“It startled me. It seemed so out of place” was the comment of a patron of the new downtown Schnucks Grocery Store in St. Louis, Missouri. While driving to work this morning, my wife and I were listening to commentary KMOX Radio on this issue and then I went online to get the story from St. Louis Today Website.
Basically the person who felt the Crucifix was ‘out of place’, (also was Jewish – I am in no means insinuating that all Jewish brothers and sisters feel this way) went out of their way to write a letter to their local Jewish Newspaper on this issue complaining about what many say is the ‘obvious symbol of not just Christianity, but Roman Catholicism, since the dying Corpus of Christ was placed on a Cross. Obviously people are disapproving of this display of someone’s faith, Culinaria (Store) Manager Tom Collora, Jr., who is a parishioner at the Old Cathedral, located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
"It's bad taste and bad business. Who wants to (shop) where someone else's faith is being pushed down your throat?" were the comments from an Atheist who lives next to the store. Personally, if this Atheist was so loyal to his cause, then he should not be using United States Currency, which displays this Country’s Faith… but this is not the point in my opinion.
What Mr. Collora has done, is answer the call of the New Evangelization, specifically the Mandate of Christ to ‘Go an make disciples’ by sharing our Faith; by sharing the Salvific Message of the Corpus of the Messiah on the Cross, which is not a sign of exclusion, but the opposite; this is the Glorious Sign of Inclusion into the Body (all pun intended) of Christ, who was ‘lifted up’, suffered, died and rose three days later in Triumph over death.
According to Pope Paul VI; the Roman Catholic Church exists so that She may Evangelize, taking the Eternal Message of Salvation to every end of the earth, every Home, Hamlet and Hovel; every Town, City, State, Country and Territory; Our (Roman Catholics) mission is to share the GOOD NEWS of Salvation through Jesus Christ to all mankind… and as Christ told us; “Do not be afraid!”
As one who has given up a secular life to continue to proclaim the Gospel, I applaud Mr. Collora and wish the other 1 Billion Catholics around the World would imitate his example.
"The cross is an ambiguous symbol which can mean one thing to one group and another to a different group," Modras said. "And for Jewish people (a crucifix) can mean, 'You are a Christ killer.'" This statement is perfect example of why we need continued Ecumenical and Inter-Religious dialog within all Communities. We, (Christians and especially Roman Catholics) should NEVER think of our Jewish ‘Brethren’ as a ‘Christ killer’, and if that be the case then that/those person(s) are obviously not properly educated theologically and most importantly are not truly Christians. We, Protestants and especially Roman Catholics, have our roots DEEP within the Jewish culture. The Source and Summit of our (Roman Catholic) belief system is given to us from the ‘stump of Jesse’, handed down through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; our Savior was born of a Beautiful Jewish Virgin, so we (Roman Catholics) ‘should’ NEVER make idiotic comments to our Jewish Brethren who have given us the Roots of our Faith; but yet this is still, especially for Roman Catholics, a ‘Teachable Moment’; a lesson of taking the Message of the Gospel to the entire world is this Mission or Vocation Proper of the Laity. There is no greater sign of Love (in my humble opinion) that seeing the Corpus of my God upon the Cross; being reminded that in His Death… rather Rising again from the dead… I will inherit Eternal Life.
My brothers and sisters, there IS no greater Love the Father has given us than offering up His only Son, for ALL mankind; Protestants, Roman Catholics, our Jewish Brethren, believers and yes even the Atheists and other unbelievers. If the sign of the Corpus ‘startles you’ then it might be a wakeup call for you to try to understand more fully it’s meaning…because when Jesus comes back, it will mean that EVERYTHING above the Earth, on the Earth and even in Hell, will truly know that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! Halleluiah…THANK YOU JESUS!
ברוך ה' אדוני Baruch HaShem Adonai! BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!
Tom Collora, Jr. – KEEP ON KEEP’ IN ON, my brother, you are BLESSED!
“Blessed are you when they persecute you and utter every evil in My Name.” ~ Jesus Christ
Evangelist Richard Lane, Qorban Ministries – www.CatholicEvangelist.net
I give credit in this blog and thanks to STLToday.com to where I got the picture from as well as the quotes in this article. Thank you very much STLToday.com as well as KMOX Radio in St. Louis, Missouri.
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