I have some things to do today, plus a babysitter-free Monday. I will blog this evening – lots, probably, since Michael is out of town tonight and tomorrow.

In the meantime, I leave you an open thread, with perhaps a suggestion that we offer prayers for peace today….

And I guess the only other thing I would say, before I leave is, in reflecting on these many, many comments – and thank all of you for your honesty and sharing – is this:

There is much to irk and scandalize us as Western Catholics. We may be dismayed by how unhelpful so many church leaders and teachers are in meeting our spiritual needs. So there’s no doubt that change is needed.

But whenever we get into these modes of heavy despair and frustration, I always find it important to warn against pride. That is, as you are mulling over these issues, are you being careful to try to tease out your authentic spiritual needs and yearnings from your pride? Are you really willing to concede God’s sovreignity and that, indeed, God is present in the liturgy that drives you crazy? Can you stop for a moment and open yourself to what God is saying to you in the here and now, rather than wishing you were someplace else so (you think) you could hear God more clearly?

Sure, God may indeed be telling you in the here and now to switch parishes, or find a monatery to be nourished at…but he may also be telling you to stay put, increase your attendance at those nice, peaceful daily Masses, and to take some of the time you use pouring over information that only makes you angrier about the church and give it to someone who really could use your gifts, instead – at the local pregnancy center, at the free clinic, along with the old guys at the St. Vincent de Paul society, visiting the imprisoned, visiting a nursing home….

I also, gingerly suggest that although we may sometimes be irked at the intensity of the pendulum swing – you know, rainbow and flowers Catholicism, etc – that for those who resist the message of God’s love and mercy – even though it might be incompletely presented – if you really resist it – you might want to think about that.

For I’m telling you, the Gospels are not about condemnation. Paul’s epistles aren’t either. Sure, they are about narrow paths and invitations that are rejected, but for those who have chosen the narrow path and accepted the invitation, the rest of the news is GOOD. Do you really believe that? If you find yourself grumbling about the priest who doesn’t seem to want to make you feel terrible about yourself…why? I have often found that the people who are most resistant and contemptous of the message of the joy we should find in God’s mercy are the people who need it the most. They are unhappy people who, for some reason, think that they know better than God, and that even though He says he loves them and wants to forgive them and give them joy….they really don’t deserve it.

All I’m saying, is that if you find yourself fighting against something, there might be a good reason for your fight. You might be right. Or – you might be wrong. You might want to ask….what do I have to lose if I let God speak to me through this moment and these words?