*
edited for brevity*
Where are the repentant Sodomites doing penance? Hmmm?
Even without the penance -- where are the repentant sodomites???
They may be closer to you than you realize.
I hope you're not talking about posters here. :stare:
No, they are not closer than they appear. When they come close by the grace of God of putting away their lifestyles because of the 1st Commandment (" I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me."), and they go to church, are they supported, or are they tempted back into their sinful lifestyle because the "vicar" says "Who am I to judge?" while Jesus says "I AM". (See the tiny little disparity there?)
Reason to yourself: do you believe that Sodomites (SSA, whatever) who are penitent are going to be picking up a copy of the Advocate? And if so, are they going to be feeling a lot of consolation, or are they going to be seeing an ADVOCATE for their sinful "feelings"?
I am talking about maybe some one who could be sitting close to you when you go to mass this Sunday.
Okay, fair enough. I'd love to know what your Mass is like, for real. At ours, we quietly welcome all and scooch over in the pews and, overall, stay focused on the altar. We women are unofficially charged with "scarf duty" (making sure everyone has some appropriate clothing on, offering a pashmina or veil
very kindly, to any who might come in with thinner clothing, especially in this freezing weather). Men do something similar. But generally, we look at the altar, pray, and prepare for Mass.
We don't talk about private lives.
I've offered to take fussy babies from tired parents and walk them outside or downstairs, but that's about as involved as we get [during Mass].
Anything else a Sodomite at Mass might be concerned about, that is between that person and God. I don't speak in Church, ever. Few do, even when they've passed out and inadvertently caused an interruption.
After Mass, if we go to the coffee hour thing, we still don't talk about that sort of thing. When something inappropriate has come up, we refer the speaker to the priest, deacon, or generally "upstairs".
We say very little even after Mass that would offend, unless there is a mild joke about a "local" (tri-state area) happening. We do NOT mill about talking about how
this group is damned, or
those people are surely going to Hell.
A potential-Sodomite sitting by us in Mass would have to
read minds, and even then, I can't imagine spending Mass thinking of manner of sin that has nothing to do with me (drive-by shootings, cocaine usage, Sodomites struggling with their issues, etc). That's the LAST thing on my mind. I'm there to SEE HEAVEN, maybe as close as I'll ever get, and to hear Mass, and to take the Eucharist.
So I've got to ask: what manner of parish do you attend where a Sodomite with the latest Advocate might plop down beside you and strike up a conversation?!
Again, Poche, look at your posts: no downvotes, no one's mad:
I'm concerned for you. But hey, that puts you in at least my prayers, and I'm sure those of many others. My mental image of you is this guy:
And SORRY SO BIG! If someone could tell me how to make pictures smaller here, I'd GLADLY do it! I have to have mental images to put with names when I pray; it's a deficiency, I know. Curious now if I'm close (note: I know
nothing about John Ritter, so there's no sub-contextual "judgment". Just saw his picture recently, thought of you, and it's merely a curiosity if you're this clean-cut, friendly type in his 30s like I'm thinking, so please don't be offended).
Topic: By Their Fruits You Will Know Them (Read 3681 times)