Is God a Hypocrite?

Why doesn't the Catholic Church just give in? Are they that old fashioned and rigid in their ways that they can't even see what is right any more? What is the deal?

Sooner or later, the secular agenda will wear down the rigid idealism of the Pope. Or at least those of a liberal mindset would like to think so.

Gay rights. Reproductive rights (abortion rights). Marriage for priests. Female priests. Gay priests. If radical liberals had their way, the Pope would be a married lesbian with no children because of an exercised right to abort them all, but with a few embryos in the freezer in case they were deemed useful at some point.

Almost everything in the media these days touts how gay marriage is the new pinnacle of a free and virtuous society, how new abortion rights for women finally loose the yoke of childbearing, how secretly gay priests have finally fully realizing their God given vocation, and how the Catholic Church is creating priest pedophiles by requiring celibacy. Yet the Catholic Church still insists on preaching that such things are not right! Why?

Despite the grievous sins of some catholics, the Catholic Church is still guided by the Holy Spirit.  2000 years later. And no matter how sensationalized or scandalized the Church appears to the public eye it WILL NOT change by public opinion. So, if God's Word says that fornicators go to Hell ("lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death." (Rev. 21:8)) and if God instituted marriage between a man and a woman ("Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh." (Gen. 2:24)) then the Church, which is guided by God's same Spirit that inspired the words of scripture, can not accept the gay lifestyle. That would condone something which does not bring life, is contrary to the Gospel, and would make God a hypocrite.

But what about pedophile priests then? They preach love and then go and abuse kids. First, ALL priests are NOT pedophiles. A very small number of priests worldwide have fallen to the same allurement of fornication that many with homosexual attractions fall to. This indeed is a grave evil, and so the Church does not condone it. Individuals in the Church may act as hypocrites, but the Church in no way approves of those actions.

The irony is that as progressive as liberals think they are, they are actually advancing a morally regressive agenda. The Church is the one working to advance a morally progressive agenda. Not an easy task this day and age. And as much as it may drive any liberals crazy the truth is that the Catholic Church is not going to change to accommodate their desires for "reform." The agenda of the Catholic Church is the same today as it was 2000 years ago. To proclaim the truth in a world that hates it.

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18)

Summer of Children

We are almost half way through summer now. So I had to take a break and reflect a bit on this most splendid of seasons. It is sad at times how fast time goes by as we get older. I know God has his plan and his purposes, but it is hard not to recall with delight the seemingly endless summers of childhood.

Whether it was the carefree timelessness or just so many years being ahead of me still, time just seemed to take longer when I was younger. Everything lasted longer. Pop-sickles lasted longer. Car rides lasted longer. Even sunsets seemed to last longer. I wonder why that was? Regardless, it is something I never appreciated as much as I do now.

As a child, long days and warm weather meant much activity and many an adventure. Exploring in the woods, pretending they were ancient burial grounds. Catching frogs, turtles, crayfish, mice, worms, bugs, and of course fireflies. Running through vast fields. Climbing trees. Getting poison ivy. Collecting "rare" stones that I imagined were precious jewels. Picking vegetables from the garden and peaches from fruit stands. Jumping in mud puddles on rainy mornings. Building forts. Sun brewed iced tea. Collecting and trading baseball cards. Spotting dragon shaped clouds. Flying kites. Catching fly balls and hitting a homer. Dairy Queen. Every fish I caught seemed huge, and the really big ones were scary. Playing make-believe. Running so fast that I was on the verge of flying. Mid-day naps. And of course, watching the sun set. All in a good summer's day.

It is hard to not ask, "What happened?" Where did time go? Where did all these burdens, cares, sufferings, and anxieties come from? What changed?

I don't have all the answers, but I sure can see that children just "get" life.  And as we get older, we just "forget" life. Jesus reminds us of the special gift in being like a child. "And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matt. 18:2-4)

As the days get shorter and night once again get longer, I long for the summers of years past. For lemonade and hooking lilly pads instead of bass. For dreams of far off expeditions and hand picked raspberries. There is something good about the care-free spirits of children that have yet to be weighed down by the burdens of life. And there is something good about that part of us that longs for endless days and eternal joy.

"And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light shall the nations walk; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it, and its gates shall never be shut by day -- and there shall be no night there." (Rev. 21:23-25)

The Default Option

There seems to be a growing if not thriving current in our society today that loves Hell, death, demons, witches, or anything evil. If you don't believe me, simply stop by your local video store (even "Family" Video). At least fifty percent (or more) of the films on the shelf have sinful, evil, or even satanic themes.

(Note: You may be feeling inclined to stop reading at this point because of my harsh language. All I have to say to that is, TIME TO FACE REALITY!)

The paradox of this lies in the fact that a majority of those drawn to this genre of entertainment would probably deny the reality of Hell. Or maybe it is that they would just deny the possibility that they could spend eternity there. It seems that as long as Hell is consigned to entertainment it is okay, but once it becomes a serious topic for discussion in our lives then it becomes taboo. At least for most people. But then there are those who believe in it and embrace it, and this is a growing group of people.

I recently heard a story about the late Bishop Sheen flying on an airplane a while back and turning down the meal offered to him because it was a Friday and he was fasting. Then the lady sitting next to him did the same thing. When he asked the lady if she was Catholic too, she replied, "No. I'm a witch, and I'm fasting for [more] abortions."

Well, the devil has definitely found a strong advocate in the entertainment industry and modern media. It seems that Satan saw the potential for these things as tools of evangelization to evil a while before Christians caught on. Think of the potential of all God's children really used their gifts for his glory in this world. The internet would be more AMAZING than we know. But we are all to often lulled into accepting  things as they are.

Hell is REAL!

In the end you have one of two options. Heaven OR Hell, period. There are no other choices. You may not be comfortable with the idea, and that is good because it should make you so uncomfortable that it prompts you to do something about it. And I'm sorry to say it, but the default option is not Heaven.

"Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven—through a purification or immediately,—or immediate and everlasting damnation." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1022)

Thank God he has given us another option. Heaven is REAL too!

Well, then I choose Heaven. Have a good day....HOLD IT! We need to remember that this is a daily decision that we have to respond to with our lives. The devil has agents out working over time to get us to not choose Heaven. That's right all you have to do is NOT choose Heaven, in order to get the default option. And as long as you are still on Earth, Hell is still a possibility.

"Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, 'Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.' He answered, 'He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.'" (Matt. 13:36-43)

We can't grow lazy! When was the last time you even thought about this reality? Because it is a reality. Where are you headed? Where are your loved ones headed? Where are people around you headed?

But remember, even if Hell is always an option, so is Heaven, and God gives second and third chances. If the salvation of your soul and those around you isn't a high priority, then let me suggest that it should be. I've heard that eternity is a long time.

At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love. -St. John of the Cross

God's Family Time

Yesterday was the memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary (held by Catholic tradition). They are such inspirational models of faith for us in this day and age. I can only hope to be a fraction as good of a father as Joachim, raising a daughter that was completely open to God's will in her life such that she would bear his Word more fully than any other created person ever. Though I have a LONG way to go to be such a man, we received quite a nice complement yesterday evening.

My wife and I enjoy going out jogging with our daughter in a stroller some evenings. As we were returning home one of our neighbors, who was driving by at the time, slowed down to say, "What a beautiful family!"
While I was flattered, I could only attribute any truth in that statement to God's grace and mercy.

These two events were a prompting to think about God's family and where I fit into His family. Then I thought, "Am I a very good son? How much time do I spend with God? Am I a regular part of the family? Does He enjoy my company as much as I enjoy that of my wife and daughter?" Then I started thinking more. How many of those who God has given life to spend much time with him? How many of us just get wrapped up in our work at times? How does God feel when he is ignored? How would I feel if my daughter paid no attention to me?

The other day, my wife mentioned to me how much she loves my daughter. I knew how she felt.  And if we love our children that much, how much more does God love us? How much time have we spent with our Heavenly Father today?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

A Problem of Authority

I was pondering blogging about any number of issues on my mind right now from discipline to how the Bible was compiled to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, then as I was doing a couple brief google searches on a couple topics I came across any number of websites (some of other christian traditions) that claimed the Bible was a scandalous cover-up for this or that reason or the Bible proved this point or that point simply based on what they wanted it to imply.  Such things are bothersome to me for multiple reasons, but most of all because the Word of God is not meant to be abused and manipulated for personal agendas. When so many groups (of selfish intent) hold up their interpretation of the Scriptures as "defense" for their personal views the Bible starts to lose it's value in the eyes of man. But fortunately God's Word has it's own agenda.

So where do all of these interpretations get their authority, such that they can claim such things? Well, I'm sure that most, if not all, of them would claim that their authority comes from the Holy Spirit because they were inspired to proclaim them. This CAN NOT be true. The Holy Spirit would not inspire some people to compose the Bible then tell other it is not true. Contradiction goes against the very nature of God as the absolute Truth. For the same reason the Holy Spirit can't inspire two conflicting interpretations of Scripture. So how are we to know what scripture really means? Well, instead of taking scripture out of context like is being done. Let's look at scripture in context. What is the context of scripture? What was the context in which it was written and composed? Hey, there is a novel question!

The Bible didn't just drop out of the sky. The Gospels and Letters of the New Testament were composed in the midst of the preaching and witness of Christ's Apostles in the first century (note: the books of the bible were finally compiled in the forth century). As the Apostles and their disciples traveled and preached the Good News and ministered to the early church, following Christ's death, they first shared the faith orally (by word of mouth) but also wrote letters and soon took down the accounts of the Apostle's memories of Christ. This oral sharing of the faith along with the written sharing of the faith from the time of the Apostles in succession is what the Catholic Church refers to as Tradition. We know that Jesus' life entailed more than what is just in the scriptures.

"But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." (John 21:25)

We can get a fuller picture of who Jesus was and what he did if we look at the entire Tradition left to us by the Apostles, and knowing the fuller picture of who Jesus was can help us to better understand what we read about him in the scriptures. Well okay, but how do we know what oral teaching about Jesus the Apostles shared? The Apostles (first Bishops) would ordain other Bishops (or Popes) with whom they had shared the faith. And those Bishops ordained other Bishops and so on, in succession from the early church to today. In this way the oral teaching of the Apostles as well as their writings in scripture find their way to our present day. So you see how Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) is taking the Bible out of context if there is more to understanding it than just the words on the pages.

Okay, but where does the Catholic Church get it's authority for interpretation of scripture? You know how I mentioned the Apostle's written and oral teaching being passed on in succession through the Bishops and Popes? Well, as the deposit of faith was passed on, so was the authoritative teaching office (Magisterium) that was given them by Christ.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matt. 28:19)

Thus we have the Magisterium (the Pope and Bishops) of the Catholic Church as the teaching authority of the Church to help us in gaining a fuller understanding of Scripture and to preserve the Church from error of faith. So, why are there so many people all claiming to have authority now if Christ clearly passed down the fullest understanding of his Word in a certain way? Well, when Martin Luther decided to split off from the Catholic Church he was also splitting off from all the Bishops and therefore the Apostolic Tradition of the Church. And since it is in the Apostolic Tradition that the fullest understanding of Christ and scriptures is obtained, he had no choice but to deny Apostolic Tradition and rest all authority on scripture itself. Which is a problem when it comes to interpreting what scripture really means. Now we find ourselves right back where we started.

For more information on the above reflection please see the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults at: http://books.google.com/books?id=YUaqYm-7AKwC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA21#v=onepage&q&f=true

A Divine Shot

As a new father, one of the more difficult realizations I'm coming to is the need to do things to (or allow things to happen to) my children that may hurt them temporarily but be to their benefit in the long run.

So today my daughter goes in for her first big round of vaccinations at the pediatrician. This has been quite an issue of concern for my wife and I as there are many opinions and issues with the subject, including the use of aborted fetal cells in some (good guidance on this subject), but that is another topic for another day. Anyways, even after weighing all the issues and discerning what is best at this point in time, the thing that tares at my heart in the end is the pain of the shots.

I know it is part of life, but when I look at our sweet little girl something inside of me just wants to keep her safe and keep all pain away for the rest of her life. But I know that isn't the reality of the world we live in. She will experience pain and suffering. Some of it will be the result of her decisions and some will not. But my prayer for her is that in the end it be to the benefit of her soul and the glory of God. 

It is quite amazing that God can bring good out of evil. But the thing that strikes me more in this particular instance is how God allows evil or suffering in order to bring a greater good out of it.

Let's take the most extreme example. What is the worst evil in the world? Answer: Deicide (The killing of God). God the Father allowed the killing of his Son so that we could gain redemption and Christ might be glorified. Pretty amazing huh?!

I know my daughter's shots are nothing in comparison to our Lord's crucifixion, but it just reminded me of how throughout our daily lives God allows us to endure different pains and sufferings so that we might grow in holiness. As easy as it may be to talk about, the hardest part from my experience of suffering has been accepting it. How do we embrace our cross? I guess this is a question for each of us personally. 

It must hurt God greatly to see our world in so much pain. That must be why he has prepared such a grand banquet for those who endure till the end.  Kind of like the lolly-pop kids get after shots. It may be tempting to scream and run away and never talk to your parents again because they let you get hurt, but they only allowed it knowing how much worse not getting vaccinated could be.

"For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." (Heb. 12:6)

What vaccinations have you received lately?

Freedom vs. License

"From its outset, human history attests the wretchedness and oppression born of the human heart in consequence of the abuse of freedom." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1739)

Once again prompted by the preaching of Fr. John Corapi in his series Come Home to the Catholic Church, I felt a need to offer some clarification on the subject of Freedom.  The word freedom has been twisted and stretched and abused every which way in this country.  We are a country of freedom, but I propose that we don't even understand what freedom is.

As Americans we pride ourselves in our freedom or "ability to do what we want."  And that is where the problem lies.  Words are very important and if we don't understand what they mean, then we may easily be fooled or manipulated by their use.  Besides, understanding freedom as the ability to do what we want can't be true since we have laws.  Why do we have laws when we regard freedom so highly?  Well, I think it is that someone at some point in American history had common sense, and they established laws so we would respect our freedom.  But rather than respect our freedom we have begun to abuse our freedom, which simply undermines the law.  For example, (using Fr. Corapi's example) if something that is detrimental to the moral good, such as pornography, is made legal, then the law which is meant to protect our freedom actually hurts us by destroying our freedom and disregards the very purpose of the law.

You see, freedom has it's root in the love and service of God and others. "Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God." (1 Peter 2:16) So, permitting that which hurts or destroys our relationship with God or others can't be called freedom. Rather, the correct term is license.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, license is defined as: "a: freedom that allows or is used with irresponsibility, b: disregard for standards of personal conduct : licentiousness."

So, what has happened that we have gotten to this point in our country? Well, the Prince of Lies has propagated this very simple misunderstanding through a few generations, and now those who never came to understand the difference between freedom and license have risen to positions of authority where they may establish laws respecting license and abusing freedom. The irony is that those who establish laws permitting licentiousness are undermining and destroying the very laws they are responsible to uphold (which are meant to protect freedom) and in so are destroying not only the laws themselves but also the nation and souls of millions.  Our country's law makers have put us on the road to becoming "The Land of the Licentious and the Home of the Coward."

It is now our job to remind people of the true meaning of freedom, and the corruption of license. "And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:32) 

The Vatican Necropolis Scavi (Roma - part 2)

I spoke previously about how taken I was when visiting Rome for the first time last year.  It was a very spiritually moving experience for me to be where the first Christians fought and died for our faith.

One of my favorite parts of our trip was the tour of the excavations (scavi) of the Vatican Necropolis (city of the dead) beneath St. Peter's Basilica.  I had heard that it was "thought" that St. Peter's remains "may" be buried under the basilica. (I must be a little like St. Thomas)  Now in all honesty after visiting the excavations myself, I have no reason NOT to believe completely.  It is an absolutely incredible experience to see the bones of that great Apostle Peter.

Even from the early days of the Church, Christians had great respect and reverence for Peter, as the first Pope, the Rock upon whom Christ would build his Church.  So through all the trials and tribulations endured in Rome, the Christians took great care to safeguard Peter's remains.

Now, looking at all the history and even the scientific evidence pointing to the validity of Peter's remains, it is still tempting to contrive some sort of theory of conspiracy or reason for doubt. But I must say that actually experiencing it is very humbling and moving (once again much as St. Thomas' experience). When personally beholding the remains of that zealous and all too human fisherman from Galilee, his life becomes a reality in one's consciousness unlike ever before.

If you every get a chance to visit Rome, please do not pass up the opportunity to join a Scavi tour. You will not regret it.

Information on how to get tickets for a Scavi tour can be obtained at: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/uffscavi/documents/rc_ic_uffscavi_doc_gen-information_20040112_en.html

If unable to make the visit, a very wonderful virtual tour of the Vatican Necropolis Scavi may be viewed at: http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/necropoli/scavi_english.html

"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do men say that the Son of man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.'" (Matt. 16:13-19)

Excommunication Latæ Sententiæ

If you have never listened to any talks by Fr. John Corapi, then you absolutely must.  He indeed is a prophetic voice for our age, telling the truth as black and white.  He does have a booming voice and can come across as a bit harsh, but if you are seeking the truth, then what he says can be quite refreshing.

The series I'm currently listening to is titled Come Home to the Catholic Church.  I won't go into much detail about it besides that at one point he calls out Pro-Choice "Catholic" Politicians.  He says, you can not be Catholic and Pro-Choice.  It simply is not a possibility in our universe.  Then he goes on to say that those who knowingly promote the murder of the most innocent of humanity are EXCOMMUNICATED by the very virtue of their willful act of promoting abortion. Yes, that is right, they are EXCOMMUNICATED. Oh, that big scary word. Let me say it again, EXCOMMUNICATED!

Now let me conduct some clarification, before we go much further.  Excommunication is too often misunderstood as a vindictive punishment cast down by the big mean Church upon those who are simply trying to serve God in their own way instead of how the Church orders them to. Oh, don't the partial truths of Satan always sound so good?!  The Church is our mother and when Excommunication is declared it is with medicinal and spiritual intent, meaning "not so much to punish the culprit, as to correct him and bring him back to the path of righteousness."¹ Our mother has our best interest in mind.  And we don't need our mother to tell us we did something bad in order to have actually done it.  Committing a grave mortal sin by the nature of the act separates us from Christ's body (excommunication latæ sententiæ).  Should we recognize the sin for what it is, confess it, and repent (story of the Prodigal Son) we would find Christ and His Church waiting with open arms welcoming us back.  However, if we don't recognize our sin, our mother may need to warn us of the punishment we face or declare what we have done to offend Christ (excommunication ferendæ sententiæ) in hope that we may still turn back to him.  You see God's love shows forth even in the most severe of punishments handed out by the Church.

When our "Catholic" political leaders declare themselves moral theologians and excuse and promote the murder of innocent children in the womb, it is their very efforts to advance abortion that achieves them excommunication. That is the truth. They are excommunicated. Period. Whether or not the Church has declared them such publicly or not. And so we must pray for their return to the truth and the Church.

"Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. 'A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae, by the very commission of the offense,' and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law. The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2272)

Now that you know the truth, you must share it with other so that they may be set free from the lies of the evil one.

Note: The Catholic Church's full teaching on excommunication is much broader than what has been distilled above. For an in depth study on excommunication please visit: ¹http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05678a.htm

Sufferings of this Present Time

The other day when I was speaking with my mom, we started discussing how anti-christian this country is becoming. It seems to get worse every day. Our leaders rejecting their faith or inventing their own doctrines. Those in authority seemingly poised for the genocide of the unborn.  Those who appear to have power speak fancy words like double tongued serpents. You see how Eden is never that far?  We are continuously allured with lies that seem good but kill us in the end. How long will we buy the lie? I'll tell you. Until we see God, realize our shame, and are kicked out of the garden!

Not only do we have to deal with difficulties in the public square, but we have to deal with everyday struggles to provide a living, care for loved ones, deal with sickness, and manage the demands of the modern world.  How can anyone manage it? How can anyone deal with all this world throws at them and keep their faith, let alone become a saint like we are called to? It just doesn't seem possible if you look at the big picture. No wonder there are so many drug commercials on TV. A country without God needs something to cope.

I think it is time we all stop (and I'm talking to everyone of any faith or none) and look around us. If things are getting worse, what have we changed? Any good company does audits to make sure they catch any problems before it is too late. Well it is just about too late in this country. An honest review would acknowledge that conditions have been getting worse. Sure everyone appears to have a higher standard of living, but in most cases it is just a lie built on debt.

So why so many problems in such a prosperous country? It is because the light of the world has been hiding under a bushel basket, the salt of the earth has lost it's savor. Christ's Church is supposed to bring Christ's life to the world. And we Catholics have been starving ourselves. With only 20% of Catholics attending Mass regularly and receiving the sacraments, there is a deficiency of sanctifying grace in this country. We are only receiving 1/5th of the nourishment we need to bring REAL change in this world. Can you image how you would feel day to day if you cut your diet down to 1/5th?

How long can we endure this? For that faithful remnant, the suffering to be endured can often feel too great.  And despair can start to set in.

We must remember that God's weakness is greater than our strength. So when all the forces of evil, even those brought about by our own neglect or sin, appear ready to charge down on us. There still is no reason to fear. Because it is God's power in the smallest stone of the weakest boy that with one hurl brings down the giant. You see, God uses those who appear insignificant to win the victory. So if you feel insignificant, count yourself fortunate. But remain faithful.  God was only willing to spare Sodom because of the faithful remnant.
And how do we remain faithful? Seek always to grow in your understanding of God (intellect/relationship) such that you may know his will, and continue to receive God's sanctifying grace in the sacraments (food) so you can do his will.

And recall frequently Paul's words to the Romans, "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Rom. 8:18)

Life on Demand

The microwave, the TV, the internet, the cell phone, the automobile, et cetera, et cetera.  Isn't technology amazing.  We can do things people never even dreamed of 50 years ago.  And we are doing things people didn't want to dream about 50 years ago.  The advancement of technology has definitely served the good of humanity in numerous ways.  However, it seems to appeal to human vice as well as the good.  Part of what I'm speaking about with vice is how getting things faster or easier appeals to our impatience and selfishness. If you can get what you want now, then why wait? If you can get what you want, with the same perceived results, then why wait for something else?

Since the increased objectification of human beings (that came with the sexual revolution of the 60s and 70s) has coincided much with the technological revolution, it seems that it was only a matter of time till sexuality, humans, and life itself became on-demand.  Two very relevant and disturbing examples came to my attention within the past day.

The first example is the use of aborted fetal cells in vaccines.  That's right.  Many people have been up in arms about the use of mercury in vaccines when much worse was the case.  Dead babies are being dissected and manipulated for use in the development of a number of vaccines, such as polio.  Murdered children have become a commodity for preserving the lives of those not murdered.  "Why would anyone do this?" you might ask.  Well, the only logical answer is that it is easier than finding an alternative.

The second example is the use of fertilization technology for the selection and preservation of embryonic children.  This revolutionary opportunity allows for childbirth when you want it and how you want it.  In this case, children are created and literally frozen in the embryonic stage for later implantation.  So IVF (in vitro fertilization) now not only allows you to chose the sex of your child (discarding all those of the opposite sex) but also when to have it, regardless of the age of the mother.

Can anyone seriously see this starting to get better any time in the near future? All these revolutions mixed with human vice have resulted in the loss of human dignity. We are no longer beings. We have now become Human Objects available for use by anyone else for any purpose. The value of being human has changed from worth from being a child of God to worth from what others can use you for. So, how much are you worth?

"And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." (Gen. 1:31)  Ah, thanks God, but we'll take it from here. (sarcasm)

If you are interested in reading more about either of the above examples please visit the following sites.

• Vaccines using aborted fetal cells: http://www.catholic.org/health/story.php?id=37371&page=1
• Freezing an embryo for later use: http://www.marymeetsdolly.com/blog/index.php?/archives/976-IVF-is-not-just-for-infertility-but-human-manufacturing-to-specs.html

The Fruit of the Tree of Life

"In John 6:51 we hear Jesus - I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever. Notice he says - eats ..will live forever.

These words are used in only one other verse in the Bible. Genesis 3:22 - Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever." Jesus, who died on a tree (acts 5:30), continues to say in the discourse that we are to eat his resurrected flesh and blood for eternal life. The cross is the new tree of life and Jesus is the fruit of the tree." (Dan Egan, bibletidbits.blogspot.com)

I love reflections on the Garden of Eden. Perhaps you could tell by the fact that it is reflected in this blog's title. This particular reflection caught my attention from a list of 10 tidbits that Dan gave this morning on the Son Rise Morning Show (you should check out the whole list on Dan's blog).
 
God's plan of salvation is so beautiful. We can see here in this example, how even from the beginning, God knew what he would do to offer us a way out of the tragedy of sin in which we had become ensnared.  God's original intent for us to live forever has not changed regardless of how we responded to him, and he provides the perfect means for us to undo what we did in rejecting him. He patiently and lovingly helps us to see to see his plan.  Sheesh, he has spent over 4000 years or so (biblicly speaking) just trying to get us to undo what we did in one moment.  And still many of us struggle in accepting God's plan each day.
 
We chose against God by eating of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and now God offers us a chance to choose for God by eating of the fruit of the Tree of Life.
 

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." (John 6:51) Let's reflect on this a bit as we approach the alter this week to receive the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
 
It is ever so true that "we become what we eat." What are you having for Supper?

Law of Love

I was going to write on another subject today, but a very interesting list came to my attention this morning. So that other subject will have to wait for another day.

The list of which I speak is titled "Ten Facts Most Catholics Don't Know (But Should!)" by Gary Zimak, Founder of Following the Truth Ministries. When I first heard Gary's list of facts I was very intreagued. However, one of the comments following the article, which was posted by a returning Catholic, took the perspective that the list was somehow discouraging or even a list of oppressive laws. Now I must say that this way of thinking is not foreign to me, seen as I once thought this way as a Protestant.

Even if this was just a list of laws. What is so bad with that? I mean, don't we all hold the Ten Commandments in high regard?  Even so, the view that the Catholic Church is a legalistic institution that just tells its members what to do with no sensitivity is believed by many outside and inside the Church. And the truth is that no one really "likes" laws.  Well except for those who are really holy. People like King David (or Psalmist) who said, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Ps. 1:1-2)

Now hold it, that was the Old Testament. We are living in the New Testament now. Well okay, then how about the fact that Jesus himself held people to a higher standard than the law (i.e. adultery, murder, etc.) and said, "For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished." (Matt. 5:18)

But didn't Jesus want us to live by the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law? Okay, then what is the spirit of the Law? What is God's heart's intention for the Law? What is he really getting at or what does he want? In one word, OBEDIENCE. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15) And whose will was Jesus accomplishing? The Father's. So Jesus is essentially telling us that if we love him (God) we will obey the Fathers will. And who gave us the law (which Jesus came to fulfill)? The Father.

Okay, so God wants obedience to his law. Isn't that still legalistic? Yes, if you don't recognize the Father's love for you. But if you see how God's law is the manifestation of his love for us and meant to protect us, then the Law becomes liberating.

God's love wrapped up in his laws can be seen when Jesus tells us the greatest commandments. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." (Matt. 22:36-40) God's love can also be seen in his first command that we not eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but the disobedience of our first parents damaged our love for God.

God always has our good in mind, especially with his laws. And in giving the Church the ability to bind and lose on Earth, Jesus was giving us the great gift of a Church to guide us as a loving mother. Though we may not like what our mother says, she has our best in mind. So shouldn't we love the instruction of the Church which comes from God?

A Scandal-Free Church

You may have just read this post's title and thought "Ooh intriguing. 'Bout time those Catholics try to get their act straight?" Or perhaps you thought "Is this some new fad diet?" Or maybe you didn't think either of those things. Any way "scandal" and "church" are two words we are not unfamiliar with lately.

I must say that the greatest scandal of the Church is that it welcomes sinners. Now hold it, New York Times, before you go and publish some slander, make sure to get your facts right, and this is an issue you want to take up with Jesus Christ himself.

(Note: This reflection is intended to address the many misconceptions that segments of society are attempting to propagate from recent true wrongs of individuals in the Church. I in no way mean to downplay the severity of the tremendously horrid acts of sexual abuse of late that need to continue to be addressed thoroughly. I pray especially for healing for any victims of this evil.)

Yes, the Church is full of sinners. I myself being one of them, but by the grace of God. This issue of sinners has perhaps been overlooked by the New York Times because Jesus himself had the greatest response of all time to one who attempt to cast a stone at a sinner. And the unwillingness to look at this problem of sin causes the Media to completely overlook the fact that the Catholic Church was born in the midst of scandal. One of the first Bishops betrayed the Church's founder, other Bishops abandoned him, and the first Pope denied he even new him when a similar mob reared its ugly head about 2000 years ago. And even worse, our Founder was even seen associating with prostitutes!

I must also say that I partly understand the motive of the popular media to fix its gaze on issues in the Church. I mean, the Catholic Church talks so much about Saints and our need to become saints that the hypocritical contrast of what we strive to be versus where we are at right now makes great gossip. But that is the reality of the road we are on. It is hard to hide, and at times we don't want to hide it. For example, when you are heading on vacation all you like to talk about is where you are going, not work or school or wherever you came from. It is the same with Catholics. We know where we came from, but as we look ahead to where we are going, we can't help talk about it or people we know who are already there.

I came into the Catholic Church completely aware of the fallen character of many of its members but also aware of my own flaws. Unfortunately Jesus isn't offering a scandal-free Church. Though, if you are looking for a Gluten-free Church, I hear there is a Baptist congregation down the street with this appeal.

Yes Jesus Christ knew what was going on when he was inviting the sinful, fallen, and shameful to be apart of his followers. But it seems no one has mentioned that to the New York Times yet.

"And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, 'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?'And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.'" (Mark 2:16-17)

38,000 Ways, 1 God?

Listening to a talk by Jeff Cavins yesterday brought back some memories of some of my B.C. (before Catholic) years.  I remember in high school talking to a friend of mine at the time who was a Jehovah's Witness.  We were talking briefly about our faiths, and I was struck by how different our beliefs in who we thought was the same God were, though we both believed in Jesus.  This is the earliest I can remember of wondering why there are so many different belief systems among Christians.

One statistic I recently found says there are 38,000* Christian denominations.  Wow!  38,000!  Now, as a Protestant, I generally tried to take the stance that they are the spiritual body of Christ.  The Holy Spirit must be the one guiding all these groups of Christians.  Because after all Sacred Scripture tells us that there is One Faith, and we know that Christ established one Church not 38,000.  So, in order to make sense of this the Holy Spirit was the answer.  And this satisfied me for about another 10 years.

A few years post-college the Lord slowly helped me out of my comfort zone when needing to find a new church to attend.  Then questions of denominations and their differences started to rise up again.  I wanted to find not only the church that I was most comfortable at but the one that was most in line with the truth as I knew it.  Now I had to ask myself, "Which is the true Church?" and "Which Church is right?"  Those turned out to be dangerous questions.

Can all 38,000 denominations be right?  They all claimed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, yet they taught different and sometimes opposing ideas or doctrines.  Now, I'm not a great theologian or anything, but I knew that God can't contradict himself.  I think God has given us all enough reason to understand that.  God IS the Truth (as Christ said).  So there is one Truth.  And if so, then the Holy Spirit can not inspire two opposing truths.  Conclusion: some, if not most, denominations must be wrong.  Honestly, I did not like my own conclusion on this matter because that raised the potential that my own denomination was wrong on some things or at least didn't teach the fullness of the truth.

So, which denomination is teaching the truth actually inspired by the Holy Spirit?  If there is supposed to still be one truth, then it must have come from Christ.  This led me to history (dangerous territory for Protestants) and to Christ himself.

Which Church did Christ start?  "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18)

* http://christianity.about.com/od/denominations/p/christiantoday.htm

Roma - part 1

Just over a year ago, my wife and I were blessed with an opportunity to visit the Eternal City, Rome.  This city subsequently won over my heart.

It was almost surreal and a little intimidating to think that I was going to travel to the center of Christendom.  The very place that my brothers and sisters gave their lives millenia earlier to preserve the faith.  The place where both St. Peter and St. Paul ended their earthly jouneys.  So, there was plenty of excitement built in anticipation of this momentus trip.  Yet, I had no idea what I was really in for.

Once we arrived in Rome, it really took me a couple of days to really start to believe I was actually there.  But from the first day, the experience was everything and much more than I ever expected!  If I had to describe Rome with one word I think it would be "rich".  Rich in culture, tradition, sights, smells, tastes, and faith. 

How ironic that the center of the secular/pagan Roman Empire would become the center of Christianity.  I believe that if a person is truly seeking the fullness of truth, goodness, and beauty, they will not be able to help but be drawn deeper into the faith of the Christ's Church through the experience of Rome.  Since I can not help but speak of the beauty of Roma, this will surely be the first of many posts to come on the subject.

If you have never been able to visit Rome then start planning now.  In the mean time you can visit vitually at ItalyGuides.it.  Enjoy!

True Friendship

This morning as I was reading the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, the following paragraph jumped out at me:

"Through the use of reason, we can learn much about God from both creation and conscience, but Revelation enables us to learn about God's inner life and his loving plan to save us from sin and share in his divine life. No amount of unaided thinking could penetrate such a mystery. God freely chose to share this hidden mystery with us. God's sharing was an act of friendship for us, revealing himself as one reveals his or her heart to a friend. Love does such things." (chapter 2, p.12-13)

Is friendship a truly human experience?  When we move beyond the surface of communication to expose something about our inner lives, we start to become vulnerable, and something greater than ourselves is created.  True friendship can not always be two people just discussing their day and the weather and what they had for breakfast, but must cross an exterior boundary, to reveal something otherwise unknown about the individual offering friendship.  This is what God does in his love for us.  We can see a concrete example as Jesus refers to his disciples as friends.

"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15)

The disciples became friends of Christ because he revealed something of himself (the Father's plan of salvation) to them that they didn't know.  In the same way, are we not called to love one another and even our enemies?  If love is open to friendship, then aren't we called to open our lives and what God is doing in us to others we meet in a way that would welcome them as friends?  I think we must really ask ourselves how often we are in a rush or consciously avoid opening our lives to people we come across regardless of who they are.  How else will people see God in us?  How else can we be true disciples?

Return to Egypt or Enter the Promised Land

"And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day a year, you shall bear your iniquity, forty years, and you shall know my displeasure." (Num. 14:33-34)

Wandering 40 years in the wilderness was the result of the Israelites failure to trust what the Lord was doing by leading them into the Promised Land.  The people thought it would have been better to have died in Egypt in slavery or in the wilderness than to face the inhabitants of the land that the Lord wanted to give them with promised victory.

The Lord has done and continues to do great things for us, yet do we fail to trust what he is doing or where he is taking us today?  It is easy to dismiss this question, and that is why I am taking it up right now.

Recently I heard a wonderful priest say that being a Christian is a decision you have to make today.  And tomorrow.  And the next day.  If Christ is the Promised Land like the Church teaches us, then not choosing to enter into being a Christian each day (not entering the Promised Land) is a decision to remain in our old ways (the desert) or return to Egypt (slavery to sin).

I would like to propose a perhaps uncomfortable idea (for me as well).  That is that the comforts and distractions of modern life can often hinder us from choosing for the more difficult task of being disciples of Christ each day. In this way, many of the luxuries so many of us are used to can actually start to fill the role of Egypt in our lives.  And as much as we may have come to see our daily comforts as little harm to our trust in the Lord, we must never cease to hold them in the light of our daily call to abide in the presence of our Lord.  Entering the Promised Land isn't just something we are striving for down the road, but a reality we are called to this vary moment.  Let us not become content with our comforts or luxuries but always strive to trust the Lord for what he holds for us today as his disciples in the Promised Land.

Love Wins!

On this national day of remembering our independence and those who paid the ultimate price for it, it is only appropriate that I reflect at least briefly on freedom.

I would like to start by saying "Thank You."  Thank you to those who we never get to say thank you to, except through our prayers.  Thank you all you men and women who fixed on the higher ideal of liberty for generations to come, willingly gave your lives.  How much more selfless could a person get than to die for someone that they will never know and never know whether they will be grateful for what they did?

I will be the first to admit that at times I have taken my freedom for granted.  As I go about my daily life, the fact that I can do what I want without fear of being arrested or killed doesn't usually come to mind.  But people actually died for this.  They gave up the most precious thing they had in this world, their vary lives.  They gave up their families, sons, daughters, wives, husbands, without second thought.

And I would like to end by saying thanks to God.  Thank you God that the giving of a life in love need not be given in vein.  The fact that evil exists and that people try to control other people is terrible, but how wonderful that love wins.  We are living proof of it.

YES!

Yesterday I received a birthday card from my brother-in-law that got me thinking. He wrote in thanksgiving that if it weren't for my and my wife's birthdays he never would have met our daughter. As I thought about it, it occurred to me how thankful I am that my mother decided to give me life, so that I could have a birthday. What seems like such a simple thing that I always take for granted is the fact that my mom didn't need to say "yes" to allowing me to be born. What I see as one of the two greatest gifts I have ever received could have just as easily not been given should my mother chosen not to give it.

The second of the greatest gifts I've ever been offered being eternal life, just as easily could not have been given had our Blessed Mother not said "yes" to being the mother of Jesus. Wow! What an incredible idea to process. I mean, God wouldn't make someone say yes after all. Would He? Isn't love given out of a freely made choice to give it. And Jesus being love itself means that Mary's yes was the most freely made choice for life ever made by one of God's creation. Why would God make a human do something that in and of itself goes against his very nature? How incredibly beautiful was the consent of Mary, the humble handmaid of the Lord. How amazing that God can bring something so wonderful as Life from the simple "yes" of parents in their openness to life!

Thanks Mom and thanks Blessed Mother.

49,551,703 (NRLC)

Yesterday, my wife and I happened to catch part of the TV show "Ghost Whisperer."  In this episode, Jennifer Love Hewitt's character was trying to help a family cope with the loss of their young daughter.  Before my wife and I had our first child (a beautiful little girl) just under two months ago, I never really thought about what it would really feel like for a parent to lose a child.  But last night it really hit me, how painful it must actually be.

As I often do (and have been doing much more lately), I had to reflect on how that human parent-child relationship is also seen in our child-parent relationship with God, because every relationship on earth is an image of a spiritual reality.

So what is it like for God to lose a child?  Does it matter that much to him?  I mean, after all, there are so many of us humans.  Well, Scripture tells us that it hurts him so bad that he decided to offer his only begotten Son (from all eternity) in exchange for us, his created sons and daughters.  A reasonable conclusion at this point, is that it pains God greatly to lose a child, even one.  Didn't Jesus tell a parable about leaving 99 sheep in order to search out one that was lost?

If the pain of losing one child can destroy lives and rip people apart emotionally, then how much worse is it for God?  And if losing one child is that bad, then how about losing more than 49,551,703 children before they even get to see the light of day?

Burning with Love

Yesterday, for some reason, it really hit me how severe the world's hatred for God can be and how powerful God's love is when you would least expect.

I was reading about the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome yesterday on their day of memorial.  In case you don't know the story, this month in 64 A.D. (not C.E.) a great fire broke out burning more than half of Rome.  When the citizens looked to Emperor Nero as the cause in wanting to expand his palace, Nero in return pointed to the Christians (as human haters).  This began a great persecution of the Early Church.

Nero, being absolutely mad and without restraint, did some absolutely unimaginable (you'd think at least) things to Christians all in the name of passing the blame.  To use Christians as human torches to light the way for his chariot at night says enough.  How could these martyrs do it?  How could they bear such evil with such great love?  It was because of fire alright.  The fire of the Holy Spirit consuming their hearts.  A fire that out-burned any torture that could be inflicted upon them. 

How much is the love of God burning in your life?  Because you know, a lot of things have changed in the last 2000 years, but unfortunately the world's disdain for God isn't one of them.