Father Ignatius addresses his congregation

 

Father Ignatius was well aware of his responsibilities as a priest. He believed that every one like him, priest, vicar or pastor had a special responsibility towards God to lead as many lost sheep as possible into Heaven. It is no use being a "good" shepherd if no one follows you and are devoured by the wolves.

He noticed that day in day out his parishioners behaved in "real life" totally differently from what they were expected to do as Christians or as they purported to do. It is one thing to turn out to Church every Sunday and look saintly, and take Communion even, when moments later when they have left Mass they would shame Jesus Himself by their behaviour. He particularly noticed this during weekly Confessions when the same sins were repeated as a litany with little if any apparent remorse or intention to stop committing them. So he decided to tackle the matter head on.

On Sunday, he approached the lectern and said, "In today's Gospel of John Chapter 8 we read about the woman caught in adultery and the scribes and Pharisees brought her to Jesus to see whether He would agree to her being stoned to death according to the law. As you know, Jesus said let him who has not sinned throw the first stone.

"When everyone had gone Jesus said to the woman that He does not condemn her and forgave her sins; and He also added go and sin no more.

"Now this is important. Jesus did not mean do not sin any sin whatsoever ever more. He knew that as a human, she is bound to sin again. We all sin again and often. What Jesus meant is do not sin this particular sin again because it is serious enough to get you in trouble with the authorities as well as with God Himself.

"Jesus calls us to an alternative lifestyle of holiness; to go, and from now on sin no more.

"There is really no point in going to Church every Sunday and partake in the Sacraments of Confession and Communion only to wait until the Mass is over and then leave to disseminate amongst society and realign yourselves with the current prevailing morality.

"If you are going to behave like all those who do not go to Church and who do not believe what you believe then what is the point of going to Church? Are you just fooling me? Or fooling yourselves and your families and friends? Because I know for sure you are not fooling God.

"It is my responsibility as your priest to guide as many of you to Heaven as possible. Ideally, I would like to meet all of you in Paradise one day. I know that when I meet Jesus He will ask me how many people I have managed to bring to Heaven. It is no point being a shepherd and feeding the wolves.

"So please can you make my task a little easier by at least trying to live a Christian life as Jesus would want you to.

"Being a Christian is not a badge or a title; it is a way of life. A way of life in preparation for the next life in eternity. A difficult life it may well be; but the retirement package is well worth striving for."