JMJ. The Cleveland "Plain Dealer" is your usual liberal mouth-piece. They've got a token conservative assistant Editor (who's really a very thoughtful and intelligent writer and lightning rod for all the liberal diatribes) and a couple Christians whose theology is awfully iffy. Oh, and a bunch of folks whose secularism is amply apparent. One of the so-called Christians, citing hypocrisy on the part of the Republicans, said that if one were truly pro-life, the death penalty should immediately be repealed. I happen to agree. The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has said that though Biblically defensible, the death penalty should be used very rarely, if at all.
The Democrats, though, are hardly the ones to holler "hypocrite" when you consider that in the case of the United States, the number of executions could be numbered in the thousands whereas in the thirty-some years since Roe v. Wade, millions of babies have been aborted each year. What's wrong with this picture? I think it is well past time to drop artificial divisions. It is senseless to proclaim oneself Republican or Democrat. One is either pro-life or pro-death. There is, and can be, no middle ground. Christ said in the Gospels that He would return at the end of time and separate the sheep and the goats, the wheat and the chaff. In reality we are doing it for Him.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
"Somewhere in Time"
JMJ. I admit I have a real problem with time. Not telling time, mind you, but being patient in it. Like the vast majority of Americans, when I want something, I want it NOW! God doesn't work that way. I don't think they have watches in heaven since they run on the Eternal Now Time Zone.
In fairness to me, my impatience has more to do with the salvation of souls than when my next airplane model is affordable. Thankfully, and through the grace of God, I'm not as tied to the material as I once was though Linda might disagree with that. It's hard, though, to look around at our society and see the people who are unwittingly flirting with damnation. It's bad enough to sin knowingly but when one is totally blind spiritually, how is one to know that one's feet dance at the edge of the precipice and that the next false step might be one's last?
That's where my impatience comes in. I know by what a miracle the scales fell from my eyes and I want the same thing for EVERYONE. NOW! Our Lady at Fatima told the three children that souls were being lost to hell every moment of the day. That thought sends shivers down my back. Repeat after me: "Dear Holy Ghost, please open the hearts and minds of all who do not know the Truth of Jesus Christ. Blessed Mother Mary, please whisper in their ears that Christ knocks on the doors of our hearts and wants to bear each of His sheep home to His Heavenly Father. Amen."
In fairness to me, my impatience has more to do with the salvation of souls than when my next airplane model is affordable. Thankfully, and through the grace of God, I'm not as tied to the material as I once was though Linda might disagree with that. It's hard, though, to look around at our society and see the people who are unwittingly flirting with damnation. It's bad enough to sin knowingly but when one is totally blind spiritually, how is one to know that one's feet dance at the edge of the precipice and that the next false step might be one's last?
That's where my impatience comes in. I know by what a miracle the scales fell from my eyes and I want the same thing for EVERYONE. NOW! Our Lady at Fatima told the three children that souls were being lost to hell every moment of the day. That thought sends shivers down my back. Repeat after me: "Dear Holy Ghost, please open the hearts and minds of all who do not know the Truth of Jesus Christ. Blessed Mother Mary, please whisper in their ears that Christ knocks on the doors of our hearts and wants to bear each of His sheep home to His Heavenly Father. Amen."
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
"What Size a Miracle?"
JMJ. What do YOU think of when you hear the word "miracle?" Usually I think of big, splashy extravaganzas, a la Cecil B. DeMille. You know the kind--Moses sticks up his two arms and the sea flees from him and ultimately ends up drowning the Egyptians following behind in their chariots. Or the miracle of October, 1917 when the sun came down out of the heavens over the small village of Fatima, Portugal presaging the arrival of the Blessed Mother of God. Or even the time this poor man got hung up on a cross beam of a tree and appeared again alive, three days after His documented death. You know, big, in-your-face type events.
Sometimes, though, they come to us in small, bite-size, out-of-the-corner-of-your-eye happenings, kind of like the caress of the wind on your cheek. The birth of a child is of this kind although a good bit noisier. This latter type is what happened just recently in my home-town, Berea. I've mentioned before the religous goods store, Tilma, where the Blessed Mother whispered that Her Son was knocking at the door to my heart. I owe my faith to this store and its proprietess who staffs Tilma, taking no salary. She is paid in the small kisses on the cheek our Lord gives her occasionally to let her, and all of us Tilma groupies, know that He's alive and well, working in our community.
Well, to make a long story even longer, the economy has not been kind to the religious goods sector. Tilma was in imminent danger of closing its doors completely at the end of this last month and there was no discernible answer to the economic dilemma. Jan Marie was confiding this to me one day and the only answer we could see was to pray as we've never prayed before. A lady who was shopping (and over-heard the conversation) agreed with us and also was distressed at the bleak imminence of Tilma's closing. Once she left she drafted a letter with all pertinent information, circulated it to all her friends, and suggested that if they loved Tilma they would do the same thing--pray, shop, contribute, and pass the word.
I took the problem to all the saints I'm particularly attached to and Jan Marie took her prayers to the Infant of Prague. Or rather, to His antique porcelain statue. The figure needed, in the high four-figure range, was written on a small piece of paper and placed under the statue. Shoot, you've already guessed the outcome. Sales increased dramatically, folks were becoming militant, and we even received a donation from a professional person in a small, rural town in Ohio that no one knew anything of. Both person and town! Within three weeks Tilma was out of the woods and out of debt! A small miracle, but an important one, we think. Tilma (Our Lady's Store in Berea) will continue with its out-reach apostolates and will continue, through the grace of God, to evangelise to all. Deo gratias!
Sometimes, though, they come to us in small, bite-size, out-of-the-corner-of-your-eye happenings, kind of like the caress of the wind on your cheek. The birth of a child is of this kind although a good bit noisier. This latter type is what happened just recently in my home-town, Berea. I've mentioned before the religous goods store, Tilma, where the Blessed Mother whispered that Her Son was knocking at the door to my heart. I owe my faith to this store and its proprietess who staffs Tilma, taking no salary. She is paid in the small kisses on the cheek our Lord gives her occasionally to let her, and all of us Tilma groupies, know that He's alive and well, working in our community.
Well, to make a long story even longer, the economy has not been kind to the religious goods sector. Tilma was in imminent danger of closing its doors completely at the end of this last month and there was no discernible answer to the economic dilemma. Jan Marie was confiding this to me one day and the only answer we could see was to pray as we've never prayed before. A lady who was shopping (and over-heard the conversation) agreed with us and also was distressed at the bleak imminence of Tilma's closing. Once she left she drafted a letter with all pertinent information, circulated it to all her friends, and suggested that if they loved Tilma they would do the same thing--pray, shop, contribute, and pass the word.
I took the problem to all the saints I'm particularly attached to and Jan Marie took her prayers to the Infant of Prague. Or rather, to His antique porcelain statue. The figure needed, in the high four-figure range, was written on a small piece of paper and placed under the statue. Shoot, you've already guessed the outcome. Sales increased dramatically, folks were becoming militant, and we even received a donation from a professional person in a small, rural town in Ohio that no one knew anything of. Both person and town! Within three weeks Tilma was out of the woods and out of debt! A small miracle, but an important one, we think. Tilma (Our Lady's Store in Berea) will continue with its out-reach apostolates and will continue, through the grace of God, to evangelise to all. Deo gratias!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
"A Must-Read"
JMJ. I should have posted this a few weeks ago but then, I put the "pro" in procrastination. If nothing else you'd have a great idea for a Christmas gift made to keep giving and giving. (Sounds like the flu, doesn't it?) Actually, I'm writing about the book by Archbishop Chas. Chaput of the Archdiocese of Denver, entitled Render Unto Caesar. I finished it about a month ago and managed to do so, reading sporadically, in less than a week.
Although it's a call to arms to the laity, bidding them vote carefully, it is even more a call to militancy on behalf of the things that are God's. We need to hear this and need to hear it forcefully. Christ told the Pharisees to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things which are God's. Americans in particular and most Christians around the world in general have the first part down pat. It's the second part that's the stickler. That's the tough part.
I think the reason for the difficulty is two-fold. Either we don't know what is actually God's and how to render it unto Him, or we do but have convinced ourselves that we don't need to do it or that we can render it as suits us. Americans are justly proud of our democracy but in religous matters we automatically assume that that same democracy ought to apply there, too. It doesn't. Our Church is a monarchy with Jesus Christ as our King and the Holy Father, the Pope, as His regent or prime minister.
God managed to create the heavens and earth without our help and I seriously doubt that He needs our suggestions as to how best to run it. We poor humans just can't help kibitzing, though. If I had a dollar for every time someone said to me (or in times past, I said to myself), "I don't think" or "I think that" or "It's my opinion", I'd never have to work another day in my life. That's a sign that we think that we know better than the Almighty. We don't. Archbishop Chaput disabuses us of this notion, does it well and charitably, and then shows us how to be Catholics obedient to the will of God. PLEASE pick up and read his book. Then e-mail him at his archiocesan web-site. He really does answer his own e-mail.
Although it's a call to arms to the laity, bidding them vote carefully, it is even more a call to militancy on behalf of the things that are God's. We need to hear this and need to hear it forcefully. Christ told the Pharisees to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things which are God's. Americans in particular and most Christians around the world in general have the first part down pat. It's the second part that's the stickler. That's the tough part.
I think the reason for the difficulty is two-fold. Either we don't know what is actually God's and how to render it unto Him, or we do but have convinced ourselves that we don't need to do it or that we can render it as suits us. Americans are justly proud of our democracy but in religous matters we automatically assume that that same democracy ought to apply there, too. It doesn't. Our Church is a monarchy with Jesus Christ as our King and the Holy Father, the Pope, as His regent or prime minister.
God managed to create the heavens and earth without our help and I seriously doubt that He needs our suggestions as to how best to run it. We poor humans just can't help kibitzing, though. If I had a dollar for every time someone said to me (or in times past, I said to myself), "I don't think" or "I think that" or "It's my opinion", I'd never have to work another day in my life. That's a sign that we think that we know better than the Almighty. We don't. Archbishop Chaput disabuses us of this notion, does it well and charitably, and then shows us how to be Catholics obedient to the will of God. PLEASE pick up and read his book. Then e-mail him at his archiocesan web-site. He really does answer his own e-mail.
Friday, December 3, 2010
"Politics NOT As Usual"
JMJ. If the last election did one thing, it pointed out the growing polarisation between the Republicrat and Democan parties. Ok, poor joke, but if one thing has become glaringly evident in American politics, it is that veniality is non-partisan. Folks get up on their soap boxes and accuse each other of accepting bribes or not working hard enough for the poor or debate the best way to fleece the middle class (who ultimately pay for everything anyway.)
American politics consists of one party achieving power and instituting its ruinous schemes while the losers rail and chastise that only they can reverse those boners. When the time comes and the electorate throws the bums out, the new in's leave things just the way they were and pass their OWN ruinous schemes that just make the whole mess worse.
Why vote for one party rather than the other then? Simple. The only program that makes a hill of beans'-worth of difference is the Culture of Life. The only person worth electing is the one who will protect the unborn, work to reverse Roe vs. Wade, vote against gay marriage and fetal stem cell research, and in short, do his or her best to serve our God. We are in His hands and we will be judged by how well we listen to Him and do His will. Nothing else matters. Once we are all on the same page, THEN we can worry about those pesky illegal aliens or the obscenely wealthy rich folks. I have a feeling we'll be waiting a long, long time.
American politics consists of one party achieving power and instituting its ruinous schemes while the losers rail and chastise that only they can reverse those boners. When the time comes and the electorate throws the bums out, the new in's leave things just the way they were and pass their OWN ruinous schemes that just make the whole mess worse.
Why vote for one party rather than the other then? Simple. The only program that makes a hill of beans'-worth of difference is the Culture of Life. The only person worth electing is the one who will protect the unborn, work to reverse Roe vs. Wade, vote against gay marriage and fetal stem cell research, and in short, do his or her best to serve our God. We are in His hands and we will be judged by how well we listen to Him and do His will. Nothing else matters. Once we are all on the same page, THEN we can worry about those pesky illegal aliens or the obscenely wealthy rich folks. I have a feeling we'll be waiting a long, long time.
Monday, November 15, 2010
"A Little Peck on the Cheek"
JMJ. I may have mentioned this before and if I have, please overlook my poor memory, but my friend Charlie has a concept he calls God's little peck on the cheek. I don't know if he thought it up all by himself but it refers to the fact that one's prayer life is not all sweetness and light. It is full of long periods of dryness when it seems that we're just praying to a deaf wall. We're not, of course, but it's oftentimes hard to keep this in mind. God DOES always hears prayers even if He doesn't always act on them or act on them the way we know He should.
What He DOES do is give us a little peck, just to let us know that He's there watching out for us and listening to us intently. I got one of these on the last First Friday at Tilma, my hang-out away from home. I was sitting talking to Jan Marie, the owner, when who should walk throught the door but my favourite pastor, Fr. B. And he had a bourse around his neck signifying that he bore the Blessed Sacrament. He owned that he was distributing Holy Communion to his parish's shut-ins for their First Friday devotion. (Now I ask you--how many priests are concerned with this devotion nowadays and of those, how many would personally deliver Communion? You see why he's my favourite priest.)
Anyway. I have often doubted my true acceptance and awareness of Christ's presence in the Blessed Sacrament. I mean I accept it and I profess it, but I'm not always sure if I've internalised it. Jan and I continued our conversation after greeting our Lord and Fr. B. and it was then I got my little peck on the cheek--I realised that the Person Jan and I were talking about was truly in our midst, listening to our conversation and hopefully approving what was said. It was an absolutely awesome feeling and a peck that I will always cherish. One more self-doubt expunged. Thanks, Lord.
What He DOES do is give us a little peck, just to let us know that He's there watching out for us and listening to us intently. I got one of these on the last First Friday at Tilma, my hang-out away from home. I was sitting talking to Jan Marie, the owner, when who should walk throught the door but my favourite pastor, Fr. B. And he had a bourse around his neck signifying that he bore the Blessed Sacrament. He owned that he was distributing Holy Communion to his parish's shut-ins for their First Friday devotion. (Now I ask you--how many priests are concerned with this devotion nowadays and of those, how many would personally deliver Communion? You see why he's my favourite priest.)
Anyway. I have often doubted my true acceptance and awareness of Christ's presence in the Blessed Sacrament. I mean I accept it and I profess it, but I'm not always sure if I've internalised it. Jan and I continued our conversation after greeting our Lord and Fr. B. and it was then I got my little peck on the cheek--I realised that the Person Jan and I were talking about was truly in our midst, listening to our conversation and hopefully approving what was said. It was an absolutely awesome feeling and a peck that I will always cherish. One more self-doubt expunged. Thanks, Lord.
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