JMJ. I was on my way to check out paint swatches yesterday, driving down the road to our local Lowe's store about ten miles away. I was praying the Rosary although that's not unusual. I was using a rosary to count, though, and that is. Usually I just count in my head as I go along but I often miscount so the Blessed Mother sometimes gets 15 Hail Marys per decade instead of ten. Anyway, I had both hands on the wheel with the rosary in my left. I stopped at a red light and happened to look at the car next to me. It was driven by a 20-ish young man who had both hands on his wheel, too. He, though, was texting on his cell-phone as he sat there and then as he began to drive away when the light changed.
Unsafe? Of course. What struck me as ironic is that we represented two forces--the spiritual and the secular. Now, I'm not sitting in judgment on him or blowing my own horn. In fact, I'm not sure what the point is that I'm trying to make. Maybe just that we both chose different ways to make the drive productive. I think I'll continue to pray the Rosary.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
"The Berea Water"
JMJ. There must be something really great in our Berea water supply. I was taking a shower the other day (I know, I do that from time to time) and I got an amazing insight into a passage from Holy Scripture. It's the verse from Luke dealing with the finding of the Child Jesus in the temple, to wit, chapter 2, verse 52. St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother found that Jesus was not present on their returning to Nazareth and returned to Jerusalem hoping that He had remained there. They found Him, discoursing with the learned ones in the Temple.
Now, as an FYI, I have been continually amazed lately at the number of people within the Church who feel that they may go around, teaching and conducting Church business as they see fit. In Cleveland, as only one example, our Bishop had closed a number of parishes which he felt were not productive. Many parishioners, understandably, were upset that their spiritual homes were being closed. In this instance the parishioners appealed to their pastor. They rented a commercial area which they now call their "worship space" and their pastor there administers the sacraments, in defiance of His Excellency.
Imagine my awe when I recalled the above-mentioned passage, "And He went down with them [St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother] and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them..." Do you see the enormity of this? Jesus had every reason to be there. After all, it was His Father's house. Although only twelve years old in time, Jesus--the second Person of the Blessed Trinity Who has existed for all eternity, is obedient to two of His creatures! Why? Because as His parents, they were in authority over Him!
By acting out of their own arrogance and hubris, so many bishops, priests, and laity place themselves superior (by their actions) to our Lord Jesus Christ because they will not accept the God-given authority of their superiors. One expects this of Protestants but it is sad to see it within our Church. Have mercy on us, Lord.
Now, as an FYI, I have been continually amazed lately at the number of people within the Church who feel that they may go around, teaching and conducting Church business as they see fit. In Cleveland, as only one example, our Bishop had closed a number of parishes which he felt were not productive. Many parishioners, understandably, were upset that their spiritual homes were being closed. In this instance the parishioners appealed to their pastor. They rented a commercial area which they now call their "worship space" and their pastor there administers the sacraments, in defiance of His Excellency.
Imagine my awe when I recalled the above-mentioned passage, "And He went down with them [St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother] and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them..." Do you see the enormity of this? Jesus had every reason to be there. After all, it was His Father's house. Although only twelve years old in time, Jesus--the second Person of the Blessed Trinity Who has existed for all eternity, is obedient to two of His creatures! Why? Because as His parents, they were in authority over Him!
By acting out of their own arrogance and hubris, so many bishops, priests, and laity place themselves superior (by their actions) to our Lord Jesus Christ because they will not accept the God-given authority of their superiors. One expects this of Protestants but it is sad to see it within our Church. Have mercy on us, Lord.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
"The Woman In the Moon"
JMJ. I was walking the dog the other night. He gets a chance to smell smells, get a little exercise and use nature's facilities before I go to bed each night. The only time I mind it is during the winter when I can think of about a zillion other things I'd rather be doing. But Linus is a good dog and doesn't ask for much so I try to be charitable about it, regardless of the weather.
Anyway, I waited a little bit longer this night than usual and it was quite dark by the time we went out. It's a great time to think, BTW, and to pray a little, too. We hadn't gone more than a couple hundred feet and there it was, exploding before my very eyes in splendour--the moon, completely full and shining brightly in a cloudless sky. Yes, I think I could make out the "man in the moon" but it struck me how much more the moon reminds me of Our Lady. Now, like 95% of the stuff on this site, this is not original to me--I'm sure I read it somewhere else.
But it just hit me, I guess you could say. There she shone, in all her glory, immaculate in a gown of off-platinum, surrounded by the deepest blue. A beacon, if you will, to light our steps when the sun is not there to do so. To guide us from straying from the true path. How does She do this? By some innate power of Her own? Hardly! She does it by reflecting Her Son, our sun. It is His brightness, His refulgence, His majesty that supplies Her power. She is the mirror for us, taking rays from half a globe away and using them, dutifully, for His glory and our benefit. Think about that the next time you're out with the family mutt. Thanks, Linus. I owe you.
Anyway, I waited a little bit longer this night than usual and it was quite dark by the time we went out. It's a great time to think, BTW, and to pray a little, too. We hadn't gone more than a couple hundred feet and there it was, exploding before my very eyes in splendour--the moon, completely full and shining brightly in a cloudless sky. Yes, I think I could make out the "man in the moon" but it struck me how much more the moon reminds me of Our Lady. Now, like 95% of the stuff on this site, this is not original to me--I'm sure I read it somewhere else.
But it just hit me, I guess you could say. There she shone, in all her glory, immaculate in a gown of off-platinum, surrounded by the deepest blue. A beacon, if you will, to light our steps when the sun is not there to do so. To guide us from straying from the true path. How does She do this? By some innate power of Her own? Hardly! She does it by reflecting Her Son, our sun. It is His brightness, His refulgence, His majesty that supplies Her power. She is the mirror for us, taking rays from half a globe away and using them, dutifully, for His glory and our benefit. Think about that the next time you're out with the family mutt. Thanks, Linus. I owe you.
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