tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post8613723400587975795..comments2023-07-05T08:17:21.505-04:00Comments on Getting to the Point: Why Bitterness Towards God Might Be a Good ThingFr. Denis Lemieuxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01049723287624178155noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-68504590594063355902011-07-19T10:47:27.008-04:002011-07-19T10:47:27.008-04:00Thank you for understanding Father. You make my po...Thank you for understanding Father. You make my point admirably.<br /><br />Sometimes when I sit listening to the sermon, and watch the congregation (some half asleep - one of our priests is known as Ontoo Long!), I wonder how many people really know what they truly believe. That was the inspiration behind my book "Visions".<br /><br />God bless you always.Victor S E Moubarakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04280638667651857296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-48040957694380402582011-07-19T07:56:21.061-04:002011-07-19T07:56:21.061-04:00You make a really good point, Victor. At this conf...You make a really good point, Victor. At this conference I was at over the weekend, one of the presenters observed that the Catholic and Orthodox churches in general do a very poor job transitioning people from childish to adult understandings of the faith. We learn about the Eucharist when we make our first communion, then never revisit the subject - that kind of thing.<br />So I think there are indeed a lot of people in the pews with very poor understanding of God. In Madonna House, we are very much back to the basics of God and the spiritual life for our guests. But it's a big problem, as you say.Fr. Denis Lemieuxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01049723287624178155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-71202933920222323102011-07-15T10:59:56.521-04:002011-07-15T10:59:56.521-04:00You make some good points here Father; points whic...You make some good points here Father; points which I've often touched upon in the short stories on my Blog.<br /><br />I suspect modern Christians believe, (that is if they consciuosly believe as opposed to being pre-conditioned to believe), that there is a God and we'd better keep on His right side or else.<br /><br />A bit like Shakespeare's "as flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods; they kill us for their sport".<br /><br />In my experience, very rarely, if ever, does the question of who is God, and what is His relationship to us, get preached from the pulpit on Sunday. <br /><br />Priests assume that because you're in church it follows you're a Christian and therefore you believe. Sermons skirt around the Gospel of the day and are generally so "mild" as to be of no effect. It's something the priest has to do; so he does it.<br /><br />Perhaps it's time that our Church turns back to basics and teaches its congregation in clear simple terms who is God, who is His Son and the Holy Spirit.<br /><br />A shepherd with confused sheep will be answerable for his actions; for he has greater responsibility than the rest of mankind, having accepted to lead the flock to their eventual destination.<br /><br />Best wishes and God bless.Victor S E Moubarakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04280638667651857296noreply@blogger.com