Ordinary 19

Getting fed. Is being a "cafeteria Catholic" a good thing or bad thing? The way the term is used, it implies a Catholic who rejects one or more of the teachings of the faith, accepting only what he or she wants to believe. Of course that would be a bad thing. The Church sets a whole buffet before us. Your mother doesn't let you only pick dessert. You have to eat what is healthy.

I don't like the label becuase it would be a judgment of others based upon my perception. When we go to a buffet, we don't eat everything on the buffet. We do pick favorites. Some of my friends dine heavily on the Respect Life dishes. I expect everyone to try them. I have no problem with those who dine mostly on Bible Study dishes or other social justice conerns. It is not that they are rejecting something but that they need to be encouraged to try other dishes on the buffet.

Balanced diet. Our life in enrichened by our experiences. Our mother invites us to taste and see the goodness of the Lord. True, some people don't learn to appreciate the lessons of their mother until later in life. We should be encouraging them to eat from a balanced healthy menu.