What are you giving...?

On Epiphany Sunday 2015, I think about the story of the three Magi traveling across the ancient
world.  This is a recurring topic for me as you may remember I wrote on this nearly the same time last year.

How difficult must it have been to travel so far to follow a star.  These things we take for granted like jumping in a car for a quick trip to a city three or four or eight hours away or the ability to cut that time down to one hour via plane just didn't exist then.  Similarly, these three, were probably not Gold members of Hilton Honors so they didn't have easy access to freshly cleaned linens and a complimentary breakfast with their HBO and other cable channels at night.

It makes the story all the more remarkable when you consider what they had to go through not to just go looking for the King of Kings, but to find him.  And where was he?  Not in majestic surroundings, but likely still in a barn manger.

As a side note, I realize most people are offended by the innkeeper who had no room and forced this couple into a barn, but he gave them everything he had.  How many of us do this for strangers?  So before you ask why didn't he give up his quarters for this young couple about to deliver the firstborn of mankind, ask yourself when was the last time you offered a little help or guidance to a local teen mother?

Returning to the story of the Magi though, they sought out Jesus and upon finding him, did not find him in majestic circumstances, but entirely different, yet the Gospels tell us they prostrated themselves, bowing before an infant king.  Additionally, giving us the symbols that allow Walmart, Toys R Us, and the rest of consumer America to flourish, they brought gifts.  [I keep forgetting the net effect on GDP in their countryside, though I am constantly reminded by the media that I need to do my part during the holidays to help America's GDP - by buying cheap foreign built products that are over-priced by the previously mentioned retailers.]

What is it they brought?  Well, according to tradition, they brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  These three items may not seem important to the story, but they are and the symbolism is important for me.

Since the early church, perhaps properly noted to Church Father Origen, gold represents the kingship of an Earthly crown, but frankincense is an incense, which clearly represents divinity.  These first two items, gold and incense tell us that Jesus was not a king for Earth alone, but for heaven.  Finally, myrrh.  Myrrh is an ointment used when people died which for us indicates the Magi's understanding that Jesus was not only divine, but also human.  Myrrh is a clear indication of this humanity and that Jesus will die, like all terrestrial beings.

The final note I have on the bearing of gifts by the Magi is not so much what they brought, but that they brought their best.  Whether I am talking about baseball or coaching an employee or just speaking to another person, I always ask what are you bringing to the table?  The Magi were very clearly bringing their best.  God was not getting the left overs from their lives.  That being the case, what do you bring...do you bring the best or do you leave the leftovers?

Holy Islands

 August 31 is the Feast Day for St. Aidan, the first bishop of Lindisfarne.  It is also the day my third son, Wyatt, was baptized though his saint name is Luke.  Holy Island, or Lindisfarne, is a tidal island off the northeast coast of England. It is the civil parish of Holy Island in Northumberland.

I find the intersection of these two facts both interesting and remarkable: A Holy Island and the Sacrament of Baptism: the anointing with Holy Water.  Islands of course are surrounded by water, but Baptism is about bringing the person, or child, into the Church as a whole.  How can one be brought into a body separated?

The English poet and Church of England priest John Donne tells us that no man is an island.  Donne argued in his Meditation XVII that if any man died, he himself is less, because he is a part of mankind.  Yet, Holy Island is an island.  It is an island where St. Aidan was well known for his homilies and knowledge of scripture.  Like our current pontiff, St. Aidan was also known for his kindness to the poor and distaste for pomp.  It was on Lindisfarne that St. Aidan created a seminary for the training of ministers.

Today, Holy Island offers Church of England services via St. Mary the Virgin, the same namesake as my parish.  (I should note I am not sure if I am offended by the fact that the parish is controlled by the Church of England or not, but I do wonder if they would yield the property to the Roman Catholic Church if they were to come calling for a property first built in the 7th Century AD, i.e. well before a Church of England ever existed.)

In the meantime, I return to the juxtaposition of these two issues.  Lindisfarne is connected at low-tide by crossing sand and mud flats, following an ancient pilgrom's path.  The path is covered during high tide.  The difficulty in getting to the island must be significant and I wonder how the peoples of Northumberland did it.

However, it does help with the other issue.  How often do we only look for the Holy Island - a people set apart so to speak - when our lives are at low tide?  Why is it only at these times we find the path we need to take to find the kindness, humanity, and love that the church can offer?  Donne was right, no man is an island, but why do we have to be at our weakest to find the separate nature that is the Kingdom of God?  Why is it we do not swim in the waters of forgiveness and mercy that is the Church all the time?

These are obviously life long questions and I suspect the answer comes back to my own priest's homily today about the ability to follow God's will instead of our own, but for now I will hope my son does not need to wait for low tide to find his church home's warmth and grace.  It is right there waiting.

Could We Or Should We?

An article in the The Independent this earlier this week reviewed the machinations occurring in Great Britain as their Parliament considers whether or not to make mitochondrial donation legal when it comes to In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

Though the process or "three parent" IVF was banned by the Food and Drug Administration there has been no public discussion about whether or not the procedure was safe.  Saint Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey performed the procedures on many of the children currently alive and is studying whether or not there were any long term affects, but has refused comment to those interested in its survey results.  It would seem they are unwilling to share the bad news that their actions did not produce children without healthcare worries, but perhaps transferred new worries to the parents.  After all, if the results were good I suspect they would be ringing the newspapers instead of avoiding the questions like Cindy Lucus who would not answer questions for me or the Independent.


Science seems very comfortable treating children as a commodity.  If you want one, we can provide one.  You do not need to be in a marriage, you do not need to be in a marriage of man and woman.  We can develop a child for you - in the lab.  Perhaps, you would like a tall boy, blonde hair or brown, green eyes, or blue.  Science seems able to make all these decisions for us without questioning the cost.

The cost of course is not just is the procedure safe short and long term, but is it safe from how we view children.  Are they just a commodity that if I produce, but don't want I can dispose of easily?
  The American left loves to talk about caring for children, but again and again, children seem to simply be a commodity.

I can have a child on demand.  My friends who veer liberal also tend to be the first to complain about their child's selfish desires - I wonder if those are genetic too.  Moreover, while it is uncomfortable for anyone to think about, IVF is linked to higher birth defects.  Again, these are the same parents generally who think abortion on demand is okay or abortion to save a child from a birth defect.

Once again, it seems science is ready to take its hand into the world of God.  Once again, it appears that the slippery slope of science (and dollars of course) is more interested than a perfect child than any child.  It was only last week that scientist Richard Dawkins suggested it immoral to not abort a child who had been diagnosed with Down's Syndrome in utero.  Immoral to kill a child because of a disease?  Really?

This is the talk of Adolph Hitler.  Once again the reality is, Adolph Hitler spoke of systematically killing those children deemed "mentally defective."  Here, Mr. Dawkins speaks of the same idea yet he is not ostracized by the scientific community.  Hitler too believed in the mercy decree of allowing people the peace of death rather than suffering through life as "defective."

While the two items seem different, they are not.  In both cases, science wishes to enter the world of creation by adding their two cents.  They believe they can safely create a human being from three person's genetic material, but the issues is not can they, but should they.  Unfortunately, it does not appear that anyone is asking that question.

God Knows?

Once again, I would have to say I am concerned, but not surprised.  Apparently in Tennessee it is a bad idea to say "bless you" after someone sneezes.  You may be suspended.

What?

The assistant principal of the school, Dyer County High School, says the incident had been blown out of proportion on social media.  He is quoted as saying: "In this case, this was not a religious issue at all, but more of an issue the teacher felt was a distraction in her class," he said.

Unfortunately, the situation was blown out of proportion when the teacher decided a student needed to be removed from the class for saying bless you.  The comment is hardly threatening and given the dangers that rock many school campus today, this should have been a welcome comment.

Since there are multiple students who say the teacher is the one with the problem...with faith, perhaps that is the real distraction and perhaps school administrators should focus on that issue.

** All Point Bulletin -- All Points Bulletin: For Safety's Sake...

I apologize.  I am truly sorry to interrupt my regularly scheduled blogging, but I have to raise awareness on a serious issue affecting those who take selfies.

Okay, granted it might be argued that those who take selfies may have a body image mental health issue I think we may have missed the point.  In Spain, authorities are seeking a man for taking a selfie - while he participated in the Running Of The Bulls.

Their concern is that by taking photos or videos, he is creating a danger.  Let me say that....by taking photos and/or video while running with bulls is dangerous.  The running of the bulls they are not too worried about, but you shouldn't take a photo while doing it.  What?

Somehow I think the point will be missed and personally I hope this guy gets away with it, but the authorities desperately need to re-think the strategy on this one as it isn't the picture taking which is all that bad.

Granted I realize there is all kinds of danger in engaging in a dangerous activity, such as bull running, but the San Fermin Festival rakes in the cash I am sure as thousands of people descend upon Pampalona entirely for the purpose of running with the bulls.  As for those around him, they exposed themselves to a similar danger by running with the bulls and are in no greater danger from them than they were before.  This is I suspect the experience of a lifetime and I hope to do it myself before I can not play along with the younger crowd.

I hope that those who have no issue allowing people to endanger themselves for sport will not endanger their wallets too simply because they want to record it.  Ahem.

Church Suicide And Coming Home

This weekend the Church of England starts its General Synod and will determine whether or not they will ordain women bishops.  I see multiple news stories and lots of concern.  What happens, what
happens, what happens when this occurs from concerned conservatives in the church.

The answer is simple.  The Church of England continues to cut its own throat.

While the Church of England claims 1.7M members per month, their own internal reports show that attendance is half what is was forty years ago for adult church goers.  I do not need to belabor the obvious point that the population has grown significantly in the same time.  That's right.  While the Church of England, and its American counterpart, have chased after every societal fad to make it popular, its popularity has continued to dwindle.

It reminds me of politicians like Mitt Romney and Eric Cantor whose nicknames should be waffle.  They will stand for almost anything as long as they continue to be prominent, but the faithful know this to be false as do voters.

It is critical to remember that the Church of England was formed because of a spat with Rome where King Henry VIII was not granted the divorce he sought from Catherine of Aragon.  The church has great resemblance to the Roman Catholic faith - because it continued to use most of her traditions and liturgy - except perhaps the most important, obedience.

I realize obedience is a dirty word in modern America, but the hundred years divorce had laid the framework for today's crisis.  The Church of England believes - as Henry did - that they can continue to morph into whatever they want, whenever they want - without concern for God's Will.  Naysayers will tell you the Holy Bible is wrong on the issue of ordaining women. They will say that Jesus only ordained men beause that was the custom of the day, but this is nonsense pure and simple.

Christ who overturned the money changers tables and preached forgiveness could have ordained women.  If you believe Christ is in fact God and that the miracles he performed are true, do you actually believe he would have had any trouble ordaining women?  Christ - the all powerful Son of God - who took on the high priests directly would fear them over the ordination of women?  This is folly.

Regardless of the arguments though, the facts are the Church of England and Episcopal Church of the United States is in decline.  Moreover, given the generous offer of Saint Pope John Paul II by providing the Anglican Use form of worship, disaffected episcopalians can come to the Roman Catholic Church much more easily than they might know.

I fought the idea for years, telling a very good friend who pressed me on the matter at Sunday Baltimore Orioles games I would never be Catholic.  He had all the reasons I could provide, ut it was when Episcopal Bishop Jeffrey Steenson left to become a Catholic priest that it started to make sense.  His argument to conservatives in ECUSA was that we were going in the wrong direction.  Rather than trying to stem the tide of another ECUSA reform or branching off the branch that came from the Roman Catholic trunk, we would be better served by returning to the trunk itself - the Roman Catholic church.

For me, it took some consideration, but my conversion was much easier than I could have ever imagined.  It was a coming home of a prodigal son so to speak.  I suspect as the Church of England continues its march towards whatever its marketing gurus suggest it will find a great deal of its membership finding solace in the Roman Catholic Church...solace they do not find in their own walls now.

So...while I do not support the ordination of women priests, much less bishops, proceed with all haste Church of England.  As Joe Clark is said to have mentioned in the movie Lean On Me, "...if you want to kill yourself, go on and be expeditious about it."  If indeed the Church of England intends to cut its own throat, please hurry so that those souls in need of refreshment might find it in the Roman Catholic Church as I have.

Ground Zero Victory

Forgive me that I do not understand atheists and the offense they take at other people's religion.  If you believe there is no God, why are you offended that I have one?  If you are sure that you are right, really you must simply look at me as childish.  If I am accused of having a child like faith in my Lord and savior, so be it.

Well, a similar message was given earlier to the atheists who are "offended" by the Ground Zero Cross.  What about the Cross violates your rights the federal appeals court asks as it should.

If indeed, atheists believe there is no God then the two steel beams should be regarded as just that.  Together they are certainly no worse than some of the other "art work" eyesores that seem to populate downtown neighborhoods across the United States.

If on the other hand, they are admitting that they have a deeper issue, one that requires reflection, and that the Ground Zero Cross represents something more.  Well, that is something else entirely.  It is at that moment that the atheists who brought the suit should consider their own issues of morality and life.  Perhaps their suit is an admission that the Cross does represent something more than downtown art work and if that is the case, can they truly call themselves atheist anymore?

In any case, if my choice is being on the side of God or believing Earth is the creation of gas, I will take God's side as I remember the movie Oh God and suspect George Burn's lines about finding the theory offensive to be true.  In any case, score a victory for the cross it looks like on this one.

Saints And Sinners

Today I got to enjoy my younger son's First Communion at our parish today.  The day had special meaning because it was the same day that Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II were canonized, or given Sainthood.

It was Pope John Paul II who provided my pathway into the Church via the Anglican Use.  My son being welcomed into the Church as a full member on the same day the man who made it possible for me is canonized is obviously an important date.  The children who had also taken part in their first Confession the day prior had various fears I am sure being in front of the group, but were nonetheless ready or so it seemed.

Two things did mar my day though.

First, the email I received first in my Inbox yesterday was from none other than a Catholic book and jewelry company who wanted me to be able to buy new Saint/Pope John XXIII and Saint/Pope John Paul II items "celebrating their canonization" on Divine Mercy Sunday.  They had barely had a chance to be finished being canonized when your email must have been drafted.  Thankfully, all orders over $75 were eligible for free shipping because when I am celebrating a canonization, the most important thing is...free shipping.

Second, after First Communion, I enjoyed a mother complaining to another mother about her infant crying and ruining services.  I was utterly shocked that anyone would run off at the mouth about an toddler who wanted to be with his sister, possibly a major caregiver in his life, during a special day for her.  I am further shocked that this attack came moments after a Mass.  Did you not just get the message from the homily?

I seem to remember something about "love one another" in the Bible, but perhaps I am mistaken.  Perhaps I am forgetting my Matthew 19 as well, but I though it said something "but Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'

All in all a good day, but while I enjoyed the Saints, I could have done without the sinners.

Are We Reaching Out?

So the question for today is are we reaching out to Christ as he has us?

Of all the apostles only Judas is not a Saint.  "Of course not" might be your reply, but ultimately, his sin in my opinion was less his betrayal of Christ, than his opportunity to return to Christ and seek forgiveness.  His sin, like ours, was not yielding to Christ, to being with him, but intentionally removing himself from Christ's circle

On the day in which Christians celebrate Christ's resurrection, I wonder how many of us reach back for Him who reaches out to us?  How many of us who lead lives find ourselves slipping away from Christ into our own needs?

Ultimately our needs might be the very ones that lead us to sin making us betray Christ as Judas did.  But do we seek the forgiveness of Christ through the Sacrament of Reconciliation?  Do we reach out for Christ as he reached out across the cross to us?

St. Peter who Christ founded his Holy Church, denied Christ three times before sunrise as Jesus said he would.  James, referred to as his brother, did not share in Christ's pain on the cross that day.  Even Thomas, after the resurrection, did not believe.  He doubted Christ's prediction of rising from the grave, but in all these cases, they found comfort by drawing close to other believers.  They did not wander on their own into some "self help" book that would get them over their feelings.  Instead, they stayed with the company of faithful, mourned their Earthly loss of Christ, and found a way back to their faith through Christ.

This is the lesson we should all hold onto for Easter and for everyday.

Something About The Meek Inheriting The Earth....

I may be presuming, but did we all hear the story this week about the theft at the church?

This is another story about the $25,000 reward being offered for the recovery.

I know, I know....$25,000 to recapture the pittance that would have been stolen from a church.  A theft at the church....it should be unbelievable!  The thieves made away with $600,000 in cash.  Once again, it should be unbelievable.

Am I remembering Matthew 5 correctly?  Something about "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land."

I think I am reading it correctly from the link, but how in the world does any church have $600,000 sitting around...much less, in cash?


The more fundamental question though is how do "holy men" amass such riches?  Isn't the purpose of Christ's kingdom to serve those who are in need?  Isn't the purpose of a tithe not to enrich a pastor, but to enrich the lives of the many?

Blessed Pope John Paul II had a great comment about this issue: "The great danger...in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish."  I wonder where the focus is when you spend as much as I guess Mr. Osteen does on hair care products and $2000 suits.

It frightens me to think of this with all the need out there.  No matter how cheery your disposition, isn't it appropriate to find a way to comfort those with no comfort.  I find solace in my Holy Father.  Here is a man who has stayed away from a magnificent palace he could occupy as a head of state, but instead chooses to live through community service, living close to those who tend the property that is the Vatican.  He doesn't lunch in private dining halls, but in community facilities.

Isn't this the image we want from our holy men?

When I think of this situation, I think of the homeless in the City of Houston.  When I think of this situation, I think of the hungry in Houston.  When I think of this situation, I think of those usually marginalized.  But after realizing that a single church in Houston is grossing $32M from normal Sunday donations, I have to think about who is actually committing the theft.

Milestones

So almost two weeks ago it was time to celebrate.

Yes, it was a birthday, but due to travel schedules and life, the birthday party was later in the week or was it?  Ash Wednesday, my birthday, was full of presents as was the week.


So...first off, work.  I am required to obtain my certified flight paramedic credential.  I have more than a year to complete it, but it is done already.  I worried when I was told that a small envelope had arrived for me at home the first day I had left for my most recent conference.

A small envelope?  A small envelope is the same thing as college...thanks, but no.  A small means a letter without patches and pins and such, i.e. a "thank you for attempting to pass the test, but your knowledge base is what we call the small size of tiny" letter.  Instead it was a breakdown of my scores with the magic word - passed - on it.  How in the world did this happen?

I'm not sure, but Hallelujah!

Of course if I am being religious I have to note a gift I received as well.  I carry with me a 9/11 rosary when I work.  It is one of those things you do to both remember the past, as well as your own, and an item that provides me hope and determination for the future.  Recently my parish priest joined several other Anglican Ordinariate priests in a pilgrimage to Rome.  My darling girl decided that perhaps our parish priest, Father Timothy, might have the opportunity to have my rosary blessed by Pope Francis.  It was.  To think, the item in which I find my strength, that lies in my breast pocket when I work to ease the suffering of the ill and the injured was blessed by the successor to St. Peter I feel more energized than ever.

Pope Francis has called on us to serve those in need and I always thought I had, but now I find myself wanting to do more...to try more...to anything to succeed.

My birthday came and went without much fanfare - again work and life did not so much get in the way as make it a non-priority - but the milestone birthday was marked by both a personal and professional success that I am not sure I earned.  Even passing the FP-C test I feel was ordered for me as I know I still have so much to learn.  How then can I have had this success laid at my feet?  It still amazes me on so many levels.

However, the next step is I guess the one that matters.  Milestones can show us where we have been, and they may be markers for the future, but only if we enjoy the recent view long enough to start the journey towards the next one.

A Prayer, Not A Drink

I know, I know...stick to drinking and ignore the faith conversations.  Sorry.  I'm not sure that is what it's meant to be.

I will start with the poem associated with St. Patrick's breastplate.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation....

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

Today need not only be about enjoying a glass of Guinness or finding yourself some Jameson's.  Today, need not be a day to find yourself barely remembering the day, but can be a day where you remember fighting through whatever personal prisons you might find yourself and keep in mind, it was St. Patrick's faith that saw him through his tribulations, not an alcoholic beverage.  Perhaps a bit of prayer along with a shamrock to remind us of the Trinity would be a good thing.

Love

As BB King noted, U2's Bono is awful young to be writing such deep lyric.  Awful young.

It is an older song, but always resonates with me.

I was a sailor, I was lost in sea
I was under the waves, before love rescued me

 

...

 

I was there when they crucified my lord
I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword
I threw the dice when they pierced his side,
But I've seen love conquer the great divide.

What is worse for a sailor than to be lost?  No stars to sail by, no compass?  Surely the waves of life crash over all of us at some time as we try to navigate the waters, but it is Christ that rescues us if only we would pick up the phone, so to speak, and ask him to be our personal 9-1-1.

Of course every day we watch as a broken world takes its shot at Christ.  Remember, it wasn't the mean old Romans or the mean old Jews who crucified Christ.  It was the crowd.  It was us.  We may not have inflicted the direct wounds on Christ, but we helped the soldiers.  We quietly went along with it.

In fact every time we deny Him or don't follow the path he set for us, we really are piercing him, aren't we?  If we look honestly at Christ in a modern light, you would almost have to say He is an abused spouse.  We mistreat his trust, love, and support all the time.

And still, His love conquers.  I hear all the time people will get what is coming to them.  I pray I won't.  I pray that God will be the merciful Lord he has shown himself to be and he won't give me what I deserve, but instead will help guide me back to His path.

This song just always gets turned up whenever I hear it.  I pray the message is received and maybe if I play it a little louder it will be.

Obligations

I was reminded last night of the profound need for ashes in a Christian life....there is none.

The priest who led the Ash Wednesday service I attended noted that ashes are just dust and while Ash Wednesday is a Holy Day of Obligation so are lots of other days, like Sunday, and he waxed poetic about the idea of handing out ash on other church holidays to spike attendance.  An interesting thought if the faithful's goal is only to get their ash.  It was an interesting sales pitch to say the least...it's Ash Wednesday, skip the ashes.

He then talked about prayer, alms giving, and fasting.

Prayer he mentioned from the perspective, now is the time to reflect on your relationship with God.  The priest's comments made me think of a marriage counselor talking about two separated entities...how would God know you love him if you don't talk and how can you talk if you don't pray?  Indeed.

He also mentioned alms giving and fasting as a way to push ourselves not into denial, but to limit ourselves from things we may want more than we should.  How often do we hang onto dollars that might be better spent in the social arm of the church?  How often do we order the second helping of food which we didn't need and don't finish?

Most importantly though, my borrowed priest for the day - since I was out of town - mentioned the idea of giving something up.  He referenced Joel and the accounts of people who would pray aloud or fast so as to be seen.  He said if giving up chocolate or soda makes you irritable and a less Christian person, skip it.  The idea is to avoid the item you like to realize your needs can be filled by your love of God...if you let Him in.  A great homily on a great day.

Soul Cleaner

Did you see what I saw in the media?  You know...about Pope Francis?

For some reason, as this article mentions, the main stream media seemed to miss the comments His Holiness made about Confession.

I know.  Amazing.  Pope Francis - the media darling who is supposedly a liberal - is encouraging the faithful to be cleansed via Confession.

He reminds us that priests act as representatives of Christ authorizing them, as Christ authorized his twelve, that those sins they forgive, are forgiven. (Matthew 6:14)  He also assured us of the gentleness of Christ's representatives: "Jesus is there...and He receives you with so much love."

It is a powerful message to give up the burden of our sin to the one who died for it.  We should follow His Holiness' call for greater attention to Confession and the subsequent beauty that comes via Reconciliation.  Again, Pope Francis delights.  It's just too bad the media didn't seem to want to hear this message.  Again.

Hallmark Holidays And Such...

I know, I know...Valentine's Day is just another Hallmark holiday designed to separate men from their wallets in an effort to woo women.  Chocolate and flowers and expensive dinners and such.  Is it possible there could be more?

While there are multiple Valentines, the holiday is usually based on Valentine, a third century priest during the Roman Empire who would illegally marry young couples, particularly soldiers.

History buffs will recall that in the third century, Rome had adversaries on three sides and was in massive distress at the possibility of being over run on three sides.  This Crisis Of The Third Century.  Emperor Claudius II banned marriage between the young as he believed that unmarried soldiers were more likely to fight strongly than their married counterparts.

Meanwhile Valentine believed firmly in the church's sacrament of marriage and would marry these couples in secret.  When he was found out he was thrown in prison and beat with clubs.  He was eventually beheaded on, you guessed it, 14 February.

Relics of St. Valentine are actually kept in Ireland of all places at the Whitefriar Carmelite Church.  Should you be in Dublin, this is a great opportunity to be part of the Saint who loved both love and the love the Church shows the world.

Retreat?

Post Grammys I heard a discussion of Christian friends who were worried about Beyoncé's performance and the homosexual weddings that took place.  The question was posed, would this happen at the Super Bowl or further, when would it happen?

The responses were pretty typical, but ran in fear.  It was the normal discussion about of course the NFL would allow gay marriages at the Super Bowl (at some point), the whole thing is awful.  It was the language of chicken little:

 

"The sky is falling, the sky is falling...the world is filling with darkness and coming to an end."

And?  And, so what?

As Christians, you know the world is coming to an end.  Your life on Earth is short lived, so who cares what the Super Bowl or the Grammys or popular culture does?  You say you are a Christian...you're supposed to be in the minority.

Do you remember Matthew 19:24?  Easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle mean anything?  Christianity is not easy and I am not sure it is supposed to be easy unless we are ready to submit ourselves to Christ.

In that chapter, Christ talks to his disciples about following him and giving up everything and that when he is seated on his throne they will be seated on thrones as well.  He speaks about those who abandon "houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more..."  It doesn't sound easy to me?

I bring it up because why do we care what pop culture does?  It isn't enough for someone to judge the situation for themselves and decide they are right.  There is human law which comes from divine law about what is right and wrong.  Isn't that what we believe as Christians?

Don't we understand there is a certain irrationality to a person who claims to be a good person using their own standard?  In essence they are saying, I am God Almighty, I can determine what is and isn't good for myself based on a changing cultural vector point.  If we believe that to be irrational, why do we let it bother us when they chant their beliefs?

Maybe I am wrong, but when things like this happen in modern culture, I am disappointed, but not surprised.  We live in a broken world and as Christians we have the opportunity to add light to that world, but why do we run and hide when the world answers us back it wants the easy way?  How many times does God ask us to repent and we don't?  Why should we expect more of others?

Fear not my Christian brethren.  Life may be short.  We may be in an awful world, but ours is to submit to Christ, not despair when the battle is against us.

I guess this is the same talk I hear again and again.  America is going down hill, the NFL is going down hill, etc. etc.  It may be, but that is okay.

Remember, it was Christ who said, "In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)  We needn't fear anything the NFL does, or the direction towards Evil that America may be turning in.  Christ has outlasted the NFL, America, and will do so with everything else.  Be of good cheer.

Caring For The Community Of Believers

Today, the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth celebrated the Installation and Ordination of our new Bishop, Michael Fors Olson.  As a relatively new convert to the Roman Catholic Church I was not surprised by the pomp and circumstance, but I was impressed with the relative ease Bishop Olson appears to carry his office in a humble way.

The homily offered by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller was interesting to me not only for its religious commentary, but for its implications to everyday leadership.

Among his comments were that a Bishop must be in multiple places.  The Bishop of a Diocese, [or a leader of any organization for that matter], must be in front of the group showing it the way.  He must be in the middle of the group keeping the group huddled together moving forward.  Finally, the Bishop must be behind the group ensuring that no one is left behind.

There are a number of business and organizational leadership commentaries that are hidden in those few sentences he offered.

Important to Catholics though are Archbishop Gustavo's comments - met by applause and laughter - that a Bishop should have the smell of sheep.  These comments clearly indicate that the revolution started by Francis will continue locally.  Here to there is a leadership lesson.


How can leaders be expected to lead when they are not on the front lines of the problems their "flock" is facing?

While I hear regularly that religion needs to be removed from government and business, I wonder if this is true.  It sounds like there are many principles that both government and big business could learn from their faith based counterparts at understanding leadership and holding a flock.

Perhaps I am wrong, but for myself, I am excited by the leadership in my diocese and glad to be part of it.  Good luck Bishop Olson.  I am praying for you.

This Is My Blood...Shed For Many

Earlier today I checked in on Facebook at church with a comment about "Mass and a blood donation" to a few comments about how it seemed the church wanted more than just a financial donation.

One of the verses used during Communion is from Mark 14:24 "This is my blood from the new covenant, which is shed for many."

The comment made was not inappropriate and certainly not malicious, but it brings three thoughts to mind for me.

First, be careful how you post your check ins to Facebook.  If I had more carefully written my check in I think it would have avoided the possible confusion.

Second, are we simply to attend church in hopes of "doing our time", dropping our donation in the basket, and heading home?  I hope not.

As Christians, we are called not to be Christian on Sunday, but on every day.  As Pope Francis noted on Twitter, "The Lord is knocking at the door of our hearts. Have we put a sign on the door saying: 'Do not disturb'?"  Our jobs as Christians do not end at 5:00PM Monday thru Friday and as we learn from the Scriptures, Christ calls on us to take our faith into our every day lives.

If we are teachers, we are to be Christ to our students; if we are merchants, we should sell that which is Holy; if we are fisherman, we should fish for men.

Third, blood donations are needed.  Pretty much every day.  The average blood donation is used by three patients as the blood is converted into its components of plasma, platelets, and red blood cells.  Most adults have between ten to twelve pints of blood surging through their arteries and veins every day.

Blood carries oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from the cells.  It also removes other metabolic waste.  Finally, blood does two amazing things in terms of fighting infection and clotting wounds.  For this reason alone, blood is much more useful than typical IV fluids.  Indeed, current medical research suggests we have overused isotonic IV fluids - which carry neither oxygen nor clotting agents - and this overuse has only filled vasculature.  It has not kept organs alive with oxygen and in general, the rapid infusion has blown clots apart and cooled the patient.  Bad and bad.  Blood on the other hand carries oxygen and has clotting factors to help the body recover from the injury necessitating its use.

For myself, I am up to twelve gallons of donated blood just with Carter Blood Care.  I say this as a source of personal accomplishment, not because my arms are more special than yours, but because in addition to my regular job I may have been able to help dozens and dozens of patients.

People like Saint Therese of Liseux tell us we should try to be Christ-like where they can.  Perhaps, donating blood makes me more Christ-like.  Like my Savior, I have shed blood for many too.   I ask you to donate blood too and shed blood for those who need it.

Miracles Do Happen

People ask all the time do miracles still happen and I would have to say they do.  In their Sunday, 12 January 2014 editorial, USA Today's editorial board criticizes the President for his attack on the Little Sisters Of The Poor.

While I missed the original editorial in my post on the subject, it is clear that we see things similarly. As their line notes "nuns and birth control just don't mix."

I did not realize the disparity, but as USA Today notes, the government is losing 95% of its cases.  In nineteen out of twenty cases, courts are issuing stays to non-profits from having to comply against their consciousness.  When President Obama says the American people want this, I think me might just be incorrect.  Worse for Obama and Co. is this statement:

In several cases, even if the government wins, the whole exercise will not result in a single woman getting a single free contraceptive, because under a different law, the insurers themselves are exempt. So what exactly does the administration hope to gain?

It shows the militant nature of those against the policy that they would rather pick a fight with nuns than simply allow them to care for the elderly poor as they have done for years.