There is an expression in Roman Catholicism that refers to those that do not regularly attend church services. It is actually a dig aimed at those that attend only at prescribes times. The term is 'CAPE' Catholics and the letters stand for Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday and Easter. I suppose it seems fair at face value, it seems true enough. There was a time however when regular folk were not encouraged to attend Mass and receive Communion but once a year, what with their lack of full understanding and ignorance. Of course that was a very long time ago and I think it may have been Saint Louis de Montfort who fought against this errant thought process, the one that actually promotes a lack of attendance. No, once a year is not enough. And then there are those that pride themselves as being 'daily communicants' as if to gorge themselves on the Christ. I wonder if that makes them better people, makes the world a better place or helps them hold onto God in their lives better. A digression perhaps.
Along with this diatribe about attendance that seems to ignite peoples arrogance, there at one time was a host of clothing Nazis who would suggest what is or is not appropriate at church while attending Mass. I myself have seen quite a variety, especially spending a fair amount of time in Florida. One would think people arrive to church right off the tennis or pickleball courts, attractively styled and wearing suggestive tennis shorts. My favorite of all time though ( so you know I am guilty here of which I write ), is the Easter attire one person wore which consisted of seemingly transparent white hip hugger Capri pants covering a luminescent pink thong. The upper portion of the thong looking like a whale tail from the ( well rounded ) rear of the person. It was a sight to behold. I think I still may have retinal scarring.
All of this points to how we quite easily judge others even in their attendance and what they wear. I thought that was so 80's, you know, Jordache jeans and such? Is this kind of judgment still out there? Or have we elevated it to a new art form where we can make judgments about others depth of faith, the sincerity of their prayers and so on?
It certainly is an interesting read ( down below ). This passage from Matthew is quite telling, if only to say such judgments were made even in Jesus' time. It seems to me that only God can see into the hearts of people. Judgments will be made, but none will be honored except those of the Creator. God will be the one that suggests, you can spend enormous amounts of money on shoes and jeans but you come in a tattered, filthy pair of Jeans and a Rolling Stones t-shirt? My point is that such a judgment is a human one. God may easily say simply, 'great to see you'. or 'welcome to my house'. It is YOU I want to see and long to hear from. And then again, really? You couldn't find anything better to wear, you get more dressed up when you go to the movies!
All this judging stuff that we do, acronyms we snobbishly spew, all point to a digression from what our real goals and intentions should be. Judging keeps us from loving. Judging keeps us from freely giving our love and attention to the Creator. Judging is like an opulent piece of bling that keeps us mesmerized and takes our focus from what is truly important in life. That is , OUR life, not someone else's. Focus on our own actions, our own faith, our own journey.
For a humbleness of heart and concern more about our own actions than anyone else's. We pray.
Matthew 22:1-14
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless.Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’
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