I just saw a movie from 1956 with Paul Newman and Walter Pigeon about a young soldier, an Army officer who was put on trial for collaborating with the enemy during the Korean War. While other soldiers faced brutal physical tortures rather than give in to their captors, this young soldier was forced into solitary confinement for months, isolated from everyone and everything, hearing only rumors of what was happening out in the world. He was given pencil and paper and was forced to write his autobiography. He did so several times, at first making a farce of it, so that his captors made him rewrite it over and over again. This brought memories of loneliness and abandonment to his mind and despair took over his soul. When his captors told him that his brother was just killed in action, he felt as though he snapped. (more…)
Sermon from the 2nd Sunday of Easter
Where are all the faithful Catholics?
I heard a pastor talking to one parishioner about the Church advocating equal justice for women, and yet the Church still does not allow women to be priests.
I know this pastor is “old school”, but I think he’s a part of a “new old school,” one that clings to the misconceptions of the past 40 years since the Second Vatican Council, when there was a rebellion against authority that extended with a vengeance to the Church. It was a time when catechesis was watered down to the point that the sacraments didn’t mean anything, and that Christ is risen from the dead and we are a resurrection people, when felt banners replaced the crucifix, and efforts persisted in fashioning the Church into the image and likeness of activist groups.
I hate to break it to those people, but the Church is not a democracy. The ordination of men to the priesthood is not a matter of social justice. Nor is it an attempt by the Church to suppress women in any way. The Church only does what she sees her Spouse, Our Lord Jesus Christ doing. Jesus deliberately chose twelve men to be His apostles, not out of a sense to fit in with the predominant culture of the times in which He lived. After all, He has been known to behave in some pretty counter-cultural ways. While passing through Samaria, a region that was hostile to Jews loyal to Jerusalem, He managed to secure a conversation with a Samaritan, something that no self-respecting Jew would ever do. In addition, this Samaritan was a woman. Strike two against first century political correctness. He was able to rock the world of first century Judaism by these very unorthodox behaviors. So Jesus was not out to fit in with the predominant mind-set. (more…)
Sermon for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
I saw a brief video, which told the story of parents welcoming their child into the world, even before that child was born. They found out that the child suffered from Triseme 18, or Edward’s Syndrome. The doctors told them that the child wouldn’t make it to birth.
Yet the child was born, a true miracle for his parents. They had to stay in the hospital for a few days longer to monitor the child’s progress. By Day 11, they brought the child home. They took every day that Elliot was with them as a celebration of his birthday – every day at 4:59.
The child had to stay connected to tubes for breathing and feeding. They cherished these moments. Elliot’s parents were thrilled when one month went by and they were able to celebrate a surprise birthday party for him. (more…)
The Rich Young Man: Whose are we?
Hi There!
