Pondering/Reflection
Ponder with Paul, beneath the surface.
Two ‘hard’ Teachings of Christ are Related
It is fascinating that the two places in the New Testament that Jesus’ followers complain about His teachings are related to the intimacy of holy communion: the communion of man and woman in Marriage and the communion of Christ and Church in the Eucharist. The revolt was against Christ’s teaching that Marriage is exclusive and […]... Read More
There is No Progresssive or Conservative Catholicism
Whenever one takes a journey there are essential and non-essential things to consider. The essentials are necessary and cannot be changed while the non-essentials are optional and changeable by nature. The journey through life to heaven is no different. Therefore, there is no such thing as progressive Catholicism or conservative Catholicism with regard to the […]... Read More
12 Quick Points to Ponder on the Redemption of Man
1) Man’s sins are an infinite offense against the infinite and perfect goodness of God; an injustice that causes a profound rupture between God and man. Since disunion with God is Hell, mankind by sinning chose its eternal destiny. 2) To be reconciled with God, the offender (mankind represented in Adam) must pay the price […]... Read More
Creation and Evolution: Where Faith and Science Merge
Divine Revelation tells us that God created, and to a certain extent what He created; but did not intend to tell us exactly how or when. That’s for the realm of science and history respectively. With regard to man, the inspired text of Genesis 2:7 can be interpreted as an instantaeous act of God, or […]... Read More
When a Protestant hears ‘Church’….
When a Protestant hears a Catholic use the word ‘Church’ he hears man-made traditions and idolatry of saints. When a Catholic uses the word ‘Church’ he means the mystical body of Christ whose three realms (Heaven, Purgatory, Earth) with its divine Head are united and animated by the Holy Spirit. The first believes the gospels […]... Read More
Conceptual Truths Point to God
Conceptual truths of math, science, logic and philosphy are immaterial and objective. We not invent them, but discover them by the intellect. They’re a reality independent of human minds and human creativity. Since conceptual truths, like the law of non-contradiction and the equation 2+2=4, have always been true before our existence, and will always be […]... Read More
Foolish Pride Disguised as the Good Life
To use an analogy of fiction, many animals in Noah’s day refused to get on the ark, saying, “I will live my own way and God will be proud of my good works.” Eventually, in the midst of their lives of compassion and being pillars in their communities, they were wiped out by the deluge. […]... Read More
Faith and Works
The faith-works controversy may be assisted by looking back at the two main covenants of the Old Testament: God’s covenant with Abraham was based on a test of faith; and His covenant with Moses came with moral obligations: the Ten Commandments. Faith then works; in that sequential order. In the new and eternal covenant in […]... Read More
Do as they say, not as they do?
Today’s gospel reading includes this from Matthew 23:1-3: . “Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.'” . Jesus speaks of […]... Read More
Be the Proverbial Child Who Mentions the Emperor is Naked
Whenever you imitate the proverbial child who says the emperor has no clothes on, people react in one of three ways. They: a) ignore you, rationalizing “he’s just a kid” (or a religious fanatic, or one who’s ‘out of touch’, etc.); b) attack you personally with the wrath of hell for daring to challenge their […]... Read More
How Can Jesus Command Us to Love Our Enemies?
Today’s gospel reading has Jesus exhorting His followers to love their enemies, contrasting this with Jewish and pagan teaching. . There are two places mentioned in scripture that Jesus’ followers express dismay at the difficulty of His teaching: consuming Him in the Eucharist (Jn 6:66) and His ban on divorce (Mt 19:10). If there were […]... Read More
The Logic from Contraception to a Culture of Death
The logic is consistent. Whenever a people accept contraception, abortion and other perversities are soon to follow. With U.S. law, it was contraception (1965), abortion (1973), and unnatural “marriage” (2015). In Ireland, it was contraception (1979), unnatural “marriage” (2015), and abortion (2018). Contraception is the catalyst that by attempting to separate love from life, it […]... Read More
God and His Secondary Causes
Rational inconsistencies fascinate me. . The ancient world had a simple grasp of the universe that saw all phenomena as direct signs from God or the gods. . While almost all modern Christians willingly give credence to the notion that in the order of nature, God as first Cause uses secondary causes to bring about […]... Read More
Neo-cons and Neo-cul-cons
While neo-cons are known for being war hawks, the new cutural conservatives (neo-cul-cons?) occupy the space of “I don’t care what people do in their private lives as long as they don’t force it on others.” This position, libertarian at heart, is unteneble within the egalitarian anti-discrimination ethos that is part of the American creed. […]... Read More
Reflecting the Trinity
Love begets truth, which together produces life. Likewise, truth is the form of love, which is inherently life-giving. This eternal paradigm of the Blessed Trinity reflected in creation corresponds to the truth of our being, i.e. human nature. Acts that contradict the truth of human nature can never be love, despite any subjective desire or […]... Read More
Truth about Sex as Seen Analogously through Food
Church doctrine is based on the two great God-given gifts of reason and Revelation. When passions and self-centered goals are put aside, one is able to clearly see the truth of our being.... Read More
Reason and Science Lead to One Fundamental Choice
Human beings have a tendency to personify, even deify animals, objects, and natural forces. We see this in ancient polytheism, modern cartoons, and the contemporary naming of hurricanes. Ancient religions based in panthesism and polythesism embraced this tendency. Polytheism, which directs humanity’s strong penchant for personifying the forces of the universe into many ‘gods’, is […]... Read More
Why Purgatory?
A disobedient child is forgiven after being contrite for playing in the mud after being ordered by his parents not to do so. Although he’s been forgiven, he’s still not allowed to enter into the pristine atmosphere of the family dining room – until he serves a small punishment, takes a bath, and changes his filthy […]... Read More
Why Not Just Pray Directly to God?
One of the most common errors about Catholicism that invariably pops up among non-Catholic Christians is often found in question form: . Why don’t Catholics just pray directly to God? . In short, Catholic DO pray directly to God. We just recognize the Church is a family. In the order of grace God is Father, […]... Read More
Those Who ‘Assign’ Rather than Recognize Reality
The notion of someone’s sex being “assigned at birth” has been made popular by people who believe we create reality rather than discover it. This aberration has become popular today throughout society. By refusing to recognize objective truth, people of this mentality reject that anything can be objectively disordered – unless we declare it to […]... Read More
The Two Halves of Humanity
Woman is home, the womb from which all humanity springs. Man is destination, humanity seeking its end. Together they represent being and becoming, the earth and the sky, roots and dreams, the familiar and the mysterious, the present and future, love and truth. Every member of the body needs the influence of the heart and […]... Read More
When the Feminine Psyche Rules
The liberal/feminist mindset sees principle as rigid and truth as an obstacle to goodness.... Read More