Church Hours: 9:00 to 5:00

"Our church doors should always be open, so that if someone, moved by the Spirit, comes there looking for God, he or she will not find a closed door."

-- Pope Francis

 

Church Hours: 9:00 to 5:00, Friday through Sunday.  Have you ever seen this?  I have run into this numerous times traveling throughout the United States.  I'll be passing by a church and the Spirit will move me to stop in and have a moment of meditation, only to find the doors locked and a sign listing hours of operation.  Really, God?  I feel the urge upon me and the church is closed?  When did this start happening?

 

Well, I think this plays to the church spending so much money on pleasing God with "bling" instead of with worship.  For centuries churches and cathedrals have been pillaged for their gold and art.  It was only a matter of time before the doors would close when it wasn't supervised.

 

I have an idea that will assist the Pope with getting these doors back opened.  Let's take everything out of the church, bolt the benches to the floor, and hang a simple wooden cross high on the wall above the heavy marble alter.  There is nothing to steal, right?  Now we have created an open shelter for the homeless to occupy?  Maybe so, and maybe the priest will take a hint and start ministering to the poor or set up a separate "out building" for them.  Hey, if you do for the homeless maybe they'll help around the church and turn it into a real place of worship where the offerings go toward feeding the needy instead of feeding the church.  Maybe they will find God and a purpose in life.

 

Nothing say Christianity more to me than passing by a simple shrine in Mexico and seeing all the candles, flowers, photos and food that overflow from the enclosure.  This is worship.  When you take away all of the temptation what are you left with?

 

The Pope and I see eye to eye on so many things, getting back to what God needs is a crucial one.