Posts

'Such is the Church, this communion of life with Jesus Christ and for one another . . .' Sunday Reflections, 5th Sunday of Easter, Year B

Image
The Red Vineyard Vincent van Gogh [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 15:1-8     (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser.   Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.   Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.   Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.   I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.   If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  

Feast of St Mark. 'Having one soul and one heart, the Church holds this faith, preaches and teaches it consistently as though by a single voice.'

Image
St Mark's Basilica, Venice [ Wikipedia ;  photo ] The Church celebrates the Feast of St Mark the Evangelist on 25 April. The Second Reading in the Office of Readings in the Breviary is from the treatise Against Heresies by St Irenaues. Here it is, with  highlights  added. [ Source ] The Church, which has spread everywhere, even to the ends of the earth, received the faith from the apostles and their disciples .  By faith, we believe in one God, the almighty Father   who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them .  We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became man for our salvation . And  we believe in the Holy Spirit who through the prophets foretold God’s plan : the coming of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, his birth from the Virgin, his passion, his resurrection from the dead, his ascension into heaven, and his final coming from heaven in the glory of his Father, to  recapitulate all things  and to raise all men from the dead, so that, by the decr

An upsetting phone call

Image
      I'm going to apologize in advance to those of you who consider the following remarks offensive. Please don't take them as me disrespecting you, it's just that, to my ear, referring to an individual with a plural pronoun doesn't work. I had someone call the house the other day to ask about some supplies for our son.  The caller referred to him as "they."  At first I was confused and thought I heard her wrong, but when she did it again, I caught on, and asked her politely to refer to him as he. I just can't handle an individual being referred to plurally. It's just poor grammar, that's all. Well, I suppose, that's not really all there is to it. I had a friend kindly explain to me a while back why she chose to use plural pronouns at her daughter's request.  She said she couldn't stand to cause her daughter more pain than she was already experiencing, so out of love and respect for her daughter, she acquiesced.  Who wouldn

Voyager 1: Back Online, Still Outward Bound

This isn't what I'm writing about this week, but it's noteworthy:... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (As I write this, Voyager 1 has been outward bound for 46 years, seven months, 18 days and about two hours.)

Shepherd YOUR flock!

Image
    Years ago I read some leadership advice that asked the question, "Who are you mentoring?"  It suggested you list the number of hours you spend on each of the tasks that you do, and be sure mentorship is high on the list.   If you are not mentoring, you are not actually leading. We've had a lot of readings lately about Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who leads his flock.  If anyone knew good leadership, it was Jesus. This got me to thinking . . . Maybe we are not a shepherd on a hill somewhere, leading a flock, but as parents, we do have a flock of our own that we have been given--our children.  Even if they are adults now, our role as faith mentors still continues. Now you may say that your adult children have lost their way.  This is all the more reason to see yourself as their shepherd.  Bishop Barron gave a SERMON last Sunday where he talked about the importance of a shepherd being attentive to his individual sheep. Attentiveness doesn't mean controlli

The Pope Speaks

Image
      I've been reading "Pope Francis LIFE, My Story Through History."  It has taken me a bit to get into it, but the more I read, the more interesting it becomes. True to the title, his book weaves historical moments with his life experiences. One of those historical moments was the Berlin Wall coming down.  He had this to say: "But walls are not just physical: when we're not at peace with someone, a wall comes between us.  How beautiful the world would be if there were bridges instead of barriers . . . . Wherever there are walls . . . we see the proliferation of mafias, ,criminal behavior, dishonest scoundrels exploiting people's weakness and subjecting them to fear and loneliness. We are Christians! So we must love our neighbors unconditionally, without borders, without limits of any kind, going beyond the walls of selfishness and personal or national interests.  It is necessary to break the barriers of ideology, which amplify hate and intole

Evolution and a Gene Expression Code Library

Image
Scientists have found gene groups we have in common with nearly all animals: thousands of them, from code library that's more than half a billion years old. I'll be talking about that this week, plus why I see no problem with studying this vast and ancient universe. Still Learning Life's Long Story Bilateral Symmetry and Oh, Look! It's a — Thing Bilaterians: 700,000,000 Years of Building on the Basics Ancient Genes, Rewritten Gene Duplication: Let the Modding Begin! Faith and Reason, Science and Religion "Truth Cannot Contradict Truth" Four Centuries in Europe: the Black Death, Wars, and a Label A King, the Age of Enlightenment, and a Few Good Ideas English Politics and All-too-Familiar Attitudes Using my Brain, Admiring God's Universe More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Discovery: bilaterians, animals with right and left sides, get thousands of gene groups from our last common ancestor. Plus why science and faith get along.)

'I know my own and my own know me.' Sunday Reflections, 4th Sunday of Easter, Year B

Image
The Good Shepherd Early Italian Christian Painter [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel    John 10:11-18     (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.   He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.   He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.   I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,   just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.   And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.   For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I

What is Purgatory?

Image
      Just a quick thought for today . . . Who do you need to forgive, and who do you need to ask for forgiveness? I was praying for a dear friend who, knowing that his death was near, diligently prepared himself for it.  He made amends where necessary. Now that he is gone, I was thinking about him and wondering if he had been able to shorten his time in purgatory because of his careful attention to readiness, here on earth. Hopefully, you don't have the wrong idea about purgatory.  It is simply a state for purification, since entering the "joy of heaven" requires us to be in a state of holiness. It is solid teaching that comes from scripture as well. Here is a great place to learn more about it:  http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a12.htm I thought I would copy the text here for your convenience.  It's a good read!  It comes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: III. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY 1030 All who die in God's grace and frien

Faith is not enough

Image
  . FAITH IS NOT ENOUGH CLICK HERE

Bread from Heaven

Image
    Do you remember in the Book of Exodus, the story about the grumbling  Israelites in the desert? (Exodus, 15) They were upset because they had followed Moses into the desert, only to find themselves in bad circumstances, hungry and feeling like they had journeyed to their death. When Moses turned to God about their situation, God promised to send them ("rain down") bread from heaven, which came in the form of manna. If you jump ahead today to the Gospel of John (Chapter 6), Jesus is telling everyone that HE is the Bread of Life "come down from heaven."  Do you see the connection between the Old Testament (manna) and the New Testament (Jesus)? The manna that the Israelites received would satisfy their hunger temporarily, but Jesus is more than that--if you eat his Body, you will live forever. These scripture passages are Eucharistic, revealing a great deal about who Jesus is and why he was sent by the Father.  During this Easter season, we have some r

Cancer Concerns, Prayer, and My Family

Our number-two daughter is still getting radiation therapy for her cancer: and not enjoying the process. Well, of course not. If she sincerely enjoyed nausea, I’d have yet another reason for concern on her behalf. Our son-in-law called today.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A very quick update on my family and health concerns, with an even quicker look at types of prayer.)

Feeling like an imposter?

Image
      Have you ever worked with someone who seems to have it all together? Or maybe a family member whose confidence you simply cannot match? We need to be careful not to become jealous in these situations, staying confident that we are doing exactly what God wants us to do with the skills he has given us. There is something called "imposter syndrome," which, despite your qualifications and giftedness, can leave you feeling inadequate and interiorly doubting yourself. The term "imposter syndrome" refers to the idea that you think you are a fraud, or "imposter," because of how you feel internally, compared to your external "performance." The sad result of the syndrome is that it might prevent you from doing all you are capable of doing because you are paralyzed by the tension between how you feel and what you do. If this is something you are dealing with, here is a link with more information that you may find helpful: https://www.cro

What are you working for?

Image
      I was reading a post from some people who were complaining that milk purchased at my local grocery store was always going bad before its expiration date. I am thinking they are right, because when my milk seemed a little off, I questioned it, but then, noticing it was not expired, assumed my nose must be off. When the idea of "perishing" came up in the Gospel of John (Chapter 6:27), Jesus wasn't talking about milk when he said, "Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures for eternal life."  Surely, none of us would ever work hard for something that is just going to go away in time, would we?   Well, uh, maybe.  I would suggest that too often we do focus all of our energy on those very things that will not lead us to eternal life. Jesus told the group that the "work of God" (the food that endures for eternal life) is to "believe in the one he sent."  In other words, believe in him.  Jesus knew, as we do,

Bitten by bugs

Image
  CLICK HERE

Are you struggling or defiant?

Image
      We will soon be entering the season of invitations.  Weddings and graduations will quickly be upon us. Many people struggle with various events, having to decide whether they can attend, or even want to attend.  Should I go?  Must I go?  What if I do? What if I don't? Some of you, however, may be among the defiant. You've made up your mind without so much as giving it a second thought. You're simply not going.  You have your reasons, and you've made your decision.  There's no changing your mind. When it comes to faith, we, too, can fall into either of these two categories.  I was listening to a podcast the other day that talked about the difference between defiance and struggling. Are you defiant against faith, or are you struggling to understand and believe? In matters of faith, it is better to be in the struggle, where you wonder about things and keep the door open to listen. Those who are in defiance--while not necessarily lost--can be harder to r

"Dignitas Infinita", "Infinite Dignity": a Very Quick Look

Image
There's more than sex change and gender theory in the Vatican's new "ethics document": assuming that what hit the fan this week is the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith's "Dignitas Infinita", on Human Dignity. "Dignitas Infinita", "Infinite Dignity", runs to a little over 12,600 words in my language. " Dignitas Infinita " on Human Dignity ("Infinite Dignity") Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (April 2, 2024) ( from https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/.../rc_ddf_doc_20240402_dignitas-infinita_en.html (April 10, 2024) ) I'll be taking a very, very quick look at it. But I'll get started with something Pope Francis said a month ago. Pope Francis, Gender Ideology, and Being Human Rules I Live With, and an Explanation New "Ethics Document", Old Ideas "Dignitas Infinita": "Balanced, Challenging" More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Why a new ethics

The Difficult Questions

Image
  What are the difficult questions you need to answer in order to enter Heaven? Do YOU know the answers? To find out, CLICK HERE .

Liberty and catholicism: enemies or partners in history ( Español) Libertad y Catolicismo: juntas o enfrentadas

Image
  Una gran reflexión sobre lo que las raíces religiosas dentro de las culturas y sus valores dieron historicamente a los pueblos en términos de progreso, desarrollo y LIBERTAD.  Sobre todo la contribución ,hoy minimizada, de la religión católica a la construcción de la civilización occidental y el capitalismo. Sólo con el cultivo de la LIBERTAD que las culturas cristianas arropan, se pudo dar el grado de progreso que la humnaidad alcanzó. El Prof. Miguel Anxo Bastos, economista español, católico y politólogo, en una entrevista en la Universidad Francisco Marroquín en 2024 .

'Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations.' Sunday Reflections, 3rd Sunday of Easter

Image
Supper at Emmaus , c.1629 Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] Then the two disciples told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in  the breaking of the bread  (Luke 24:35; Gospel).   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel     Luke 24:35-48     (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Then [the two disciples] told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them,  “Peace to you!”   But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.   And he said to them,  “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?   See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”   And when he had said this, he showed them his hands a

Lacking faith? Read this!

Image
  It's like a domino effect.  At least that's the way it is laid out by St. Paul in The First Letter to the Corinthians (Chapter 15), for people who deny the resurrection. He preached that Christ was raised from the dead, and if you don't believe that, everything falls apart. No resurrection means empty preaching; empty preaching means empty faith.  No resurrection means false witnesses and the dead not being raised. If the dead are not raised, faith is in vain, and sins have not been conquered. All of this leads to the dead, perishing, which makes us "the most pitiable people of all" if our hope in Christ was for this life only. When I read his words, I thought how sad it would be to think that our earthly life is all there is and that our loved ones have perished. Now, of course, we know that Jesus was raised from the dead, and none of the above is our path, but St. Paul was pointing out how dangerous it is to not believe in the resurrection. St. Pau

The fullness of the Spirit

Image
    In the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, Jesus tells us the Father " does not ration his gift of the Spirit." What might that mean for you and me? When I teach about Confirmation, I stress that the Holy Spirit is not parceled out to us, as if we get a little at Baptism, and the rest at Confirmation. No, that is not the case at all. When we are baptized, we fully receive the Holy Spirit, and what a gift this is to us!  One, I think, we under-utilize, for sure. I recently had something come up that probably would have caused me some stress, but because of a renewed sense of the Holy Spirit in my life, I found myself surprisingly un-stressed. Knowing that the Holy Spirit is with you, and fully trusting in that, brings you to a uniquely, blessed place, often of peace. Take some time during this Easter season, as we lead up to Pentecost on May 19th, and reflect on the gift of the Holy Spirit which Jesus gave to us when he ascended into Heaven. Ascension is 40 days after

In case you were wondering

In the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, Nicodemus, a Jewish leader asks Jesus for some clarification about what it means to be "born from above." Taking Jesus literally, Nicodemus asks, "How can a person once grown old be born again?  Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?" Jesus had to correct him because Nicodemus thought Jesus was speaking literally, when he was speaking figuratively. One being "born from above" is not the same as reentering one's mother physically. Interestingly, this is one of those passages that actually affirms the Eucharist, where bread and wine are transformed into the actual body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. How, you ask? Jesus told Nicodemus that he was not speaking literally about being born again, that someone cannot return to his mother's womb. And, when the apostles in Chapter 6, supposed that Jesus must be speaking figuratively when he told them he was giving them &qu