Michael Vick - the dogs have had their day

Well I Guess the Dogs have had their Day


I have made an effort to distance myself from the Michael Vick mess. But I can’t help myself. It is not a matter of Mike being an easy target and it’s time for me two pile on. I am addressing this issue for two reasons.

I live in Atlanta and can’t get away from constant conversation in the news or around the water cooler at work.

We truly do love a train wreck and Mike has plenty of company. The young Hollywood teen idols absorbed with themselves, going all out to experience pleasure at any cost. Older Hollywood types on entertainment tonight consumed with or just getting over an addiction. One guy who seemed to have it all tried to commit suicide and thankfully failed.

Mike Vick is not alone but that in no way excuses what he has done. The financial cost of his offence is staggering. The enormity of his crime has polarized the city of Atlanta. Sadly his actions to a degree go along racial lines. Some suggest dog fighting is cultural in nature. No matter how you wrap this package it is a crime that people can’t fathom. Mike training dogs to kill, and some how finding entertainment in watching one dog kill another. On top of that the dogs that failed to perform well were put to death. Defenseless creatures dying at the hands of their guardians.

Many are calling for forgiveness for Mike. Some want the harshest penalty possible. I am not passing judgment here it’s not my place. But I am glad the dogs will have their day when Mike Vick faces a judge.

The second reason I was compelled to speak my peace on this subject is the tarnished hero Mike has become to many children. Boys who proudly wore a replica number 7 jersey. Boys who now must try to understand how their hero could possibly be involved in dog fighting. Our sinfulness has a far reaching effect on others.

I wonder and I suppose many of you do to what in the world is going on? We seem to be confronted on every hand with evil. Well that is because we are or are we? I do not think sin is more prevalent but the reporting of sin and evil is constant. The news can be seen 24/7 we have folks with cell phones that have capabilities our grandparents never imagined. Don’t get me wrong there is enough sin to go around and enough people to participate in yes even dog fighting.

As Christians we have much to do to stem the tidal wave of sin. Be the Christians we say we are. Preach the gospel by our living and striving for holiness. Stand up for what is decent and leading others to the peace Jesus promised his follows in a sinful world.

I have no clue as to the sentence the judge will impose on Mike Vick. Many in the news recently have gotten of very light. There is a judgement day coming when God will impose his sentence which will be in accordance to his law.

The dogs will have their day in the Vick case and rest assured God will have his day.

Preparing to preach - A Homily is born

A Homily is Born Mark 10:46-52

Have you ever wondered how a homily is prepared? I of course can only speak for myself and my homily preparation practices. I am opening this door in hopes it will provide some insight into the preparation required to preach God’s word.

My homily preparation usually follows a well worn path. I begin by reading the first and second readings and noting themes found in both readings. I generally look for words that tie the readings together.

The second step is to read the Psalm and see if it pairs well with the other readings. I make notes here as well.

The third step is to read the readings and psalm together. I leave the homily process at this point and return the next day to continue.

The homily prep continues with the reading of the gospel. I take quick notes as thoughts jump out at me. I read the gospel several times and continue to jot down the themes and thoughts that come to mind.

All my notes are reviewed and a strong sense of a common theme emerges the theme is divided into an outline. The outline is used to compile bullet points that are used to preach the homily.

The process is quite simple but much prayer is required to effectively preach the word of God.

The following homily was prepared and preached by me at my home parish.

A Blind Beggar has a Vision

I want to point out two spiritual lessons found in our gospel reading featuring an encounter between a blind beggar and Jesus.

To spot light these lessons I want to call your attention to a statement Jesus made to his disciples and a question Jesus posed to the blind beggar.

Our story opens with a blind beggar begging on the roadside in Jericho.
He hears Jesus is passing by and begins to cry out Jesus son of David have mercy on me.

The disciples tried to keep him quiet but he cried out even more.

Jesus stopped and told his disciples to call him.

Why didn’t Jesus call the beggar himself?

This statement brings us to our first lesson.

Jesus wants his disciples and his church to be actively involved in bringing people to God.

Evangelism is our first priority. To be successful we all must share our time and talents and treasure to get the job done.

The message: Be of good cheer Jesus is calling you.

The beggar gets up and comes to Jesus.

He cast aside his cloak and the money received from passers by

He left his old life behind

Jesus asks the beggar a question what do you want me to do for you?

This question brings us to the second lesson

We must acknowledge our spiritual brokenness in order to be spiritually healed.

The beggar knew what he needed, I want to see.

If you are praying and your prayers are not being answered you may not have a clear understanding of your needs.

Jesus is still counting on his disciples to call people to him so he can meet their needs.
Let’s follow the blind beggar’s example, after he received his sight he followed Jesus.

To bowl or not to bowl -- that was the question

Each year during the summer the men in the diocese of Atlanta studying to become deacons are required to attend a retreat. All the men in formation aspirants to seniors are required to attend. The retreat opens on a Friday evening and closes on Sunday.

The golfers arrive early and play golf Friday morning. Over the years the non golfers tried to find an activity that would provide fun and fellowship. In my senior year someone suggested bowling. Little did we know what lay ahead when we agreed to gather on the lanes in Cullman Alabama.

Men being men the competitive nature we possess came to the front almost immediately and the trash talking began. Teams were formed the lanes were reserved and the game was on.

At this point I am sure you are wondering why you should care about men in formation going bowling. Well the answer is not an easy one. As with many things that came up over my years of formation there was never an easy answer. Several events which took place as the retreat approached led to the pondering of a theological question and a paper explaining my answer to the question.

The first sign of trouble came just days before the big match. Two of my classmates announced they would not be able to participate. The first guy dropped his bowling ball on his foot and broke his toe; the other guy came down with pink eye in both eyes.

Emails abounded and it was decided that we would continue as planned. We arrived at the monastery on schedule unpacked and headed to the bowling alley to decide which class was the king of the lanes. As we approached we saw fire trucks police cars and what once was a bowling alley was burned to the ground.

Well being students of theology and all things related to God the conversation at the dinner table was filled with the events related to the great bowling alley disaster. Several men suggested that God had intervened and set in motion the events that disrupted our outing. The broken toe, pink eye and the icing on the cake the bowling alley burned down.
Others disagreed and implied that God had better things to do than disrupt a planned outing to a bowling alley. One of our instructors listened intently and suggested we return to our rooms after dinner and contemplate God’s divine providence in our daily lives.

Upon return for our first class for the evening we were asked to write a paper explaining our thoughts on God’s intervention into our daily lives. Writing papers is a large segment of the formation process. If a question arises more likely than not a paper on the subject will be in order.

Seems silly doesn’t it writing a paper about a bowling match that never took place. But seeking to find a better understanding as to how God operates in our lives is far from silly. The problem was we were limited to a couple of paragraphs. How can you discuss explain or begin to ponder such a question in such few words? I am not sure but my response to the question is written below. Read my answer, ponder the question and if you are so inclined please comment.

To Bowl or not to Bowl

I have searched my concordance from Aardvark to Xylophone.
I find no declaration from God that thou shall not bowl.
But recent events a broken toe, pink eye times two and a bowling alley burned to the ground might lead one to surmise that God would rather have us stay away from the lanes.
But scripture is silent on the issue as well as the catechism, tradition and cannon law.
So if your toes are not broke and your eyes are not pink if you can find a lane and maybe a cool drink.
Then bowl my brother bowl

Dark night of the Soul

Mother Teresa is in the news. Personal letters revealed that she struggled with her faith to the point she questioned the existence of God. Some are suggesting she should not be considered for sainthood based on her confession.
The Christians I have known who are on a level spiritually that I have yet to attain without exception all experienced dark nights of the soul.
The following is a paper I wrote while in formation expressing where I was spiritually speaking during my second year in a five year process. I decided to share these thoughts and concerns in hopes it might help someone who may be struggling with their faith. Additionally I wanted to share my faith struggle get it out in the open for all to see. My dark night of the soul according to some will eliminate any possibility of sainthood for me. Oh well as a Baptist I never considered sainthood any way. Truth is sainthood is between me and God not a bystander reading isolated thoughts and fears.
Please read on…….. A Dark Night
Deacons are obliged to give priority to their spiritual life. They should integrate family, professional life and ministerial responsibilities. The goal of realigning priorities in our lives is to grow in our commitment to the person and mission of Christ.
My life seems to be one realignment after another. A perpetual discernment process. Having traveled this road from a different direction you may think that this process is a walk in the park for me. In some ways it is easier and in others it is a mountain to climb.
I can say without reservation that God is first in my life. God however may wonder where I am at sometimes. I think alignment of priorities can not be done one time to be set in stone forever.
Last year I heard that the ideal list or order would be work, family then formation. The reality for me is that during formation the formation process is first. As the year progresses formation may get pushed down to last place behind work or family or ministry.
The key for me is to continue to examine where I am determine what the most pressing needs are and address those areas first. My relationship with God suffered when I was in seminary. Seems odd but trying to study, work and maintain a family life left little time to pray and meditate. After graduation the prayer life and bible study came easier because they took priority, pasturing the flock came next and as a result my family suffered.
At this point in formation the squeaky wheel is getting the grease.
The help I am receiving is coming from my family. Beckey has been very understanding when I have gotten up from the dinner table to go study. I could not begin to complete this process if she was not there to help me. In addition I have my Deacon Mentor. He has made time for me. But to be honest it is extremely difficult for us to get together. We talk on the phone from time to time. His insight into this process has been helpful.
My spiritual advisor, a good man with a big heart has not been a great deal of help. It is partly him and mostly me. I am in a different place than the other men in formation I have done many of the things we are preparing to do. My spiritual direction has been my responsibility for my entire Christian live. It appears I do not take direction well, and have a need to do my own spiritual direction. Old habits are hard to break. But I think more than that I don’t share what is on my mind with him. I suppose I still want to do it myself. I am not saying I have not been helped by his advice but I am not getting all I can from this aspect of the process.
My prayer life is much the same as it was during the interview process for formation. I get bored easily and making time for the office is not always easy. The office helps keep me on track but I am still learning to pray the office. I suppose I over look some things and at times do not pray the office properly but I don not think God is concerned with all that.
This year has been one of the most difficult for my family and me. We made the decision to have Becky’s parents move in with us. So we found a house suitable for all concerned, purchased the new house and put the old one on the market. In the midst of all of this Beckey’s Mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. She was operated on and died nine days later, unable to recover from surgery.
Beckey’s Dad moved in and we are adjusting to the new living arrangements. The old house is still on the market, so we now have two mortgage payments. Through all of this I put my family first and my formation responsibility has taken a back seat.
We learned last week that Beckey has to have knee replacement surgery. It is scheduled for August 13. Once again I find myself adjusting and realigning my priorities. My formation has to be placed once again on the back burner. My family must take the top spot for awhile.
Many things have taken place this year; my life has changed and is evolving everyday. Though I may not always pray the office correctly it is a blessing to me. I know all the men in formation, all the Priest and Religious are praying with me. The sense of community I have found in this processes as well as the church is a comfort. I know I am not alone. If I ask for prayers for myself and my family I know my Brothers whisper my name to God.
This year has been a struggle. Just because you commit to formation does not mean life stops and allows you to get off for five years later and jump back on when it is over. Life happens during these five years of formation. Our loved ones die, difficult decisions are made. Life goes on. Hopes, dreams, troubles, trials all come our way. These things make formation more difficult to be sure. But the formation process can be the life line to get us through the hard times. The time we invest in formation can be a blessing or a curse. Our attitudes will have a great deal to do with how we view the things life throws our way.

Our Father who art in heaven ----------

Any understanding we have of who God is comes through Divine Revelation.
“It pleased God in His goodness and wisdom to reveal Himself and to make known the mystery of his will”.
The image of God seen in the Old Testament seems far from that of a loving Father: yet he did not abandon Adam and Eve after they fell into sin.
“But God did not abandon our first parents after the fall, God brought them up with the hope of Salvation”.
The love of the Father is seen in God’s actions to redeem mankind. We may have to look past the flood of Noah’s Day, the thunder and lighting, the tablets of stone at Mt. Sini. Yet who but a Father would love a simple people this much? When I read the Old Testament I admit it is at times difficult to see God as Father or understand His divine will as that of a loving Father, when judgment seemed to rule the day. But it was in fact the Father who called Abraham to prove his faith by sacrificing this son. The type and picture of the sacrifice the Father would make with His only son Jesus.
Then God said “Take your son your only son Isaac whom you love, sacrifice him there as a burnt offering.
God has in every age revealed Himself as a loving Father. Revelation comes to us from many sources which transcend time. Creation in an of itself is the beginning and foundation of all Gods works. My parents in partnership with God created me, my mother the vessel allowed the grace of God to bring me to life. Not a distant angry God, but a Father who sought to have a relationship with me.
“For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother’s womb”.
The Nicene Creed in its opening statement affirms God’s role as Father: “We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth”. There can be no doubt that the church from its inception had a perception of God as Father through creation.
Looking back to the creation of our first parents and forward to my creation, God the Father has been the divine source of love that set our world and my world in motion. The church has an understanding of God as Father in redemption, as well as creation.
By calling God “Father” the language of faith indicates to main things: That God is the first origin of everything and transcendent authority; and that He is at the same time goodness and loving care of all his children.
God’s greatest expression of Himself as Father is though Jesus Christ. The revelation of God as Father in an unheard of sense. He is not only creator but he is eternally Father in relation to the Son.
“No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the son.”
Following this apostolic tradition, the church confessed at the first ecumenical council at Nicaea (325) that the Son is consubstantial with the Father, that is, one only God with Him. Jesus said, “if you have seen me you have seen the Father”.

Jesus the second person of the trinity as the Nicene Creed proclaims “Through Him all things are made”. We see the love of the Father though the creation of the Son. Jesus was the manifestation of all the attributes of the Father.
A father watches over his children, even with a passing glance at the life of Christ we cannot miss the unconditional love Christ expressed for all His creation. The sacrifice of his own life to redeem all of mankind is the perfect example of the Father’s love.
Creation, redemption and the second person of the Trinity has given the church ample understanding of God’s father image.
The liturgy of the Church expresses our understanding of God as Father. The disciples came to Jesus and said: “Lord Teach us to pray.” He said to them, “When you pray say: Father, Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us or sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation” The disciples had an understanding of God as Father.
From its inception the Church has incorporated the Our Father prayer into it liturgy. Together we as a church, Christian, sons and daughters of God express our belief that God is our Father.
On some level the early church experienced God as Father. As time passed our God experience has evolved to a greater appreciation of this image. Creation, redemption, Jesus and the liturgy are all evidence that God is seen as Father by the church.
Though the working of the Holy Spirit we are all given divine revelation. The path we take to come to a personal relationship with God is different for everyone. Yet together at the same time, we seek a very intimate relationship with our God. We are seeking to fill a void in our lives with a relationship with God. Not the God far way, all powerful and knowing, but a relationship with Father God, Abba, Daddy. It seems beyond our very imagination that he would set world in motion would desire to love me as Father.
The New Testament, the words from the mouth, lips of God bring us to understand God as Father. The Church experiences God and His love through the reading of scripture at Mass. The church understands and experiences God as a Father though our imperfect earthly fathers. Though imperfect many Dad’s exhibit the love of God. The care and concern for those placed in their care. Placing the needs of their family before own. The church has ample opportunity to know the love of a father as they walk with their earthly fathers. The sacraments, in particular the Eucharist shows us God as Father. The Father providing for the needs of his children.
The children of Israel experienced God providing for them as they journey through the desert. God provided manna. “He gave you manna to eat in the desert something your Father had never known”. Food from Heaven provided by the Father. The nation of Israel gathered the heavenly bread as instructed. They had no part in providing the manna, they did not produce it. It was a heavenly gift from their Father.
The lives of the Old Testament people serve as guidepost to the church. God provided the divinely inspired written history for our edification. The Eucharist our heavenly bread is provided by God. (Manna was a type or picture of Eucharist.)
God provides for this children the body and blood of Christ at each mass. It nourishes our souls. He provides exactly what we need. He knows what we need even before we ask. He knows us better than we know ourselves.
Which of you, if his Son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask for a fish will give him a snake? If you then through you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?
If we miss the Father image in creation, or in redemption though I don’t see how, if we miss him though the roll of Father though the Son and prayer or scripture, we must surely see him as Father in the Eucharist. As a Catholic for six years I wonder at times how I ever grew as a child of God with out communion. I received communion (crackers and grape juice) but not the body and blood of Christ. The spiritual food provided by the Father through the Son. I am jealous of the cradle Catholics who have been blessed to have received this gift of grace for so many years.
The question; what is the churches understanding of God as Father? I don’t think of the hierarchy of the church when I read the question, I think of the individuals who make up the body of Chirst.
That being said, I can see God’s revelation of Himself as Father, but I think the churches understanding of God as Father ebbs and flows. At times I can see we get it, but there have been times when the light of revelation was dim. As I mentioned the Israelites wandering in the wilderness probably had a tough time seeing God as a father figure. The church pre-Vatican II, I don’t believe experienced God as Father. Their experience of God for the most part was less personnel. The parable of the talents would express their God experience rather well. The master gives one servant five talents another two and the thirds servant one. Then he went on his journey. The servant who received five talents put his talents to work and gained five more. The one with two talents gained two more. The servant with one talent went off dug a hole and hid his master’s money. When the master returned he rewarded the first two servants. The third said to his master “I knew you were a hard man harvesting where you do not sow.”
The scale of God with our sins on one side and good works on the other. At the very least we pry for balance. The image of scales and being weighted in the balance and found wanting. Thank God for Vatican II, post Vatican II the image of God has drastically changed. I think the parable of the prodigal son found in Luke Chapter 15.
A young man took his share of his Fathers Estate, squandered it in wild living, came to his senses and returned home. But while he was a long way off his Father saw him and was filled with compassion. Of course we don’t all walk the same path at the same time but the church as the body of Christ understands the term father as it relates to our God. The Father aspect of the first person of the Trinity is seen in all the ways I have mentioned. Creation, redemption, Jesus, the Holy Spirit. The scriptures with all the rich images of father. The liturgy, Eucharist and our prayer. Through all these things the church understands God as Father. God’s prayer and desire for us I believe is that all of His creatures would have the confidence to address Him as Father, Abba – “Daddy”.

How many commandments did you break today?

The First Commandment comes on the scene without much fan fare not unlike the opening declaration of God’s Existence found in Gen. 1:1 “In the beginning God created the Heaven and Earth”.
The First Commandment declares our God is one God and demands our love and attention. No explanation of who God is, or why we should be concerned with Him. But because He is … is all the explanation required to demand our undivided attention. The creator has no need for His creation. The creation however is dependent on the creator.
Three things come to mind as I have reflected on the First Commandment.
God created a covenant with Israel with the commandments
All sin is the result of the breaking of the First Commandment
God has provided the means through the sacraments and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit for us to keep the commandments
The Ten Commandments are God’s love letter to this creation. But they are much more that a love letter they are a covenant relationship between God and Israel. As a protestant I have viewed the dialogue from the negative “Tho shall not” position. But the commandants and in particular the first commandment declare God’s love for us. I am the Lord found in scriptures and at the beginning and end of his commandments.
You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. Hear, O Israel …
God reached out, God expressed his love first. This action requires a response. The writings of the Old Testament reveal the nation of Israel’s response to God from the exodus the prophets, kings and finally to His son. The love God requires that we accept existence.
Atheism is a denial of the existence of God. I have met several atheists and I am not convinced by their arguments or actions that they actually deny God’s existence but rather use the argument to ignore God.
If my assumption is true our world has as abundance of people who choose to ignore God, call them what you will. We are called to love God and many ignore the call and the God who is calling.
We are to love with all out heart and soul and strength.
Many people who acknowledge God’s existence are guilty of ignoring Him. Calling upon Him when a need arises. Sickness, death or a natural disaster bring calls for God’s immediate assistance.
God is asking a great deal more from us. He is seeking a deep devotional love and relationship from His creation. But we continue to serve the gods of this world.
Materialism a desire to have or accumulate possessions and wealth. This attraction to things causes many to work instead of worship. Malls and stores open on Sunday without regards to God’s call to worship and rest.
We can elevate the most mundane of possessions to the place of prominence. How God must grieve over our choices of things to take His place.
Our moral life has its source in faith in God who reveals his love to us. The greatest hindrance to putting God first and that is what he expects is ME. The face reflected back at me in the mirror is the biggest hindrance in placing God first.
We are to nourish and protect our faith with prudence and vigilance, and reject everything that is opposed to it .
Rejecting everything opposed to faith. I will either reject the things that keep me from God or the God who has provided all the possessions I hold so dear. The unemployed pray for gainfully employment and then work day and night, forgetting the God who provided the work.
We seek the love and companionship of others, family, spouse and friends. Only to allow the love expressed toward them to take the place of the creator of love. Rest, vacation and leisure time are all valid and required to live a balanced healthy existence. But we must reject the notion that these activities take the place of worship and time devoted to God.
A place on the lake visited on Sundays, a golf course packed with people seeking quiet and relaxation. We need to set our priorities and goals with God in His proper place. Seek Ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. What things will be given; Food, clothing and drink.
The present sinful condition of the world can be attributed to the godlessness of those who profess to know God and don’t follow Him. God is calling us to place Him first to love Him with all our heart and soul.
All sin is the direct result of the breaking of the first commandment. If God had His proper place in our hearts the sin that haunts us would be diminished.
God has challenged us to put Him first. It is plain to see we have not in mass headed God’s call. What do we need to do to comply with the first commandment?
Acknowledge God’s existence and proper place in our world.
Love God above all things.
Love our neighbor as ourselves.
Consider a world where these three statements were true even if only for a few hours.
If God had His rightful place we would be good to ourselves and others. My mind would be free from sin, doubt and fear.
What one thing would I be able to do for God if I was not afraid? God never intended for us to be live in fear. But we are fearful due to sin in our lives.
To love God with all my heart, and mind; the words imply completeness. No small corner saved from Gods influence. No hiding place or secret room. So God must be master of our very being. We must surrender our hearts to Him without reservation.
Let’s consider the complete surrender of our hearts and minds to God. What does it mean? What does it look like?
A changed world must begin with one person, loving and serving God in their corner of the world. The church has been commanded to go into the entire world and preach the Gospel. We are the catalyst God uses to save the world one soul at a time.
The calling of the disciples in the gospel of Matthew impresses me in its simplicity. Jesus called and one by one these unlearned fishermen responded. They had a profound influence on their world and that influence has reached out over thousand years to me in my world.
A long line of the faithful is to witness to the need for and the availability of God’s love.
As a convert to the Church I appreciate the loving sacrifice made by many to proclaim the truth found in scripture and tradition of the Catholic Church.
The deposit of faith held by the faithful down through the years. The salvation of the world, salvation of the soul is found in the Catholic Church. Truths concerning God and salvation are found in all religions. But the truth from Peter to John Paul II has been entrusted to the Catholic Church. The celebration of the Mass is a moment frozen in time when we experienced the love of God as intended from the beginning. We if only for a moment surrender ourselves; we see God as He is. We say AMEN at the consecration of the Host. We receive the body of Christ, His divinity, we are Christ like. We love God with all our hearts, minds and souls and our neighbor as ourselves.
This transformation is possible through the reception of the body of Christ. The sacrament of the Eucharist, and outward visible sign of the application of inward grace. A physical sign of an invisible reality.
The First Commandment is fulfilled in our lives through the sacraments, specifically the reception of Holly Communion.
I have reflected many times on the last six years. My reception into the Catholic Church. What was it specifically that brought me to Mass, the OCIA process and the Easter Vigil? Desire to love and serve God? The opportunity to experience the symbols so prevalent in the Catholic Church? Finding a spiritual power through the Holy Spirit in the Sacraments? When I narrow my search it is the power of God in the Sacraments that help me succeed in living out the First Commandment.
The commandments are not negative stop signs on my faith journey but green lights to experience Gods love as I turn from things that separate me from God and say “yes” to God, to love Him with all my hear and soul through the Sacraments.
The power of the Eucharist has been and is being revealed to me on a regular basis. The Eucharist enables me to say yes I love God and my neighbor. Because I am full of the divinity of Jesus Christ. At this time I cannot fully understand all the theological implications of the Eucharist but I know the difference it has made in my life.
I am not capable in and of myself to meet the demand of God in the First Commandment. But God had provided all I need to succeed. God has provided the sacraments, the Church, the Scriptures and the people of God to assist me, encourage me as I strive to meet the demands of the First Commandment.
To keep the commandment is to correspond to the wisdom and the will of God as expressed in His work of creation. When I keep the commandments I respond to the wisdom of God. It is this wisdom that created the commandment in the first place. God desired a relationship with His creation. He does not need or require such a relationship but wants what is best for us. A relationship with the Creator – what could be better!
Jesus acknowledged the 10 Commandments but he also showed the power of the Spirit at work in the letter of the law. He preached a righteousness which exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees as well as that of the Gentiles, He unfolded all the demands of the commandments. “You Shall Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
If you love the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping His commandments, then you shall love and multiply. God gave the commandments for our edification. The ten words sum up and proclaim Gods law. They also proclaim that God loved us first. The Ten Commandments have occupied a place of predominance since St. Augustine.
The commandments deal with loving God and neighbor. The first three deal with Loving God the last seven with loving our neighbor. “From the beginning God had implanted in the heart of man the precepts of the natural law. Then He was content to remind him of them. This was the dialogue. We are obligated to comply with the Law of God. The commandments are engraved on our hearts.
Apart from me you can do nothing. God makes demands and then provides the means for us to meet His obligations. Adoration is the first act of the virtue of religion. TO adore God is to acknowledge Him as God, as creator and savior, the Lord and Master of everything that exist, as infinite and merciful love.
All men are bond to seek the truth, especially in what concerns God and His church and to embrace it and hold on to it as they come to know it.
The revelation of the reality of Christ sharing His body and blood with the Church is the one doctrine that brought me to Catholicism. The fact that God is intimately involved in revealing the truth through the church was also important to my conversion. A Baptist sole source of authority is the Scripture. Thank God for tradition and on going revelation. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to mankind but it is not the only revelation.
The commandments push us to seek the truth, who is my neighbor? And once found we embrace it and live it. The scripture tells us of men and women of faith who followed God and loved their neighbor.
We gain insight and strength from reading about Abraham and his only son Isaac. Father we have wood and a knife but where is the sacrifice. Abraham responded “God will provide”. People caught in the snare of sin, the woman about to be stoned, Jesus said
“He who has no sin cast the first stone”. Then to the woman “GO and sin no more”. Truth revealed must be embraced and taken to heart.
God had placed his servants in my path to reveal truths to me with love and compassion. Truths that the commandments are expressions of love straight from the heart of God and not a list of Thou Shall Not's to make me miserable when I fall into the misfortune of sin. But valentines expressing God’s love for me.
Is the law valid in our day and time? Of course it is. The precept of loving God and our fellowman never goes out of date, but we are in the dispensation of Grace aren’t we? True we have been in a Grace period from the moment of our birth. The law points to our need of salvation and the inability of the law to save us.
We must love God with all our heart, mind and soul. We must love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus said “Let not your heart be troubled” don’t be concerned with the concerns of day to day living.
God demands a great deal from his creation, but He has given so much more. I love God and my neighbor not out of obligation but from heart felt gratitude for all the blessings I have received. Not the least of which is the opportunity to receive Christ in the Eucharist and to worship and serve God in the one Holy and Apostolic Church, the Catholic Church.
If God’s revelation to me would cease today I am blessed by His body and His church. When I return to my seat after receiving communion and kneel down and pray I lift my head and watch my brothers and sisters receive Christ. As they make their way to their seats I see Jesus in them as they pass my pew. At that moment the Church is filled with the Love of God and His people are prepared to leave the mass to present Jesus to the world.
“This Mass has ended let us go forth from this place to Love and serve the Lord”, and the people respond –
THANKS BE TO GOD

Do you shop on Sunday ........

Work is a foundation for the formation of the family life, which is a natural right and something that man is called to do.
We are called to work and we reap the benefits of our labor to a point.
We are also called to rest and if we focus on remembering the Sabbath and resting it becomes clear that work and labor have seen drastic changes. The compendium of the social doctrine of the Church calls these changes new things in the world of work.
A new form of property has appeared capital and a new form of labor – labor for wages. In this way labor became a commodity to be freely bought and sold on the market more over the worker was not even sure of being able to sell his own commodity continually threatened as he was by unemployment.
If you are not willing to work overtime, double shifts or Sundays there are people will to sacrifices freedom and family for a pay check.
The Catechism of the Church states: God’s action is the model for human action. If God rested and was refreshed on the Seventh Day, man too should rest and let others especially the poor be refreshed.
The Sabbath is a day of Rest against servitude of work and the worship of money.
The Scripture admonishes us to observe the Sabbath and keep it Holy. Deut. 5:12
The Seventh Day is a Sabbath of solemn rest Holy is the Lord. Ex. 31:15
God has set an example with regards to man and work that we have ignored. There are those who out of necessity must work on Sunday but are provided rest during the week.
Sanctifying Sundays and Holy Days require common effort. Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others.
Sunday has become like any other day with regards to commerce. The shopping malls are open; restaurants stand ready to serve – from fast food to fine dinning. Sunday appears to be just another day. It was not always this way. There was a time in our history when Sunday was as God intended – a day of rest. What happened – what has changed that has relegated Sunday to being JUST ANOTHER DAY?
The repeal of Blue Laws. Blue Laws restricted certain activities, particularly shopping hours on Sunday. It had its root in accommodating Christians Sunday worship. Though it persists to this day more as a matter of tradition.
In recent years 40 states including Massachusetts have scaled back those laws. MIT Economist Jon Gruber just finished analyzing the effect of those changes. He says “it is quite a sticking response, they go to church less and give to church less”.
One of the main reasons given to discontinue the Blue Laws is that they are out of date for today’s society. Nothing is further from the truth. If anything they are more compatible and necessary today than at any other time in history. Sunday closing laws are compassionate legislation that is pro-family, pro-environment and pro-labor.
It is highly likely that all Blue Laws stem from the first such statute set down by Emperor Constantine.
“Let all Judges and all city people and all tradesmen rest upon the venerable day of the Sunday.”
Blue Laws date back to the Colonial Period, starting with the first Blue Law in 1610 that required the citizens of Jamestown to keep the Sabbath day holy.
But it was not until the early twentieth century that such statute became common. Church groups and some merchants association supported these measures, auguring that society would benefit if citizens were required to take a day of rest.
In 1961 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Sunday closing laws were Constitutional, since such laws were Civil and not religious in Nature.
Police found the strict enforcement was impractical and the Virginia General Assembly enacted twenty one exemptions to the Blue Laws. In 1974 the Legislation allowed each city and county the right to suspend or retain closing laws. Finally in 1988 a group of Virginia Beach businessmen initiated the case that ended Blue Laws in the state of Virginia.
One of the last remaining Blue Laws in the United States that covers virtually all selling is found in Bergan County, New Jersey. Grocery stores are allowed to operate.
Repeated attempts to lift the laws have failed. As many locals see keeping the laws on the books as a protest against increasing hours and days of commercial activity.
Texas as well as Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota continue to operate car dealerships under Blue Laws prohibitions in which an automobile may not be purchased or traded on Sunday.
Many unusual features of American custom such as the fact one can buy groceries, office supplies and house wares from a drugstore are the result of Blue Laws. Drug Stores were allowed to remain open on Sunday to accommodate emergency medical needs.
The simple fact of supply and demand led to the repeal of the Blue Laws. People were ready and willing to shop and merchants were willing to open their doors, (even on Sunday) to take their money.
Will we ever see the Blue Laws in affect again? The answer is NO.
Commerce, retailers, consumers have become accustom to buying and selling on Sunday.
It is possible for a retailer to succeed in business today and close his business on Sunday? Yes, we have an example of a retailer in Georgia who from the beginning refused to cave in to the worship of money and has closed the doors to his restaurants on Sunday. Despite his loss of Sunday revenue his business has thrived. Who is this man that has taken a stand against conventional wisdom which says “closing on Sunday is folly”?
Truitt Cathy, founder and CEO of Chick-Fil-A. Chik-Fil-A motto is - “We exist to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”
The Family Christian Book Stores chain has enacted a policy of opening their doors on Sunday. As a Christian bookstore, they should feel especially obligated to close their stores on Sunday. Instead, they appear to have made a conscious decision to seek profit at the expense of others. By opening their stores, they are contributing to the weakening of the church's witness, the decay of our society and the lowering of standards.
Will we ever see Sunday as a Holy Day and an opportunity to rest? Not as long as Christians do not set the example. We leave our churches and race to our favorite restautant for Sunday Dinner. It used to be that the favorite place for dinner on Sunday was at home with family and friends. Now we rush through a Sunday service so we can get to the Piccadilly before the Baptist, who are trying to get there before the Methodist.
If we as Christians make a collective choice and honored the Lords Day by staying home we might turn the tide of supply and demand and force the closing of restaurants and stores for one day a week.
If no one enters the shop on Sunday the business owner would have no choice but to close shop. We can complain about no one horning the Lords Day but maybe a better choice of action is to honor the Lords Day ourselves and encourage others to do the same.