+++++++++++++++++++++God's timing is not our timing, but He is never late.+++++++++++++++
"If we're open to it, God can use even the smallest thing to change our lives." Donna Van Liere, The Christmas Shoes


Layers - in the knowledge of God and the path to holiness

Learning about God is like unwrapping a head of lettuce, pealing back one leaf at a time. Always there is another leaf below. We will eventually reach the center of the head of lettuce; but we will never unwrap everthing there is to know about God.

The path to holiness is like pealing an onion. God shows us what is sinful and convicts us that we have sinned. No matter how sweet the onion, there are always tears in the peeling. No matter how sweet the grace of repentence, there are always the pain of letting go of the sin. As the peeling of the onion reveals another layer, so God shows us what we lack in holiness, drawing us ever closer to "be(ing) perfect even just as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48




What I Believe

Why I am and always will be a Catholic. "So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. Tthe living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever." John 6:53-58 The words and actions of man cannot sanctify. Only the priest, empowered by his ordination, can invoke the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into Jesus so we can receive Him - Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity into our bodies and souls. This is the core of the Catholic Church; without this there is no purpose or meaning to the Catholic Church. There are other ways to holiness, to grow in grace; there is no better way than union with Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

Visitation Catholic Church

Visitation Catholic Church

Sunday, November 18, 2012

The Election, Freedom of Religion, and Abortion


Opposition to abortion by Christians can be traced back to the earliest years of Christianity.  Early writings, such as the Didache (a type of catechism, c.100 A.D.), condemn abortion.  In essence, part of being a Christian is to believe that abortion is immoral.  Christians are also to be concerned about social ills, but first one must have life.  If a person does not act in accordance with the beliefs of the organization s/he belongs, is one truly what s/he purports to be?  As citizens, one’s convictions should be reflected in the voting booth. 

The issue of abortion, however, is not merely a religious issue.  Rather it is a moral issue.  This country is not a Christian country, being composed of diverse beliefs and cultures.  However, we need to have a base standard of morality.  An attitude of “if it is okay with you, then it is acceptable” only leads to moral anarchy with everyone doing what s/he wants, when s/he wants without regard to the consequences to others.

The Supreme Court determines what is or is not legal (in regards to the Constitution); but legal does not necessarily equate with moral, unless one believes that slavery and segregation, both once declared legal and Constitutional by the Supreme Court are also moral.

Abortion is part of today’s culture.  In some areas of the country, getting a gun and shooting someone is also part of today’s culture.  True, abortion is legal and shooting someone is not, but both result in death (in the case of abortion nearly 100%).  Where is the moral constant?  It certainly is not in the current laws of this country or in the prevailing attitudes of society.  Consider “my freedom to choose to do what I want ends when it infringes on your rights as a person”.

Oh, many will say that the unborn are not really persons.  Should personhood be determined by the arbitrary timing of one’s birth?  In Colorado, there is a set of twins whose birthdays are 63 days apart.  The first boy was delivered early for medical reasons. For 63 days, one boy had legal rights as a person, while his brother could have been legally aborted.  Where is the moral constant?

This country needs, aside from the law and aside from religion, a moral constant that every life conceived is entitled to the right to life that is not infringed on by the prevailing whims of society or the decisions of another individual.  Every person’s life would be cherished.  Once we begin to cherish life, we will then be able to effectively address other social ills.

 

Justify

Thoughts on my daughter's birthday. She was unplanned and unexpected, my obgyn thought I could not get pregnant. If she had been conceived by a pro-choice woman with the circumstances we had at the time, it is possible that she would never have lived to see the light of day. I cannot imagine what life would be like without this beautiful, intellligent person. The job difficulties, she has had, has lead her to be with kids of all ages - school wise, instead of continuing on with school or field research. I wonder what their lives would be like without the impact of her enthusiasm of learning and of life. She is a joy. How can I justify any right to deny life? 

Thursday, November 15, 2012

3-Minute Retreats - Daily Online Prayer - Loyola Press

3-Minute Retreats - Daily Online Prayer - Loyola Press

Religion


The virtue of religion is part of the virtue of justice, to give each his due.  Source-St. Thomas Aquinas
Acts of religion are prayer, adoration and sacrifice.

Does God need our prayers, our adoration, our sacrifice (Jesus on the Cross)?  No.  Then, what is the purpose of religion if it is to give God what He is due, but He doesn’t need it?  The virtue of religion (and justice) is rather for our need.  Our need is to redirect focus from ourselves to the other.  Love is willing the good of the other for the sake of the other.  We cannot do that if our focus is on ourselves.  In focusing on giving God ‘His due” in prayer, adoration and sacrifice we are forced to see that we are not the source of our creation, the source of Love, and the source of salvation.