A Scottish minister of a previous generation recounted a dream to his congregation. He dreamed he had died and came to the Pearly Gates. To his dismay, he was denied entrance until he presented his credentials. Proudly the pastor articulated the number of sermons preached and the prominent pulpits occupied. But Saint Peter said no one had heard them in heaven. The discouraged servant enumerated his community involvement. He was told they were not recorded. Sorrowfully, the pastor turned to leave, when Peter said, "Stay a moment, and tell me, are you the man who fed the sparrows?"
"Yes," the Scotsman replied, "but what does that have to do with it?"
"Come in," said Saint Peter, "the Master of the sparrows wants to thank you."
Here is the pertinent, though often overlooked, point: great and prominent positions indicate skill and capacity, but small services suggest the depth of one's consecration.

-- Jones, G. Curtis

I entered the Church, filled within, completely, with the beauty that surrounded me. The gold embellishments of the columns, the stained glass that made the sun dance overhead all which seemed to praise God. Part of me was overwhelmed with many statues and pictures of the Saints. In awe I sat in the pew and prayed with Thanksgiving to God for the beauty that surrounded me.

I was unfamiliar with the service and what I was to do. We have all, I believe, had the same experience at one time or another in our lives. The process in each church is different yet I embraced the new experience I found myself in. For me, being in a holy place such as a church, it is a moment that I feel closest to God. Partway through the mass, communion was to begin and joy jumped within my soul. This was a sacrament that I knew and deeply felt moved every time I participated. I rose to join the rest of the congregation. A woman I considered a dear friend at the time grabbed my arm and pulled me back down to a sitting position in the pew. Quite agitated, she stated that I was not invited to Jesus’ table because I was not Catholic. In stunned dismay, and with tears brimming, just waiting to overflow, I sat watching as the congregation, broke bread in the spirit of Jesus’ name. I sat, I watched and then I prayed for forgiveness for the thoughts that were in my mind. I prayed for tolerance of a religion I did not understand and certainly was not feeling at the time, and that I did not believe in. To this day, I am filled with the same twinge of despair that I felt at the time as the memory envelopes me.

I am not here to disparage the Catholic religion; in fact my feelings now of the Catholic Church are one of gratitude. Without this experience, I would not be questioning my own beliefs in regards to God and the teachings in the Bible. I will also note that I have since been taught that it not just the Catholic Church that prohibits people from coming to the communion table and each church has their own reasons behind their policies. Yet it had, at the time, led me to wonder….what would Jesus had said at that very moment, if it was he and not I that was pulled back down into a seated position. Would he had sat there in stunned silence as I had, hurt and crying? It was this experience that converted me enough to no longer put a label on myself. I attend a Methodist church, but I do not consider my self Methodist. In fact, rarely do I call myself a Christian any more, I would rather tell people that I want to be more “Christ” like, and then live each day (with many mistakes I am sure) but always learning to be the best that I can be.  When I die, I want to hear as I enter heaven, "well done, my good and faithful servant."

My belief has come to this. God, the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit LOVES us. This is a love that is unconditional for any one that believes. “But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3: 21-26)

We must ask forgiveness of our sins. For those that truly feel sorry for what they have done, he will wipe them clean. Catholics, Baptists, Muslims, Christians, Methodists, Episcopal etc., He does not stand in front of us and say, I will forgive YOU but not you. I will love YOU but not YOU…..