If you've read any of these blogs you know that I seldom comment on social and/or political issues; today, however, I couldn't refrain from writing something on an event which has recently occured.
You may have heard that a women named Barbara Johnson was attending her mother's funeral in the Catholic Church to which her mother had been a long time member. She was denied the sacrement of communion because the priest, Reverand Marcel Guarnizo, said that she was living with another women and as such her sins precluded her from being served. As though this was not enough of an affront, the priest didn't even attend the commitment ceremonies for her mother at the cemetary.
I would remind the "good priest" of what Scripture has to say in the Gospel of Matthew, "Do not judge so that you will not be judged." Wasn't it Jesus who offered communion to Judas on the night the same man would betray Him to His death upon the cross? Aren't we all sinners condemned to Hell but for the actions of our Lord and Savior's death upon the cross?
As ministers, pastors, priests, elders, deacons, etc. all have been given the same Holy command that Jesus gave to Peter; "Tend My lambs," "Shepherd My sheep," "Tend my sheep." We're to guide, protect and teach the flock that Jesus has entrusted to us. I can only surmise that Reverand Guarnizo was acting upon the tenants of His faith and I will pray that in some way he make amends for his actions. This incident is just another in a litany of acts that cause many non-believers to shake their heads and ask "why would I want to become a Christian?"
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