re: Pope Denounces ‘Hypocrisy’ of Those Who Criticize LGBT Blessings

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Some of you worship the Catholic church and it's "traditions" more than you worship Jesus Christ.

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Wow! Just Wow! As it applies to 'tradition' surprise the Catholic Church is a family. Families gather tradition and pass those traditions on to future generations.

Examples of Catholic tradition? Reflecting on the Lives of the Saints (they were people just like us), and celebrations including families praying the Rosary together. The Rosary being a repetitive pray using biblical excerpts from the.....(wait for it).....The Bible. Another tradition - Lent. We're about to begin the Season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday I will participate in another ancient tradition. I will receive ashes in the form of a Cross on my forehead. On Holy Thursday I will participate in another Catholic tradition - a Holy Hour(s) with Jesus in the garden. I will respond to Our Lord's biblical plea "can you spend one hour with me?"(Matthew 26:40). I will try to console Him as He suffers in the Garden. During that solemn time I will reflect on various scripture passages, especially on our Lord's Passion that follows the next day (Good Friday).

The ashes come from the burned palm branches leftover from Palm Sunday. We waved some palm branches as the Priest Celebrant (acting as Persona Christi) enters the Church for Palm Sunday Holy Mass. In that we wave the palm branches we are replicating the Hosanna Moment when the people welcomed Jesus as he entered Jerusalem prior to beginning His Passion. Without a doubt the Easter Triduum is one of my favorite liturgical celebrations. So on Ash Wednesday I will step up to the altar (as in a Catholic version of the protestant Altar Call)and the minister will recite these words as he/she applies the ashes,"Remember - you are dust and to dust you shall return" - (Genesis 3:19). For me personally, it reminds me that I am old and soon my diseased old body will surely die and overtime return to dust. But my soul will live on for all eternity - Free at last, good God almighty free at last.

Having said that, we should pray for each other. We Protestants and Catholics have more in common, than separates us. Hey, maybe you should consider joining me to receive the ashes on Ash Wednesday?. Trust me it's a powerful moment.

Regardless, I hope you have a peaceful Holy Lent.