More?

Today is the third day of our St. Maria Faustina novena. I recognize the grace of suffering in small bursts, but it is so hard to firmly grasp. Nonetheless, my recent hospitalization (appendectomy and aspiration pneumonia) fleshed out the value of offering up pain and lonliness. I was so focused on Jesus at a time that in the past I would be uncomfortable and wallowing in self-pity. Suffering as a joy, as Faustina shared? I can see it, like a fuzzy picture on the television, and I am eager to focus on her joy...where are those rabbit ears?

God calls us to much more than we, in our weak sinfulness, could ever aspire to. Only His grace and love empower us. It makes me feel loved and joyful on one hand, sinful and pitiful on another. I know this sounds like an unresolvable dichotomy, but it seems very clear to me, thanks be to God.

My nine-year-old daughter broke the digital camera tonight. She cried pretty hard, and knew she broke the rules. I was gentle. What can I do? It's just a stupid camera. Last I checked they make millions of them every year.

Hello, I must be crowing...

God is so good. It is always so amazing to see His Holy Spirit at work in our lives. I don't think I will ever get used to it -- I know I should expect that He will answer our prayers, but when He does, WOW. I just flip my lid.
I celebrated my 20th high school reunion last night. Of course, the prevailing question of the night was, "Nine kids? How do you do it?" I had many opportunities to kerygmatically share the many graces and mercies God has not only given me, but allowed me to SEE. Sometimes I think that is our job on earth: to help one another to see God.

Invariably, as I drove home, I thought of all the things I could have said but didn't. As I mused a question arose: have I squandered grace? Have I failed to allow God's grace to integrate into my soul and make me more like Him? I thought of my faults, my "thorns", my sins...and yet, the overriding feeling I had was that I have been too complacent. I have had many a holy man and woman tell me that my life itself will speak of Jesus, if I live His will. True, but is that enough? Is that the "New Evangelism" Pope John Paul II the Great wrote and spoke of? Somehow, I don't think so. Somehow, I believe too many of us hide behind good intentions. I believe that living our lives can be an invitation, but the party requires conversation. In other words, we need to share the good news.

I have heard St. Francis' words, "Spread the Gospel, use words if necessary," (poorly paraphrased) spoken by so many so often that they begin to lose objective meaning. They take on a life of their own, a pre-supposed factuality that can't be misconstrued as a licence to be silent by those reluctant to speak. Francis lived the life of a monk, in a dirty old habit, forsaking the world, with other monks, praying and living with God every moment of every day. He didn't have to speak to draw others to him. But you and I, working in the world, driving a car that looks pretty much like everyone elses, wearing clothes that pretty much everyone wears, and living in houses like mostly everyone else, well, we ain't so obvious. We need to open our mouths.

God loves us, is merciful, and wants to draw us to Himself. He sent His only Son to die for us that we may have eternal life. He sends His Holy Spirit to guide us, protect us, and even pray for us. That needs to be told. Otherwise, I believe we are squandering grace. Any thoughts?

Well, that's our town for you...

Read "The Unenlightened". It sums up the big visit of the Dalai Lama pretty well.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060921/1002828.asp

Mixed up madness

If I hear one more person say that Pope Benedict XVI is responsible for the Islamic hoopla centered around his comments I truly will have cow. Or maybe a pig. I like pork. Anyway, the Pope made academic statements to an academic crowd about the dangers of a Godless society, equating the fruit of such a society to that of the violent extremists of Islam who believe that God would tell them to blow up innocent men, women and children in His name. If God can be known through reason and rationality, gifts He has bestowed on His children, then we must know that violence of the Jihad type are irrational and not of God. Likewise, a society that denies God allows irrationality in that the values and morals of society become subjective and driven by opinion rather than objective truth. He was kinda giving it to the European academics. But, in predictable fashion, the Islamic extremists, in complete horror that anyone would accuse them of being irrationally violent, shot a nun three times. In the back. Oh, and they rioted, burned things, and threw whatever handy stones happened to be in reach. Zenit reports that Romans are angry with the Pope, fearing Muslim backlash. Please, get a backbone, Rome! Check out the article (Thursday, Sept. 21st, 2006, www.zenit.org). Oh, and thanks, our extremist friends, for putting the exclamation point on the Pope's comments. You have proven yourselves again.

DANGER in the DALAI?!?

It sounds silly, but there is danger for Catholics to become too enmeshed in the life and message of the Dalai Lama. In the quest of Buddhists for enlightenment, they are missing the true source of all goodness and life: GOD! Their search will always be unfulfilled as long as it promotes individuality above community, and human intellect and goodness over God. Catholics, unfortunately, have as of late had a strange fascination with Eastern mysticism. It is ill directed, and needs to be rooted out. Any spirituality that leads man to himself and not God is a big ol' waste of time.