The danger of Religion

The danger of Religion

The danger of what religion can do is very nicely brought out in a story told by Cardinal Martini, the Archbishop of Milan.


The story has to do with an Italian couple that's getting married.

They have an arrangement with the parish priest to have a little reception in the parish courtyard outside the church.

But it rained, and they couldn't have the reception, so they said to the priest,

"Would it be all right if we had the celebration in the church?"

Now Father wasn't one bit happy about having a reception in the church, but they said,

"We will eat a little cake, sing a little song, drink a little wine, and then go home."

So Father was persuaded.

But being good life-loving Italians they drank a little wine, sang a little song,

then drank a little more wine, and sang some more songs,

and within a half hour there was a great celebration going on in the church.

And everybody was having a great time, lots of fun and frolic.

But Father was all tense, pacing up and down in the sacristy, all upset about the noise they were making.

The assistant pastor comes in and says, "I see you are quite tense."

"Of course, I'm tense.

Listen to all the noise they are making, and in the House of God! for heaven's sake!"

"Well, Father, they really had no place to go."

"I know that! But do they have to make all that racket?"

"Well, we mustn't forget, must we, Father, that Jesus himself was once present at a wedding!"

Father says, "I know Jesus Christ was present at a wedding banquet,

YOU don't have to tell me Jesus Christ was present at a wedding banquet!

But they didn't have the Blessed Sacrament there!!!"


You know there are times like that when the Blessed Sacrament becomes more important than Jesus Christ.
When worship becomes more important than love, when the Church becomes more important than life.
When God becomes more important than the neighbor.
And so it goes on.
That's the danger.

Awareness

Anthony de Mello