Dear Prochorus, I am concerned that you did not read my original statement, request, for clarity. Obviously, the questions you propose have nothing to do with spending millions and millions, we have a social responsibility. You are taking the complete opposite end of the spectrum of what I said, it is ineffective. Remember, the Gospel, The Word of Jesus Christ, is alive, and very much part of our everyday, we choose to selectively pick what suits us.
This is what I said, in part:
This subject has been on my heart and mind for a few years and I feel one that needs addressed. It is difficult to ask the hard questions, be open to the Word of God, and SEE the TRUTH as Christ intended, and in turn be willing to live in the Will of God. We must have 20/20 vision when it comes to being a Kingdom people. All are held responsible, accountable, and living according to Christ’s Will in our lives, and should not be motivated by subjective relativism.
Centering on SELF, is the basis to all sin. SO, I ask:
How are we incorporating the wisdom of God when we decide to spend millions and millions on newly built churches, renovations, additions, and so forth in this Diocese. Some of the most recent that I am personally aware of, St Stanlislaus, St James, Sacred Heart (BR). How is it, EXACTLY, we have given in to the Consumerism of the secular world. WE are not our brick and mortar. WE are the BODY OF CHRIST. How have we lost our vision in this. Must we frill and thrill people, comfort them, impress them, in order to EVANGELIZE them into our faith community. TO the Body and Blood of Christ. What can be greater. WHY isn’t it enough?. I am not talking about renovations done in a church to assure safety issues, leaky roofs, electrical problems, etc…
WHY must we limit our vision, become prisoner to our own DEBT pile, allowing everything else we do, for years to come, to be dictated by the DEBT. How we worship, how we tend to the poor, who and if we hire. I think to Bishop Untener, who mandated that for one year, before any meeting, the question, the consideration of " How will this be of service to poor" was asked.
I consider the Mission and Religious Community set up by our very own Bishop Carlson. Christ in action. Columbia in desperate need, he answered God’s call in a tangible and miraculous way. $2k for a home for those in need, a beginning of a religious community, recognizing Christ in the poor. Attending in a real way. A building of the KINGDOM. How many homes, basic shelter for those less fortunate than us, could one million buy. I think so much about the missionaries that visit our very own parishes, telling the need of clean water, worship space. On our very own judgment day, First consideration will be: how well did we LOVE one another, recognize Christ in one another, FEED the hungry, the poor, the oppressed. FEED his sheep. Most certainly, the next question will not be, “how big and new was the church we built”, while we neglected the poor. DO NOT confuse yourself. WE DO NOT GIVE ENOUGH, not to our capabilities.We must realize that by Virtue of our own Baptism, we are held highly accountable, we take in the BODY of CHRIST, we MUST do CHRIST"S WILL WE will answer to God. We not only need to reach those who have left the Catholic Church, but those in third world countries, Africa, South America, who are yearning and dying to live their faith. TO have a place of worship. The cost is so little, the need so great. WHAT right do we have to be so frivolous with the many BLESSINGS GOD has given each and everyone of us. If you are on this site, on your computer, you most likely rank in the top 5%, income in this world. WE must walk the talk, bring people home, love one another, spread our faith, and be open to STEWARDSHIP, not selfishness. I can’t help it, selfishness, to me, dictates all sin.
I want to SEE the truth of all this. It makes me quesy, feels inherently wrong, to spend millions on NEW< NEW< NEW, all the while, not in a true and authentic way, willing to walk a mile in our brother’s shoes.
