November 19, 2005

• Great day turned horrible

  Tonight, something happened that upset me for the first time in a really long time.  I'll have to explain it first, and then I'll mention more about it.  I'm quoting from memory, but the things I actually put in quotes are things I distinctly remember.

  
  

  I had to go to church Saturday night, because my wife and I will be busy tomorrow during the normal time.  Service went well until after the homily (sermon).  The readings for today were from Ez 34:11-12, 15-17, 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28 and Matthew 25:31-46 (full text).  The focus of the homily was on the Gospel reading.  It was about the end times when Jesus will separate everyone as a shepherd separates sheep from goats.  The sheep are the ones who treated Jesus with love through treating the least of his people (poor, widows, and the hungry) with love.  The goats are the ones who treated Jesus with love through failing to love the least of his people. 

  
  

  The homily was fantastic; he reminded us that if we have friends that we love, but we show or tell them that we hate their children, we have just ended that friendship.  This was likened to how we treat human beings of all types, all races, all colors, and all religions -- of course God will be upset if we treat his children badly.  He mentioned that we need to be unified in love with all countries - America, France, Spain, Germany... and with people of all colors - black, white, yellow, red, green and rainbow.  We are all children of God, and we need to treat each other as such. 

  
  

  But then, he said this... "You can think whatever you want, but this is what my opinion on the war in Iraq is."   Now both me and my wife were wondering how he would tie the war in Iraq with this wonderful homily about loving all children of God...but he didn't.  Instead, he said that we have to "stay the course in Iraq", and that anyone "who favors surrendering there is a coward."  Then he spouted out yet another (old) Republican talking point, and said that "we have to fight them over there, so we don't have to fight them over here."  He followed that up by saying that "those beasts over there are killing each other, killing themselves, and killing us."  He then concluded by saying that we need to pray for our president, who "stays awake at night, worrying about our troops and the safety of our country."

  
  

  Now I think you can probably guess several reasons that I was upset, but I really don't even mind Church leaders mixing politics and religion.  What got me so upset, is that he went a complete 180 from his homily on the Gospel reading.  I don't even mind that he used the same illogical talking points that I usually hear from Bill O'Reilly and Limbaugh.  He made such a big deal about making sure we treated all God's children with love, then he called some of those children of God cowards and beasts.  Now, the terrorists have performed horrible acts of violence upon innocent people, and should be stopped and punished...but they are still children of God, no matter that they believe in the wrong God, and no matter what evil influence they are under.  But I was most offended because he (like so many Republicans) indiscriminately lumped everyone together as beasts.  For every terrorist that has come into Iraq, there are thousands of innocent Iraqis.  I was very tempted to point out to the priest his blatant hypocrisy in calling Gods children beasts, especially after that homily, instead of saying that they behave beastly.

  
  

  Alright... now I've vented... I feel much better now.  I'll think I'll go and feed the dog.

  • 9:02 pm
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