What Should We Believe?

What Should We Believe?

McAllen Monitor Newspaper
January 8, 2006

To the editor:

My name is Adam Moya, and I am the one that gave the speech, now deemed "The Second Sermon," during the 6:30 Christmas Eve Mass at Holy Spirit. For the readers just finding out about this — let me catch you up to speed.

My family goes to church every Sunday to hear the same sermon. It always follows three topics: the Eucharist, Mary, and the Knights of Columbus. Quite frankly, I can only see two out of three of those worthy of a sermon. And every Sunday, we hear how the Eucharist is the center of our lives because it is Christ present in front of us. I agree. The Eucharist is one reason I remain Catholic.

However, I have an issue with what I am being asked to believe. We, as a parish, have been asked to believe that the Christ present in the bread and wine upon the altar is more valuable than the Christ found in the heart of a person. I refuse to believe so. Surely this would be sacrilegious to some. To those who would argue with me: What would you have me teach your children?

I have taught every grade from middle school to high school. I have taught students who do not care and students with more faith than I could dream of.

I teach your children. Would you have me tell them to show more respect to the Christ in bread and wine than to the Christ found in living people? I cannot bring myself to believe that God would ever ask us to kneel before an altar before we bent our backs to help a brother.

I see my priest show more respect towards bread and wine than towards my family. That is why I have spoken out. This is not an attack on my priest. This is a question of what we should believe.

God bless.

Adam Moya
McAllen



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