I will politely disagree.

We can all come up with reasons why not to attend mass. The list is pretty much endless. As I have said, the reason we do attend mass is to worship God.

If we are to talk about humiliation, being stripped and hung on a cross for all to see is probably the most humiliating way to die. As our Lord was being mocked and spat on He did not curse His accusers, before he died He forgave them.

Mark

Keep on avoiding that church, Chris. Your mental health is precious, and God knows that, as well as your commitment to Him.

Too bad that priest and deacon couldn’t have gotten suspended on abuse grounds. I guess HR isn’t a factor in the Church. So desperate for clergy (solutions: married priests, women priests, yes, it’s time), that anybody who receives Holy Orders is good enough, even though they don’t model values of Christ.

First I’d like to apologize for misspelling Abel.

Second, since John’s reflection deals with the topic of hate and not resentment and crestfallen, let me use an example of why it’s a little risky interchanging the words. Let’s use the opposite example with the words of appreciative and love. If I am very much appreciative of a gift that you gave me doesn’t mean that I love you. My point, God used the words “resentful and crestfallen” on purpose. Also, if we are talking about sin, hate is not the root of all sin. In my opinion, St Augustine of Hippo got it right when he wrote, “‘Pride is the commencement of all sin’ because it was this which overthrew the devil, from whom arose the origin of sin…for the serpent, in fact, only sought for the door of pride whereby to enter when he said, ‘Ye shall be as gods.'”

Lastly, I do feel sorry for your current situation. But, as I found out in the confessional, the reason that you go to church on Sunday is not because of the priest or deacon. The choir could be the worst in the country, the lector stuttered, the homily was the horrible, the baby next you cried the whole time and the person in front of you couldn’t stop talking. And you could be humiliated by the priest at the end of mass. That wouldn’t matter. The reason you go to church is to worship God.

Sorry for the long reply,

Mark

Although I understand your point, you must be careful on your choice of words.

“Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen” (Gn 4:5) is not the same as Cain hated. One could make the case that Cain killed Able out of jealousy, not hate. The murder of Able represents how the “Sin of the Garden” reached a new level of evil.

Mark