Summer attire at Mass

[severus68]

Originally Posted by pnewton

Easily done. Just go to 2 Timothy 3:16 and read what Paul said:

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness

Remembering that the only Scripture that existed for Timothy and Paul was the Old Testament, we simply can not say that we live by the New. Paul clearly says that what is found in the Old Testament is still profitable for teaching and training in righteousness. Thus, one can not be a New Testament only Christian without cutting out sections like the verse above and throwing it in the garbage.

While most of what you say is not wrong, I think englishredrose is right too. While we should not disregard the OT completely, we are followers of Christ and His teachings. Christ made a new covenant with men and His greatest commandment was love. We are supposed to follow and live accordance to the teachings of Christ. We do not for example, adhere to the rules for punishments for wrongdoings contained in the OT.

Neither are we required to wash/bath before going to church/praying to God.

[irishpatrick]

A thought strikes me.

We read of Jesus' "Bread of Life" discourse in the Gospel of John, chapter six. In that discourse Jesus teaches that we must eat His Body if we are to have life within in us. Many people could not handle His teachings, so they left Him because the teachings were hard. Jesus did not call out to them or run after them to make them return, nor did He change His mind and say He was only using a metaphor.

Well, this forum conversation, and a hundred others, can be treated similarily. Jesus made His point many times in that discourse, and then He let it go. He allowed it to be up to each person to decide if what He taught was worthy to follow.

We have pounded this subject of clothes into the ground, and then back again, and again, and again. I think both sides know the points from each side. Either the points made about dressing well for Mass makes sense to people, or they do not.

No amount of additional discussion will change any person's mind, and while this subject is nowhere near the importance of Jesus' "Bread of Life" discourse, we can learn a lesson from our Lord--we should let people decide for themselves after we have thorougly presented our case, and the case for wearing nice clothes to Mass has been made--let everyone now decide for themselves!

[Portrait]

Originally Posted by superamazingman

Excellent point. The old testament is so awesome.

There's also some other good old testament passages to pull out when people complain about priests wearing expensive vestments.

Dear superamazingman,

Cordial greetings and a very good day.

The contents of the Old Testament can be very hortatory and we can glean many spiritual lessons from the lives of the men and women therein recorded, just as we can from the lives of the N.T. saints and, indeed, the saints throughout the ages.

Moreover, dear friend, we know from St. Paul that some O.T. incidents were specifically recorded in Sacred Scripture with a view to the admonition of N.T. saints (see I Cor. 10: 11). Thus what happened in the lives of the O.T. saints, including the incident of David and Bathsheba, can serve as a lesson for all time, for it is profitable to us as regards instruction in righteous living and the pursuit of holiness. Certainly in this respect the O.T. is very instructive for the faithful, at least as far as St. Paul is concerned. Of course not everything in the O.T. applies to us living under the new economy, but that does not mean that it should never be appealed to for homiletical purposes.


God bless.


Warmest good wishes,




Portrait



Pax

[englishredrose]

Originally Posted by pnewton

Easily done. Just go to 2 Timothy 3:16 and read what Paul said:

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness

Remembering that the only Scripture that existed for Timothy and Paul was the Old Testament, we simply can not say that we live by the New. Paul clearly says that what is found in the Old Testament is still profitable for teaching and training in righteousness. Thus, one can not be a New Testament only Christian without cutting out sections like the verse above and throwing it in the garbage.

All life is inspired by God....

[pnewton]

Originally Posted by englishredrose

All life is inspired by God....

Pantheism? Is all life inspired in the same sense of the word as Sacred Scripture?