This blog chronicles Christ centered reflections about our era.
Keep up to date with new posts, quotes, and other insights:
Why do you want a black smudge on your forehead? Today, Ash Wednesday, people have been calling the office trying to find out if they can stop by the church and get ashes without having to go to a “service,” by which they meant a Mass. Why do they want a smudge?
Catholicism is an experiential and sensitive faith. The reason that we have bells, and incense, and holy water, and ashes, and many other sacramentals, is because we have bodies. Catholics experience their faith the same way that they experience the world around them, through their senses. In faith as in life, it should not end there, we must go deeper; the surface is just the beginning.
Think of a wink of the eye. What significance does it have? A rational and biological explanation is that it gives moisture to the eye. Okay, but what else? Continue reading
It takes courage to do the right thing. It takes a great deal of courage to do the right thing when being pressured by a mob. In reflecting upon the recent HHC mandate, I was reminded on Pontius Pilate. Upon speaking with Jesus and receiving counsel for his wife, he determined that Jesus was innocent of the crimes he was accused. He decided to have Jesus scourged and released, but the angry crowd would not have it. The crowd said to him, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend; every one who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar (John 19:12).” From the first station of the Stations of the Cross according to the method of St. Francis of Assisi it says, “To remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate delivered Him into the hands of His enemies. A fearful crime — to condemn Innocence to death, and to offend God in order not to displease men!” Continue reading
I wrote this article back after the earth quake in Haiti back in January of 2010. Looking at the current interest in Haiti, I think this article has proven itself right.
“Redistribution of wealth” is a trigger phrase that conjures ideas of socialism or communism, and yet, what is charitable giving? Voluntary redistribution of wealth? Maybe the key word here is “voluntary.” As of Monday (January 25, 2010), the “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon had raised $61 million. Additionally, tens of millions of dollars have been raised by other organizations. We give because we are aware of a need, but Continue reading
Ah, the wisdom of Celestial Seasonings. This morning a quote from the tea box caught my eye and has arrested my attention:
“Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius” – Pietro Aretino
It caused me to wonder if God’s hand isn’t at work in the weather to feed the human soul. What if the blinding blanket of snow or the thick curtain of intense rain that marks the seasons in most of the world was an invitation to Life within? Maybe what I find boring (everything is just white) or smothering (I feel trapped by all this snow), is nature’s way of simplifying the stimuli… (more)
This article appeared in the Summit Daily News on Friday, February 10, 2012
This Sunday, Our Lady of Peace Church opens its brand-new doors in Silverthorne to those interested in taking a look inside.
The church, under construction at the north end of Silverthorne, was recently enclosed with the completion of the roof.
Now, church officials want to take the opportunity to showcase the new building. The church is moving from its current location in Dillon Valley to its new spot below the Gore Range in Silverthorne.
From 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, the church and rectory buildings will be open for public to walk-through. Officials expect construction to be completed (they’re currently working on the interior) by late summer.
The church is also showcasing its commitment to employing local skilled labor, contractors and purchasing building materials from within the county. Continue reading
On August 1, 2011 the Department of Health and Human Services, directed by Kathleen Sebelius, adopted the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation that “the full range of FDA-approved contraceptive methods” be determined a “preventive care service for women.” Under these new guidelines, mandatory coverage will be provided for surgical sterilization, all prescription contraceptives approved by the FDA - including drugs like Ella that can cause abortions in the early weeks of pregnancy - as well as counseling to promote them. This directive from the Affordable Care Act initiative will be supported by tax payers without a conscience clause exemption, violating the civil and religious liberties of millions of Americans.
To oppose this new mandate, follow this link to sign the national petition: http://stopthebirthcontrolmandate.org/sign-the-petition/
This is a post from last year about a great idea for Lent, so I am reposting it. There are a lot of useful links in the comments section.
Last year for Lent I came up with the idea of a 2 part commitment card and wristband. The top half of the commitment card listed the Church’s teachings on fasting and abstinence and included a simple instruction about additional sacrifices Continue reading
One of my favorite places to take pilgrims when I guide Catholics through the Holy Land is the Brook Elah in the broad valley where the Israelites faced off against the Philistines and their champion, Goliath of Gath (1 Samuel 17). It is a narrative that has fascinated me since I was a young boy, and it is our first reading in today’s Mass. As you probably recall, the Israelites were paralyzed with fear, listening to weeks of mocking of their God by their enemy, the Philistines and Goliath, in particular. Even the hero-king Saul would not face off against the towering warrior from Gath.
Enter young David, bringing lunch to his brothers in battle. His courage is matched by his righteous indignation that God’s name is being shamed and mocked by Israel’s enemies. Rejecting the offer of armor, David simply picks up five smooth stones from the small brook that ran through the Israelite camp as his weapons. I had often wondered why he would pick up five stones… (more)
I have invited a long time friend and colleague to contribute articles to this blog. Check out his information on the contributors page. I look forward to sharing with you in his insights. Look for posts beginning tommorow!
Cough; headache; indigestion; nausea; vomiting; severe allergic reactions; mood changes; mouth sores; red, blistered, peeling, or swollen skin; severe muscle pain or tenderness; symptoms of liver problems (e.g., dark urine, decreased appetite, persistent nausea, stomach pain, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes); taste changes; unexpected weight loss; unusual bruising or bleeding; vision changes; diarrhea. This is a partial list of side effects that accompany a drug that can be taken to eliminate toe fungus. Suddenly, toe fungus is the least of your worries.
With the expansion of the designer prescription drug market, we have all seen a lot of these commercials on TV, they show people enjoying life because the drug they are on, has alleviated their problems, then we hear, very quickly at the end, a partial list of side effects. They have to report these side effects, not because everyone will experience them, but because a number of people did experience them during a trial for the drug. There is a drug that will help you quit smoking that list “suicidal thoughts” as a side effect. Another drug, one for people with Parkinson’s disease, might give you amnesia. One must weigh the risk of any drug or medical procedure before consenting to it. We need to ask the question, which is better: pretty toe nails or a properly functioning liver? Continue reading
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