Church

I went to church today, not my usual habit on a Sunday, I am sorry to say, but it is the truth. My life has taken over, and I really don't make an effort to go each Sunday. To many, that may seem a bit off, but, I sincerely feel that I have a running conversation with GOD, in my head, on more than a weekly basis. I may have some unorthodox views, and yes, I am one of those, as the media put it, "cafeteria Catholics." I think that is my American upbringing, my feelings of freedom, feelings that nothing and no one in hirearchy can tell me what is and what isn't acceptable. Well, anyway, I went to church with the kids and I took my mom. She doesn't get to church often, and asked me to bring her today. The mass intentions were for my dad and my idiot dead brother. That is another sorted story that I am not about to get into here.
As I sat there listening, participating, and actually hearing what was being said in scripture today, I realized that not many of the folks who go every week do listen and do hear. It was amazing that I just looked around and saw the glazed expressions on the teeny boppers, who I know their parents made them come to church today, I used to be one of them, I realizied that it really isn't the fact that you are there it is where your spirituality is that counts. The numbers are up in my church, but do these folks know why they are there? I don't know, I guess it just counts that they make the effort.
Anyhow, today, the GOSPEL was about the parable of the weeds. A man sowed a crop of Wheat, and an enemy put weeds into the newly budding plants. The GOspel read about Jesus' parables in regard to this story.
The priest said his homily about how we as modernday people interpert the "weed" theory.
Many people would like to "weed" out the cafeteria type catholics, or the non christians in their churches. These people are the ones that don't get it, the ones who are holier than thou. They would cast the first stone knowing that they themselves had better sheild themselves too. We all have done things we aren't proud of, we all have broken a comandment or two, but the point is that we don't know what the people sitting next to us have done, and they don't know what we have done. Hate the sin, love the sinner, isn't that what it is supposed to be? I would hope so.
I am not condemming anyone for their sins, not my job, I will be the first on line to admit that I have commited a few.
I enjoy going to church becasue I come away with something each time I go, I don't go and pray in rote monotone, I really understand what I am saying, I have examined who I am, and what I stand for, and am comfortable with that person, so why fix what I haven't broken?
This is open for discussion, and please, do comment, it makes for interesting stuff. Remember, I am expressing an opinion here, and don't judge those who do the same, so, please afford me the same courtesy.
M