Reflection On Today's Homily

Today, I've been thinking about many different things on various levels of life. My thoughts began today when I was in mass. The priest celebrating this morning is not my favorite. He's new to the parish. I realize that he is trying to fit in and make his homilies exciting and meaningful; however, I believe for most of his audience his approach is wrong. For example, he speaks in a condescending, if not patronizing, tone. He is one of those priest who likes "to preach to the choir," so to speak.

In the name of objectivity and fairness, I have admit that much of what he says is true, even if I am not inclined to agree with him. This admission appears to be an oxymoron, which is is the reason I decided to reflect upon this peculiar dilemma. How is it that I know that what this priest says is true and that I, myself, might even preach the same issue under different circumstances, yet when he voiced the very same opinion I was instantaneously angered by the notion?

To make the issue clearer, here is a topic mentioned: getting up in the middle of church to go to the bathroom.

In regards to the this issue, my first instinct was outrage. Not all people know they need to use a bathroom before mass begins. Sometimes those sort of things come abruptly or sometimes children don't bring the situation to there parents' attention until the eleventh hour. However, the more I thought about the issue, the more I realized that these must fall under his notion of an "emergency." Therefore, my only conclusion must be that he was scolding the people who decide to take a trip to the restroom to stretch their legs or out of sheer boredom. My mother used to teach CCD to eighth graders before their Confirmation. She said many of the kids used to need to "use the bathroom," but ended up dallying in the bathroom to kill time. Since telling the dalliers from the people who honestly need to relieve themselves is difficult, I suppose the priest decided to address the entire congregation as the guilty party. Naturally, this treatment is taken as an offense by those who are not the perpertraitors and who cannot conceive a reason for using the restroom for purposes other that their original intent. Thus, the priest's over-agressive tactic to right a wrong ironically backfired and won him little support and sympathy.

Using over-aggressiveness when trying to win understanding and support in dealing in religious matters is the second line of thought I would like to briefly speak about today. Although having passion is a good thing, it can often turn people away if it is not presented properly. Some people cannot at first believe certain religious truths just because the Bible and dogma says so. These situations need to be dealt with rationality, clear-mindedness, true understanding, and respect. If you want your thoughts to be respected, you cannot appear to be completely imperialistic in regard to what people should believe. Not that I'm saying one should give in to relativism either. Both extremes are no good. If you believe there is a definite set of truths that is great. However, if you want someone else to be persuaded to your side, strong arming them is not always the best route. Remember, in one of the stories in the Old Testament, I believe one with Joshua, God did not speak in the thunder or the earthquake, but in the gentlest breeze.