I Saw John Michael Talbot And Almost Strangled His Followers

[PhuturePriest]

Today I went to Mass with my sister and brother-in-law. John Michael Talbot had been invited to have a concert and do a talk after Mass, but of course he went to Mass and played a song after Communion (During a time that was completely against the rubrics of the Mass, but oh well). We first got there an hour and a half early to go to confession. We walked in, and we noticed people setting up tables in the church (Not the church hall, the church itself) and they were putting John Michael Talbot merchandise on it. To top it off, the ENTIRE time before Mass they were speaking incredibly loudly like it was a bloody social hall, talking at incredibly loud pitches, making jokes, and a lot of noise in general. My sister and I started laughing, because we immediately thought of Jesus in the Temple flipping the tables over. However, it progressed to where we got really annoyed, as we couldn't pray very well due to the excessive noise. I was quite tempted to walk over and explain that this was a house of God and of prayer, and that if they wanted to converse and tell jokes, to do it outside. However, my sister expressed that this was not a good idea, so I simply knelt down and prayed for them and their heathen ways.

 

The only bonus is that John Michael Talbot had a cool robe and a super long beard, so he looked like Dumbledore. 

[GeorgiiMichael]

You should have flipped tables. 

[PhuturePriest]

You should have flipped tables. 

 

I was tempted. And if people asked why, I would have replied "I thought, 'What would Jesus do?' and acted accordingly."

[Basilisa Marie]

That's really, REALLY disrespectful of him. You'd expect better from a monk.  Were they at least in the vestibule?

Edited November 17, 2013 by Basilisa Marie

[PhuturePriest]

That's really, REALLY disrespectful of him. You'd expect better from a monk.  Were they at least in the vestibule?

 

They were in the church, as in their tables were right behind the very back pews. There isn't really a vestibule, but still.

[blazeingstar]

That's really, REALLY disrespectful of him. You'd expect better from a monk.  Were they at least in the vestibule?

 

I wonder if they were JMT people coming to help or those from the parish who insisted.  When I went to a JMT concert he was a quiet, humble guy who did not perform during Mass, was certainly well aware of rubrics.   He went where he was told, and did what he was asked.  The priest wanted him fully up on the alter, which JMT, at least in my case, declined and sat just off the alter.

 

He had like 2 "his people" and relied entirely on the parish to sell his items as one of his people oversaw...the other helped with his sound.  In fact, I remember a parishioner jealously commenting that another got the sales gig.  During clean up my friend was chatting and I was literally loading JMT's sound equipment onto his truck with a few others.

 

When we clapped, he would turn and face the tabernacle and bow.  He did not seek any praise or grandure.  The only thing he pushed a bit hard on was money to rebuild as they just had the devastating fire.

 

My friend who's been to like 3-5 JMT events said it's always like that.

 

I don't know if he's really changed that much....I'd chalk it up to bad parishioners/locals that may have come in.

[Winchester]

One of the problems with reacting as Jesus might have is that He had much more information. And that it was His property. 

 

I wouldn't compare them to money changers because I doubt the money is going to enrich people as much as it's going to Catholic causes. I could be wrong.

 

It's likely they were being thoughtless instead of scummy. The problem with rebuking or attacking thoughtlessness is that it activates defensiveness. A gentle word to one person probably would be the best route.

 

But if that didn't work I WOULD BREAK OUT THE FLAMETHROWER AND UNLEASH HELL! I WOULD FLAY THE BASTARDS ALIVE! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHHA WOULDN'T THAT BE GREAT?

[Lilllabettt]

WWJD -  giving people permission to play God since at least 1990

[Winchester]

FP, I get the frustration. If you're the sort who can be gentle when pissed, then you can really help. I'm working on being a good Bokononist and assuming everyone really does mean well.

[ardillacid]

Except for the government

[ardillacid]

and the police

[Winchester]

Except for the government

That's the working on it part, you idiot.

[Norseman82]

I was tempted. And if people asked why, I would have replied "I thought, 'What would Jesus do?' and acted accordingly."

 

When people try to talk about being "Christlike", one of my favorite comebacks is "Why are we only supposed to imitate Christ when we are spit upon but not when it comes time to turn over tables?".

Edited November 17, 2013 by Norseman82

[ardillacid]

That's the working on it part, you idiot.

 

I had good intentions :cry:

[Winchester]

I had good intentions :cry:

I don't care.