Hard Sayings Of The Old Testament

Hard Sayings Of The Old Testament

Was recently discussing the difficulties of the Old Testament with a friend that is somewhere between agnostic and atheist.  Was quite thankful to have this as a resource in addressing his questions about God ordering the killing of entire cultures...

Confused culture

Our culture is so confused.  We deny logic, truth, and reality and are blind to even that reality.  We do our darnedest to separate actions from their consequences, to damaging results.

Consider:

Rick Pitino and the American Hypocrisy

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not complaining that an adulterer lost his job and that a public message was sent that adultery is not acceptable.  But, the reality is that a) it is exceptionally rare that any employer or institution take a moral stand on an issue like this and b) there is an enormous hypocrisy in the nation that says an employer can take steps to protect itself and the law will side with them while the people really, truly and most profoundly affected - the spouse and children - are stuck with this ridiculous legal concept of the "no fault" divorce.

What an amazing insight

Crying children call to mind the mystery of the Mass

A priest friend of mine posted a link to this earlier this week.  I enjoyed it when I read it.  I thought it was a great insight, especially since I recall attending Mass when our kids were infants at a Church without a "baby ghetto" and feeling those looks, stares, and unwelcoming glances.  It actually drove my wife and I away from the Church for several years.  I have since resolved to NEVER be so uncharitable or unloving to anyone that is actually making an effort to spend time with God at the Mass or in His House.

But... it wasn't until last night that I realized just how amazing this perspective is.

I keep coming back to this message...

Jesus is not a means and our experience an end

It is such a key thing to understand about or relationship with our God. I know that feeling of consolation; the joy, happiness, and overwhelming awareness that God is present and loving me.  It is amazing. It's remarkable. And it would be addictive if it were constant or regular. No doubt, I would turn to prayer, Mass, and adoration for the sake of that high alone if it were singeing I knew I could expect regularly.

But praise God, he knows me. He knows my weakness. He knows what I need.  He desires a true relationship where I choose to love Him for who is He is and how He loves me.  He knows that if I felt consolation every time I prayed, attended Mass, received the Eucharist, were absolved of my sins, or sat in the presence of the Eucharist I would do all those things simply for the pleasure I receive.

He's given and gives me just enough to be certain in my faith.  And I do all these things and more, not for the selfish pleasure, but out of sheer love and appreciation for who He is and what He has done and will do for me.

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!"

Jesus Is Not a Means, and Our Experience Is Not the End |Blogs | NCRegister.com

Jesus Is Not a Means, and Our Experience Is Not the End |Blogs | NCRegister.com

A very important message to remember here...

Catholicism and Suffering

Catholicism and Suffering:

Howard Kainz on sin and suffering in Catholicism: As Jesus brought about atonement and salvation, so also individual Christians by suffering can atone for the sins of others.

For month's now I have been enduring my own suffering.  Suffering through a painful separation that sends me into fits of despair, anger and anguish.  Suffering at seeing my children hurt and confused by their mother's absence from our home.  Some days are easier than others.  Today has not been one of the easy days, though it is far from the worst.  While the difficult days make it hard to follow teachings like this, it is only being reminded of the value of my suffering, being reminded to thank God for the opportunity to serve Him so painfully that I will allow me to make it through this period of my life, on to the next, and ultimately join Him in Glory.

Consequence Free Sex? Debunking the Myth

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-myth-of-consequence-free-sex/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NCRegister%2FTheArchbolds+Pat+%26+Matthew+Archbold#When:2012-03-7

Logic and the Culture of Death

The Culture of Death has been front and center in the news this year.  From the Planned Parenthood v. Susan G. Komen spat to the HHS mandate battle, the battle against the anti-life movement in this country has risen to a new and frightful level.  With the heightened attention comes a lot more public debate and bloviating and in looking at that those fighting for the right to kill children, willfully disregarding the rights of others to free speech and free practice of religion, and pushing forward the Culture of Death agenda, I find that so many of their arguments are completely disjointed and separated from logic.  Let's take a look at a few of the recent arguments I've seen.

Blaming the Church for poorly educated Catholics

Recently I was involved in a discussion about contraception and other elements of the Catholic faith that are so poorly understood or followed by Catholics.  In the course of that discussion, one of the participants insisted the problem was entirely the Church and its failure to educate people in the faith.  As it was a diversion from our real point of discussion we sort of tabled that line of thought for a later day.  I didn't wholly agree with his attribution of blame, but it wasn't until later that I gave it a lot of thought.