"I can't preach that"

yesterday at Mass..
our priest said this..
"I can't preach that."
he was talking about hate..
a Baptist church protested Elizabeth Edwards funeral..
her funeral!
they believe God killed her for something she said..
Ms. Edwards had said she went through feelings of disappointment,
when her 16 year old son died..
wondering why didn't God spare him..
the Baptist believe this is why "God gave her breast cancer"..
this sign was held high..
it read..
"Thank God for breast cancer!"
what!?
our priest said he could not preach this thinking..
these baptist are living in the old testament pathos of God..
without looking at God through the lens of Jesus,
without Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church,
these are the interpretations and beliefs American Christianity espouses..
this is why Tradition is so important!
without Tradition,
one can interpret the scripture however one wants..
make it mean whatever..
John the Baptizer wasn't sure anymore about Jesus..
from his jail cell he sent his followers to ask Jesus if He was the One..
maybe because Jesus wasn't filled with rage and in people's faces..
like an old testament prophet..
like John the Baptist had been with King Herod..
Jesus told the folks John had sent..
"Tell John the lame walk, the blind see, the poor are hearing the good news.."
I don't think Jesus would be carrying a sign that read,
"Thank God for breast cancer!"

wkm
nashville