbs!!), and they have draped across both ends of every pew, a rosary. I'll have to get the details, as to whether it's okay to take pictures at a chapel when Jesus is present, but I'd love to photograph this chapel. No one would ever have to ask if it was a Catholic-related place for prayer? Statues, crosses, roses placed in nooks, well-worn bibles, missals, holy cards, saint books, more holy cards... everywhere... :)
“I’d love to photograph this chapel.”
Jesus likes photographers. If you line up directly in front, the flash will blast off the glass of the monstrance and back into your camera and the resulting picture will freak you out - oh, but you weren’t using a flash?
Make it your screensaver and bring Him along with you on the internet like you just did.
Spot on!!!
Talk about uncomfortable, try being a cool guy turning 13 or 14 and learning in a backyard football game that boys can be virgins too, that boys are virgins too, that boys.....have to remain virgins until marriage too.
Talk about some reflecting on what it means to be Catholic (Christian), truly committed to Christ, and then standing up and being that....through high school and college.
14 years of a blissful marriage, three boys blessed so far.....more than that “1000x” I’ve heard on TV prayer channels.
Praying at McDonalds is SO much easier.
I like that!
Remember the rules:
With the bad knees I have, I struggle with even being able to do that. I am happy to be able to sit. Jesus understands.
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