What is truth?
This is the question Pilate asked Jesus while the answer was staring him in the face. Truth is objective not relative, that is reality is grounded in God, not us. The quicker we accept this, the better we can handle suffering.
The great tragedy of today is that truth has been replaced by preferences, goodness by whim and beauty by “fun.” In my 37 years of teaching, the overwhelming majority of students I encountered were of the belief that truth, goodness and beauty were relative: They were whatever you wanted to make of them. My conception of them may differ from yours, and this was to be celebrated, not lamented.
The reality is far different. We are in a severe moral crisis in which the eternal truths have been exchanged for temporary fads. We have been blinded into valuing quick fixes more than a permanent transformation.
If only we would open ourselves up to God through prayer and penance, we would be given the grace to see things as they truly are and the power to love as God wants us to. On our own, we are pitiably weak creatures, but with sanctifying grace, we can live the very life of God. This is extraordinarily beautiful.
Read rest
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Tips for Confession
Some tips on going to confession from a priest who cares:
1. Prayerfully prepare! If you don't prepare, it's like practicing your Spanish at the ATM with a bunch of people waiting in line.
2. Prepare with an examination of conscience. Many different kinds are available — based on the Ten Commandments, the Virtues, your particular vocation, for adults, for children, etc. Prepare. Don't be that sinner who has to confess not being prepared to confess.
3. Think about what you've made friends with that is keeping you from a true friendship with God. Greed? Pride? Too much bacon? Selfishness? Lukewarmness? Seriously — think about you're sins with respect to whom or what you have favored more than God.
4. Be ready to repent! "I'm done with this, that and the other thing. I want to change and I trust in the Lord to help me!" That should be our disposition to the sacrament. Our faith and repentance unleash the mighty power of God's grace in the confession!
5. GO. TO. CONFESSION. DO IT! God promises mercy. He doesn't promise tomorrow.
Read Rest
1. Prayerfully prepare! If you don't prepare, it's like practicing your Spanish at the ATM with a bunch of people waiting in line.
2. Prepare with an examination of conscience. Many different kinds are available — based on the Ten Commandments, the Virtues, your particular vocation, for adults, for children, etc. Prepare. Don't be that sinner who has to confess not being prepared to confess.
3. Think about what you've made friends with that is keeping you from a true friendship with God. Greed? Pride? Too much bacon? Selfishness? Lukewarmness? Seriously — think about you're sins with respect to whom or what you have favored more than God.
4. Be ready to repent! "I'm done with this, that and the other thing. I want to change and I trust in the Lord to help me!" That should be our disposition to the sacrament. Our faith and repentance unleash the mighty power of God's grace in the confession!
5. GO. TO. CONFESSION. DO IT! God promises mercy. He doesn't promise tomorrow.
Read Rest
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Celibacy
In order to fulfill this mission of the Gospel it is necessary to free oneself from any earthly and human attachment. And seeing that this separation signifies the loss of what is taken for granted, Jesus promises a "recompense" that is more than appropriate.
Now, seeing that the Gospels were written between 40 and 70 A.D., their redactors would have been brought into a bad light if they had attributed to Jesus words that did not correspond to their conduct of life. Jesus, in fact, demands that those who have been made participants in his mission must also adopt his way of life.
But what does Paul mean, when in the first letter to the Corinthians (9:1, 4-6) he writes: "Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? . . . Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brethren of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?" Do not these questions and statements take it for granted that the apostles were accompanied by their wives?
One must proceed with caution here. The apostle's rhetorical questions referred to the right of the one who proclaims the Gospel to live at the expense of the community, and this also applies to the one who accompanies him.
And this obviously brings up the question of who this companion may be. The Greek expression "adelphén gynaìka" requires an explanation. "Adelphe" means sister. And here sister in the faith means a Christian, while "gyne" indicates - more generically - a woman, whether virgin or wife. In short, a female person. This makes it impossible to demonstrate that the apostles were accompanied by wives. Because if this were a case one would be unable to understand why an "adelphe" is distinctly spoken of as a sister, and therefore a Christian. As for the wife, it must be understood that the apostle left her at the time when he became part of the circle of disciples.
Link
Now, seeing that the Gospels were written between 40 and 70 A.D., their redactors would have been brought into a bad light if they had attributed to Jesus words that did not correspond to their conduct of life. Jesus, in fact, demands that those who have been made participants in his mission must also adopt his way of life.
But what does Paul mean, when in the first letter to the Corinthians (9:1, 4-6) he writes: "Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? . . . Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brethren of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?" Do not these questions and statements take it for granted that the apostles were accompanied by their wives?
One must proceed with caution here. The apostle's rhetorical questions referred to the right of the one who proclaims the Gospel to live at the expense of the community, and this also applies to the one who accompanies him.
And this obviously brings up the question of who this companion may be. The Greek expression "adelphén gynaìka" requires an explanation. "Adelphe" means sister. And here sister in the faith means a Christian, while "gyne" indicates - more generically - a woman, whether virgin or wife. In short, a female person. This makes it impossible to demonstrate that the apostles were accompanied by wives. Because if this were a case one would be unable to understand why an "adelphe" is distinctly spoken of as a sister, and therefore a Christian. As for the wife, it must be understood that the apostle left her at the time when he became part of the circle of disciples.
Link
Monday, December 22, 2014
The Devil's Tactics
In any relationship, the best two ways to combat temptation to get annoyed with someone is to have patience and to talk about it. Both are easier said than done.
Patience is a virtue not easily acquired, but it is one of the most fundamental virtues to living a life of peace and holiness. Without patience, we would daily fight about the littlest things and the relationship would fall apart soon after the honeymoon.
Yet, patience by itself is never enough in a healthy relationship. “Patience” could easily turn someone into a doormat whereby the other person walks on them on a daily basis. That is why communication is a most necessary key to living a happy and joy-filled marriage (or any type of relationship for that matter). If you do not talk about the things that are annoying you, then it is impossible for the other person to possibly change or to recognize their behavior.
To continue the example of not picking up your clothes, at first you can have a little patience, allowing the other person some leeway room, but if it is something that is perpetually bothering you, it must be talked about. It is a habit the can be changed.
It will be up to the couple to discuss and communicate what habits can be changed and what things will require a perpetual practice of patience.Some habits are easier to deal with than others. However, once the topic is out in the open, it can’t fester beneath the surface and become a greater problem down the road. Open communication is the key.
Link
Patience is a virtue not easily acquired, but it is one of the most fundamental virtues to living a life of peace and holiness. Without patience, we would daily fight about the littlest things and the relationship would fall apart soon after the honeymoon.
Yet, patience by itself is never enough in a healthy relationship. “Patience” could easily turn someone into a doormat whereby the other person walks on them on a daily basis. That is why communication is a most necessary key to living a happy and joy-filled marriage (or any type of relationship for that matter). If you do not talk about the things that are annoying you, then it is impossible for the other person to possibly change or to recognize their behavior.
To continue the example of not picking up your clothes, at first you can have a little patience, allowing the other person some leeway room, but if it is something that is perpetually bothering you, it must be talked about. It is a habit the can be changed.
It will be up to the couple to discuss and communicate what habits can be changed and what things will require a perpetual practice of patience.Some habits are easier to deal with than others. However, once the topic is out in the open, it can’t fester beneath the surface and become a greater problem down the road. Open communication is the key.
Link
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Power of Silence
Silence is the beginning of prayer. It is the beginning of thought. It is the beginning of love. God is largely: silent. (Yet is anyone or thing remotely as powerful?)
In silence, Daniel knew God's Voice. God's Spirit leads men to silence and repentance. God's message to Nebuchadnezzar was conveyed through dreams -- in quiet. Silence leads to inspiration; it leads to understanding. It is rational. Yet, it is imaginative. Usually, it is calm. "Silence is often referred to in terms of space: the immensity inside, the cave of the heart, the oasis of quiet, the inner sanctuary, the interior castle, the sacred center where God dwells," notes one spiritual source.
There was the silence of the Manger. Silent night. It is a golden rule. Hold your tongue and you will hold your peace. Silencio. You don't usually regret what you have not said.
It is God's first language.
"Silence of the heart is necessary so you can hear God everywhere, in the closing of the door, in the person who needs you, in the birds that sing, in the animals," said Mother Teresa.
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