I agree Jay. It makes me think of what Father Karras says to the other Priest, Father Damien, as they went into exorcise the little girl, Regan, who was possessed by the devil in “the Exorcist.” “Don’t listen to what he [the devil] says to you because he will mix lies with the truth to confuse you out of your faith for he is the father of lies.”
That’s what you hear from some posters (u-hem). They talk about how all Jesus wants us to do is feed the hungry, visit the sick, clothe the orphans, and be charitable. There is no moral imperative on us at all. We can cross-dress, sleep with the same sex, ordain lesbians, in vitro lesbian couples so they can have babies, that’s all fine because Jesus only wants us to be soup kitchen stewards and help the homeless.
Boloney.
Jesus expects us to walk and chew gum! We can be stewards of the environment, of the poor, defend the unborn, visit prisoners in ministry, visit the sick, clothe the poor, feed the hungry, and STILL BE MORAL and expect people to REPENT on their way to the Eucharist!!
Spiritmeadow muddies the water and oversimplifies the game of salvation to mere charity and looks at only half the picture. Christ DID walk with prostitutes and tax-collectors. Spiritmeadow is correct in that recollection. But what he/she doesn’t understand or want to remember is how Christ merely ministered to them, got His foot in the door to ENGAGE them, and then forgave them. But notice how St. Matthew was expected to stop cheating people as a tax collector and follow the Lord! Notice that Zaccheus had to quit being a cheat! Notice how Jesus said to the sinful woman, “your sins are forgiven now GO AND SIN NO MORE!”
It’s a strawman weak argument to just say, "you catholics should permit any and all sinful activities and not judge any behavior but rather just do some charities and drop all moral standards. Jesus isn’t about behavior or sins or responsibilities, just feeding the poor and being nice to people.
We all have the duty to do as Christ did and minister to sinners but we must preach the truth in love and be honest to them and show them not only Christ but repentence. We must make Christ accessible as He made Himself available to sinners. But to place no demands of repentence, contrition, or a desire to change upon the sinner is diabolical.
It’s mind-boggling what a simpleton’s gospel that is! The revisionist gospel I’m seing from Spiritmeadow is, “Your sins are forgiven you, and don’t worry about doing them again, ok? We’re fine with it as long as you’re nice to people and give to charities and maybe feed some homeless folks.”
That whole lack of understanding of what the Gospel truly is is further proof of what Our Lord said in the gospel at daily Mass several days back about how God has closed the eyes of the people who think they’re wise…
Anyone who thinks that we can approach the Eucharist in mortal sin with an unrepentent heart but be saved merely from charity and love to others is fooling themselves…