I
appreciate how you worded your question; you avoided judging, didn’t
you? Way to go! Alright, on to the answer ...
I think a lot of times, the Church seems harsh and judgmental because they
are trying to teach us difficult things. All of us have had that experience
of having to be told the difficult thing. Usually, what helps us understand
that the person is trying to help us is that we know them.
For example, I remember the time my mother told me to stop playing under
power lines during thunderstorms. Sure, at first I was mad at her for cutting
into my happy play time, but in the end, I began to see that it was affecting
me negatively. Hey, I was only 24.
Okay, bad example. In the end, I guess what it come down to is, when people
we know have to tell us “the hard thing,” its easier to take than
when a stranger does. Even if we disagree in the end, if we know them and
know they love us, it’s easier to take.
Well, I think it can be hard to “know the Church.” And that can
make the Church seem harsh and judgmental sometimes.
So what do we do? I think try to see that the motivation for the Church
is the same as it is for our parents or friends, who say the hard thing
because they love us.
Looking at the word “respect,” we see two Latin words brought
together: Re, which means "again" and "spect" from
a Latin root word meaning "to look at" (spectator, spectacles,
etc.). So, if we want to respect the Church, we need to look at it again
and see what it really is -- our Christian Mother, teaching us right and
wrong and guiding us in our lives.
Enjoy another day in God’s presence!
Fr. Joe
e-mail your questions to faithteen@parishmail.com
or joeinblack@priest.com
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