Last weekend I went to a beautiful wedding at our church. Many of the people who were invited were not Catholics. I was stunned to see how disrespectful many of those people were during the Mass. I do understand that those who are not Catholic may not understand the sanctity of the Mass but just to be reverent because you are in a church is not too much to ask.
I was shocked to see people not only talking but laughing, pointing, chewing gum, obviously showing their disdain over the Mass itself. The photographer even was laying completely on his belly in the middle of the aisle to take pictures! I understand wanting to "get the shot" but really is there no other way to show respect and get a great shot? I guess it amazes me so much because I would never go in anyone's church, temple, synagogue, etc and act the way these people did. I try my hardest to show everyone respect, even other religions that might not be my own, because it is how I want to be treated and how as Christians, Christ expects us to act.
I am part of an interfaith dialogue group and I am constantly amazed at how well everyone on that board treats people of other faiths. We can carry on a civil conversation without degrading each other's religion or beliefs. It's just not necessary. I love learning about other faiths and I know that my Catholic faith is not what everyone is looking for. Of course I think it's the right way but I do respect others who choose differently. Christ taught us to love everyone just as he loves us. How can we show love when we are fighting over who's right and who's wrong? We should be praying for one another, not fighting.
I have been thinking about this all week long. I pray for those who are so judgmental and who find that they don't have to offer respect to anyone who might be different than them. It is on my mind tonight as I think of the days that are coming up. With remembering September 11th this year I wonder how many people will look at all Muslims and judge them for the acts of a small sect of extremists? I pray this won't happen but I know it will. It makes me sad.
As in the words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?" Can't we all just show one another respect. We CAN be different and still be alike too. We are all searching for the truth. We are all looking to be loved. We are all doing the best we can with what we are given.
As Christ says in Matthew 5:43-48- "You have heard it said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy'. But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brother, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect."
5 comments:
Yikes, that's awful! I think part of the reason people don't show respect is that they think if they do, it's like saying that other religion is just as true as your own. As if being rude to others is somehow standing up for the Truth. I had this argument with my husband just a few days ago. I was packing and found a prayer cloth that had been blessed by a rinpoche (high ranking Buddhist monk) and mentioned that I would save it and give it to my Buddhist brother. My husband wanted me to just throw it away because "Buddhism is a lie, anyway." Ugh! I pointed out that if my brother had an item blessed by a Catholic priest, would he want it thrown away because my brother doesn't believe? Of course not! Treating other religions with respect is NOT universalism. Anyway, how many people convert after having their current beliefs mocked, dismissed, and ridiculed? Probably not many.
I think that is exactly it Katie! Being respectful of another religion is not saying that you want to join that religion or that you thhink it is the truth. But it does show the love you feel for the person who is practicing that faith.
You know, I'm surprise that the priest allows for pictures to be taken during the mass. I know in the Presbyterian church when my father was preaching, once the bride made it up the aisle (even at my wedding) he had a brief couple of announcements (anything the couple might have forgotten to mention, such as where the reception was *blush* - that was me) but the announcements included that pictures were NOT allowed to be taken during the ceremony itself, but they were allowed to start again once we went to sign the registry (which was over to the side).
I'm not even Christian anymore and there is NO WAY I would not give my utmost respect to the ceremony, the mass itself, no matter the faith. It's a matter of, as you said, respect.
Sometimes I wonder if those people that behaved like that were ever actually taught respect. I see so many young people, even those just coming out of college, that seem to think the world owes them and they treat no one and nothing with the respect that it deserves. My feelings are sorry honey - but you don't just automatically give respect, and if you can't give it in a situation like this, you don't deserve it in the first place.
Alice, that's the thing, the photographer shouldn't have been taking pictures like that. The priest is ok with it if they are very discreet and out of the way they are occasionally ok. But the way this guy was, was very disrespectful and distracting as well. The other people were just as bad. I agree with you that many people think the world owes them respect even though they don't give it when they should.
Hopefully the newlyweds will have good memories of the day. With a photographer getting such weird angles, I should hope so!
Seriously, though, the disrespect shown in churches these days -- whether Catholic or Christian or whatever -- is far more embedded in society, I think. Disrespect is like any bad habit. Tentacles are far reaching and insidious, and because of that it's not corrected because it starts out small and becomes HUGE! Like, people mocking the mass and the photographer belly surfing the aisle in the chase of the perfect picture.
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