Our mission as Christians

[Sektruth]

It concerns me that many who profess the Christian faith are very concerned about ceremony and decorations and not too concerned with that which Christ asked of us. He asked us to help the poor and assist our neighbors. To paraphrase one of his parables, he told about a rich man who gave money to three servants to protect. The first and second servants brought back interest to the rich man who rewarded the two. The third servant dug a hole and buried the money and when the rich man returned he gave the rich man back exactly the amount given him. This greatly displeased the rich man. Take this parable and say that my god has created me, has invested life in me, what will I return to my god with. Only that with which he gave me or will I give him interest in the form of my good works in his name. I believe that what our creator wants is our hands and feet doing his will and providing care for the poor the marginalized and assisting our neighbors. I see no passage in the new testament where Christ says he wants to be worshiped every Sunday. Mass is something extra, it is something we do to maintain our connection to him, to follow his request to remember him. Mass was not the mission he gave us, action is the mission he gave the apostles and to his church. Certainly there are many problems in the world, everyone can find a cause to believe in. Perhaps volunteering with a charity, writing letters or just showing love to others will bring back to Christ the interest in the investment he has made in creating us.

 

[SJacob7]

I agree with you. We are suppose to ‘do’ things for Christ. Here are just a couple of verses pertaining to what we should do.

Mark 16:15 (NRSVCE)

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news[a] to the whole creation.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NRSVCE)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

James 1:27 (NRSVCE)

27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Lastly, if we know that we should do them and don’t, it is sin.

James 4:17 (NRSVCE)

17 Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.

Just my 3 cents…

 

[edwest2]

It concerns me that many who profess the Christian faith are very concerned about ceremony and decorations and not too concerned with that which Christ asked of us. He asked us to help the poor and assist our neighbors. To paraphrase one of his parables, he told about a rich man who gave money to three servants to protect. The first and second servants brought back interest to the rich man who rewarded the two. The third servant dug a hole and buried the money and when the rich man returned he gave the rich man back exactly the amount given him. This greatly displeased the rich man. Take this parable and say that my god has created me, has invested life in me, what will I return to my god with. Only that with which he gave me or will I give him interest in the form of my good works in his name. I believe that what our creator wants is our hands and feet doing his will and providing care for the poor the marginalized and assisting our neighbors. I see no passage in the new testament where Christ says he wants to be worshiped every Sunday. Mass is something extra, it is something we do to maintain our connection to him, to follow his request to remember him. Mass was not the mission he gave us, action is the mission he gave the apostles and to his church. Certainly there are many problems in the world, everyone can find a cause to believe in. Perhaps volunteering with a charity, writing letters or just showing love to others will bring back to Christ the interest in the investment he has made in creating us.

We are required to go to Mass.

ewtn.com/expert/answers/sunday_mass.htm

Job one for every Catholic is to evangelize and help the poor. Some of us lack enough money to help ourselves, much less anyone else. Some of us need others to help us as well. Maybe that’s a relative or someone we know.

The Holy Spirit has given different gifts to each of us as He wills.

biblehub.com/1_corinthians/12-1.htm

biblehub.com/1_corinthians/12-4.htm

biblehub.com/1_corinthians/12-5.htm

biblehub.com/1_corinthians/12-7.htm

biblehub.com/1_corinthians/12-8.htm

biblehub.com/1_corinthians/12-9.htm

biblehub.com/1_corinthians/12-10.htm

biblehub.com/1_corinthians/12-11.htm

Peace,
Ed

 

[Sektruth]

A talk with a civic leader about a problem costs nothing, an hour volunteering with a charity costs nothing. a smile and encouraging conversation with someone with a problem costs nothing. Money is not necessary an expression of presence and concern reflects Christ and is what he asks. We go to mass to maintain our relationship with our God and to receive his comfort as we go about our task. This is the reason for weekly mass attendence. It strengthens us and keeps us connected, but warming the pews is not the mission. Our communities is where we carry out the mission of the Church. At the end of every mass, the priest tells us essentially to go out and spread the love of Christ. I believe he means it, it’s not just something he says.

 

[LittleFlower378]

It is true we have to take care of the poor, no doubt. But I would be carefull to rank the importance of Mass and Social Justice. Both are important. Going to Mass on Sunday is required and is in the Ten Commandments to “Keep Holy the Lords Day.” Without Mass and recieving Jesus, the source of our social justice wouldnt be complete. I am pretty sure Mother Teresa and her sisters first prayed and celebrated Mass before going out to serve the poorest of the poor.

Also, its good to remember that different people have different personalities and different strenghts.

 

[CyrilSebastian]

Attending Mass is a beautiful experience as the Lord God is worshipped.
Perhaps there may be an individual who wishes to attend Mass but does not drive.
Would it not be a kindness to give the individual a ride?