Knowledge Insufficient

"On hearing it, many of His disciples said, "this teaching is hard. Who can accept it?"" (John 6:60) I often feel, while working in the Catholic church, that many Catholics and Christians don't believe in the scriptures as seriously as they aught. Granted I use to be one of those, that if I saw someone that one might consider a religious fanatic, I would have thought they were taking it too seriously. Now don't get me wrong, there are people who claim to be Christian and will sling bible verses like the best of them who wouldn't know love if it bit them in the face. They are as Paul said a clashing cymbal. But to read and understand scripture, then to believe it and live it truly would be pretty serious because the Bible is pretty demanding. Demands that aren't easy in the life we have made for ourselves in this 21st century United States. I recall referring to someone the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, now Saint Pope John Paul II. ...

"Zacchaeus come down quickly", Jesus said, "for today I must stay at your house". Luke declares in his gospel that this was indeed shocking to all those observing, also imagine how shocking it might have been for Zacchaeus. Do you think he wondered how much he should have picked up his living room that morning, vacuumed or dusted? It doesn't seem like he is bothered by it as he receives Jesus with joy, and I doubt Jesus is bothered by the clutter he finds, I'm sure he expects to find it. This last November I hastily put Christmas lights on my house, as you never know how many more days of pleasant weather there will be in South Dakota. I pondered the idea of decorating. I recalled the internet memes of peoples Christmas lights featuring a cutout of "The Grinch" and a single half hung string of lights he appears to be stealing. Very creative I admit, and I'm sure I laughed the first time I saw it. Of course it spread with popularity as people ...

"Woe is me, I am doomed!  For I am a man of unclean lips,  living among a people of unclean lips..." (Isaiah 6:5) Who am I to speak to others, to rebuke one man or praise another? Abortion is a serious topic, one that requires serious discussion. It is also one that requires incredible compassion. The Catholic Church strongly opposes abortion, a stance of which I believe most people are aware. The objective stance is the easy part, but most people like myself know someone close to us, a friend, sister, wife, daughter, mother, who has had an abortion. When speaking of abortion then it is so important to be compassionate. We must hear the words of Saint Paul, " If I speak in human and angelic tongues,  but do not have love,  I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal." Not just hear it but live it. It can be that we get so passionate about the cause.We are upset at this crisis that is happening in our country. We forget that these are people like us, people who hav...

Last night was the super bowl. I do enjoy watching this game regardless of who is involved. I may even have one team I hope to see win. Last night after the game while watching the presentation of the trophy, past Super Bowl MVPs bring the trophy though a crowd of players as it processes towards the stage. All the while the players are reaching out to touch or even kiss the trophy. I know they wanted to make it ceremonious, but couldn't help but thinking about how religious of a ceremony it appeared. Can an actual religious ceremony be shared in the same way? Through our televisions? Smart phones? Given the task of working on "communications" and all that might entail, in a large parish in South Dakota; and given I have no prior experience (do not count me among any experts). But I've been intrigued by Neil Postman's book "Amusing Ourselves to Death". It is a fascinating book and made even more interesting knowing it was written in the 1980's; so Po...