Ordinary Old Catholic Me

Responding to the Gaze of Christ

Imagine that you are in Jerusalem and Jesus Christ stops in your neighborhood and stands in front of you and looks at you with his beautiful eyes. Even without his words, "Come, Follow Me" you know what He wants. Do you follow? How can you become disposed to follow? 

Mary, Would You say ”Yes” again?

Given the state of the world, which never seems, despite all the technology, to get better, and given the warnings of the Blessed Mother to the human race, that seem to go mostly unheeded, I found myself wondering whether, if Mary had to do it over again, would she say that "Yes" to the Angel Gabriel. I mean, now she knows in detail, what she did not know when she was that young girl in Nazareth. What a can of worms this little question opened up for me!

If Edna and I Could Talk

My mind became abuzz with the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay this week, and one thing led to another and I began to wonder whether she and I could talk about the Catholic purpose of life without rancor, but more, whether she might be drawn to it. But then, that's a problem for all of us, even Catholics, no? What is the purpose? To know, to love, to serve, praise, obey God in this life so that we may be united with Him in the next. That's not something most people, including Catholics, like to hear. 

An Interview: Ada Onwukeme,

It has been a while since I have done an in person interview. It is so extraordinary to listen to the ordinary stories of other Catholics, and I am privileged to be able to bring a little of that life to your attention. In conversation with Ada Onwukeme. 

A Perfect Ordinary Day

This episode was initially going to be a description of a rare day of peace doing ordinary things, but it turned out that it had real connection to the retreat I am trying to do, the ebbs and flows of consolation in the Lord and desolation because of original sin and how His sacrifice leads transforms desolation, suffering, into eternal consolation, into joy itself. 

What’s This Loosing and Binding Stuff?

A simple, but not so simple question, from a listener brought me to explore today's subject. What was the power to loose and bind that Jesus gave to Peter? What did it all mean? 

Stuff

Ramblings about seeking to be grateful to God for His Creation and to learn to trust Him in all things, especially when it is not as easy as watching a beautiful sunset.

What Is Going On Is Very Scary

Can you believe, it happened again? Another week at Mass. Another person walking away with God in her hand. It is the tip or the foundation below the water of the iceberg. Small disregard becomes larger and larger disregard of moral imperatives. The Church is not immune, as we know, but how frail the people of God have become seems to portend a terrifying response to come. 

That’s God In Your Hand!

I am not pretending to be holier than thou, I promise! But when I see someone, often many someones, receive Communion like they could not care less, or as if they have other, not so wonderful plans to desecrate the Host, my dander gets kicked up. 
That's God in our hands! That is how He is with us, always, until the end of time!

The Worst Times?

It is easy to think that the times in which we live might be the worst ever. But when you look at past times, and events, you are not so sure. But whether these are the worst times or not, the solution is the response that we make to the existential realities about us, our yes or no to the Higher Authority who created us, who redeemed us, who guides us. Either He exists and we cooperate with Him or He does not, and it doesn't matter about the times. Only one thing is true.