the pandemic has been a time for prayers and reflection. churches had to close. church services have been live-streamed.
before our church reopened, the pastor made a video showing new rules for the reopened church. one way in, another way out. social distancing. everybody wears a mask. hand sanitizer. etc.
church services continued to be live-streamed. not everyone was wearing a mask.
months passed. we contacted the church through the church's website and asked to receive communion. no answer.
we don't know why the church failed to answer our request. we don't know why the church fails to accommodate those, particularly those in the high-risk group, who want to receive communion. many other churches accommodate those who wish to receive communion by having it brought to them in the church parking lot.
our prayers and reflections during the pandemic have made us realize that God doesn't require middlemen. especially middlemen who ignore their flock.
Jesus preached faith in God. He railed against the hypocritical religious leaders of His time. When He was questioned about fraternizing with sinners and failures of His followers to rigidly follow the hundreds of laws in the old testament, Jesus said that He came for sinners. He said that what a person has in their heart is more important than food.
it's our faith that's important to God. not the religious dictates of merciless middlemen.
like so many others, I'm through with the catholic religion. on MANY grounds. but, NOT faith in God. every day I try to strengthen my faith. God is good. I am not. but, God's love for God's children is infinite. I want to believe this with all of my heart, soul and mind. but, alas. if I only had faith the size of a mustard seed...
faith is believing that God is omniscient and that God wants us to believe that God made us for a purpose--to believe in God.
religion is mumbo-jumbo hocus-pocus.
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