Christmas, Morality, and Grace

“Every day, every decision, is an opportunity” Christmas is fast approaching. People are worried about decorations, Christmas cards, shopping, and the like, trying to balance (or even find) meaning in the season through all of the materialism and commercialism that takes the forefront. I’ve been visiting family after losing my wife to Alzheimer’s this fall,Continue reading “Christmas, Morality, and Grace”

Life is a Test: Are You Ready?

Some thoughts on Thanksgiving I’m traveling this week and don’t get to daily mass or watch it on TV, so I picked up one of my Bible apps and dialed up today’s readings. The gospel was one we had recently heard during Ordinary Time, Luke 21:12-19 (33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time). Today’s was a slightly shorterContinue reading “Life is a Test: Are You Ready?”

Admonish the Sinner

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.”  “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?” (Matt. 7:1, 3) We are reluctant to criticize others, probably because we don’t take criticism very well ourselves. We often rely on the above statements ofContinue reading “Admonish the Sinner”

Turning the Corner

The United States, after the last election is turning the corner in rebuilding a constitutional government; smaller, more efficient, less intrusive, and stronger. With the death of Pope Francis, the Church also has an opportunity to return to the basics of Catholicism and Christianity in general. The Church has elected a new pope. We shallContinue reading “Turning the Corner”

God’s Binary World

The spirit of relativism, which rules our society, insists that any choice we make, as long as it makes us “feel good,” is the right choice. God tells us that isn’t so. We have two choices, God, or not God. This is the question Joshua asks the Israelites just before his death after recounting theContinue reading “God’s Binary World”

The Time is Fulfilled

A Christmas Missive “And do this because you know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11 Christmas is just about here. We have been waiting with eager anticipation. Time seems to have crawled while also seemingContinue reading “The Time is Fulfilled”

Choosing and Choice

Why is it that the most godless political party keeps trying to convince others, especially Christians, that God is really on their side? They’ve done it on billboards, in response to chastisement by a religious leader (e.g., Nancy Pelosi), and even two open letters (here and here) declaring their adherence to Catholic principles. Archbishop Cordileone (Pelosi’s bishop) and others responded, apparently to noContinue reading “Choosing and Choice”

The True Bread from Heaven

Reflections on the Readings for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time As we continue our travel through Chapter Six of the Gospel of John, we enter into the Bread of Life discourse. Dr. Peter Kreeft points out that, while in English we have the one term for life, in the Greek, in which this gospel wasContinue reading “The True Bread from Heaven”

God’s Message Has Not Changed

The Great Commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. … And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt 22:36-39, cf. Dt 6:5, Lev 19:18) Dr. Peter Kreeft, in his book Because God is Real, notes,Continue reading “God’s Message Has Not Changed”

Where Are the Nathans, Ambroses, Catherines of Sienna, and Gregory the Greats of Today?

What happened to us and to the Church? Where is our sense of fearlessly standing up to injustice, relying on the Lord? We are deeply engaged in spiritual warfare and our leadership is colluding with the enemy. And many of those leaders who are not on the other side seem to be blissfully unaware ofContinue reading “Where Are the Nathans, Ambroses, Catherines of Sienna, and Gregory the Greats of Today?”

Jesus and His Cross

The beginning of Holy Week and anticipation of Easter is a time to reflect on our Lord’s passion, suffering and death on the cross. I think about those non-Catholic Christians and wondered what they did in preparation and how they reflected on the events leading up to Our Lord’s glorious resurrection on Easter morning. OneContinue reading “Jesus and His Cross”

A New Beginning

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Is 9:2) Christmas is right on top of us. Twenty to thirty years ago the television networks would have multiple showings of “A Christmas Carol” (several versions), “Miracle on 34th Street,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas,” “The Bishop’s Wife,” and several others. A quickContinue reading “A New Beginning”

The Left Quotes Scripture

“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Quoting Sacred Scripture to try to support abortion, the latest tactic by the left, is almost as laughable as VP Harris declaring “the border is secure” while watching hundreds of illegalContinue reading “The Left Quotes Scripture”

Feeling Lost? Try God

I think it was The Muppet Movie where some character told Kermit he felt lost and Kermit asked, “Have you tried Hare Krishna?” Lots of people feel lost today and many more are lost but don’t realize it. Our world has rejected God causing anxiety and discomfort across all levels of society.  In a recentContinue reading “Feeling Lost? Try God”

Be Not Afraid

Published on the Patriot Post July 1, 2022. Below is the unedited version. “We need to tell our story of salvation in a new way. With charity and confidence, without fear.” Archbishop Gomez of LA, Address, Madrid Spain, November 4, 2021 “The liberty of love, therefore, is not license. Freedom implies not just a mereContinue reading “Be Not Afraid”

Sin Always Goes to the Extreme

“For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” Jn 3:20 “Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived…” 2 TimContinue reading “Sin Always Goes to the Extreme”

Abortion: A Product of the Father of Lies

Abortion Kills Babies Watching the 2022 March for Life I heard the witness of a woman who had been pressured to have an abortion in her youth. She listed the lies that she was told throughout the process of getting an abortion. Despite being told that she would recover and heal, she is still suffering.Continue reading “Abortion: A Product of the Father of Lies”