Jesus frequently told us to make sure our intentions are good and pure, that we don’t do things out of vainglory or pride, nor to gain some power or authority over others. We should do what we do out of love, promoting the good of others and not just ourselves. It is imperative we have our priorities straight, and if we don’t, we will find ourselves straying far away from God and all that God wants for us. If we... Read more
One of the things I came to appreciate after I became Catholic was the importance of peace-making, and with it, the way of non-violence and pacifism. Not only did it follow Catholic insistence of the dignity of every person, but it did so in a way that complemented what Christ taught throughout his temporal ministry: Love your neighbor, including your enemy; blessed are the peacemakers; those who live by the sword, shall die by the sword. What Catholic teaching denies... Read more
Celebrating The Saints Throughout the Easter season, the Byzantine (Catholic and Orthodox) calendar gave us several Sundays which suggested the various ways Jesus engaged his ministry before his death and resurrection anticipated the greater work he would do after his resurrection from the death. We were also presented the way the risen Christ was first encountered, and how those who encountered him in his resurrected form saw he had the same body as before his resurrection, though now revealed to... Read more
We have found it difficult to embrace silence, and yet times of silence are necessary for our own personal, psychological and spiritual well-being. We need to journey within our own very being, cutting ourselves off from everything outside of ourselves, to attain silence and the peace which silence can bring. Once we do so, we must be patient, and accept the silence, not trying to fill the void with anything, including and especially our own thoughts. Of course, as we... Read more
Back when I was living in Silver Spring, Maryland, doing doctoral studies at the Catholic University of America, I went to a drug store to pick up a few items. It was busy, so when I got to the checkout lane, I had to wait in line for one of the cashiers to be open. After several minutes, it was finally my turn, but then a man rushed forward with a newspaper in his hands, and went to the cashier... Read more
I read the news today, oh boy. Woke up, got out of bed, washed up, and got on the internet only to read what happened on Saturday night: the Trump Administration ramped up its attacks against law and order calling the California National Guard and potentially the Marines into Los Angeles to help ICE in Trump’s campaign to take (abduct) migrants (and American citizens!) and immediately “deport” them (or send them to cruel third-world prisons, paid for by American money).... Read more
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Love. In the Godhead, the Spirit is often said to reflect the love which is shared between the Father and the Son, though it must always be understood that in saying this, the Holy Spirit is a person and not some impersonal force. The Father loves the Son, and through the love of the Father to the Son, we can discern the Spirit, even as we can discern the Spirit in the love... Read more
Prayer is an important part of the Christian life. There are many ways to pray, with each of us finding some more to our own personal liking than others. Some prefer communal prayer, others prefer private prayer. Some prefer petitionary prayer, others prefer contemplative prayer. Each have their place, and it is fine if we engage some kinds of prayer more than others in our lives. But it is imperative that we do more than simply pray. We must not... Read more
J.R.R. Tolkien, who worked on a translation of the book of Jonah for the Jerusalem Bible, found much in the text worthy of his own personal exploration and consideration. One point which he found important is the way God and God’s mercy often is not properly understood by those who are authentically called by God to do some work in the world. Even prophets, while inspired, are human, and their human misunderstanding can and often does get in the way... Read more
While Catholics have been told that the institutional church should be always reforming, many feel the need is greater now than it has been for decades. There have always been issues. The institutional church and its leaders has always been far from perfect, though the grace given to it means that their imperfections will not prevent the fulfillment of Christ’s purpose for the church (to be a vessel of salvation and change in the world). Dororthy Day understood this, which... Read more
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