Christian Living
« Previous Entries Next Entries »Growing up with Vatican II
Wednesday, November 28th, 2007Pope John Paul II once called the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) the interpretive key to understanding his pontificate. For many of us, particularly my generation, Vatican II also is the key for understanding our own pilgrimage of faith. Pope John XXIII called the 21st ecumenical council only months before I was born, and the Council [...]
Reality Church
Saturday, November 17th, 2007Surely one of the “lowlights” of today’s culture is the phenomenon of “reality TV.” These programs have no plot, no substance, and no enduring value. And ironically, one hallmark of “reality TV” is that it’s eerily unreal. Staged spontaneity is neither good drama nor real living. Tragically, the radical subjectivism of our secular society reflected [...]
Be on Your Guard!
Monday, November 12th, 2007Today’s Gospel from Luke 17:1-6 brings together some important teachings of Jesus. First He says that while scandals will happen, woe to the person through whom they occur. Better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around one’s neck than to cause a little one to sin. Then He tells His disciples that even [...]
Seizing the Moment
Thursday, November 8th, 2007In our daily spiritual lives, moments of decision typically revolve around temptations. We’re trying to follow Christ and abide by His teachings and commands. Then we’re confronted with a situation in which we’re being lured—subtly or overtly, whatever best suits Satan’s purposes at the time—into doing what we know we shouldn’t do. In these instances, [...]
Distinguishing “Dark” from “Dark”
Monday, November 5th, 2007TIME‘s David Van Biema called Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light a “book of hasty, troubled notes” that had the potential to “ease the spiritual road of thousands of fellow believers” by reassuring them that doubt is a natural part of life. “Everything she’s experiencing,” Van Biema wrote, quoting America editor Fr. James Martin, “is [...]
The Giuliani Dilemma and the Price of Purity (or Impurity!)
Friday, November 2nd, 2007What do CUF Catholics do about Rudy? Do we: A) Repeat the same arguments used against John Kerry, to the effect that it would be impossible or nearly so for a Catholic to support him in good conscience? And then if he wins the nomination, do we support Clinton, who has no pretense of being [...]
Me? A Missionary?
Monday, October 22nd, 2007Yes, me. And you, too. In his homily for World Mission Sunday, which we just observed, Fr. Ray Ryland (CUF’s spiritual advisor and a convert from the Episcopal church) talks about why “Evangelization is Everybody’s Job”: If one judges from the small number of people we Catholics bring to Christ and His Church each year, [...]
Leaping to Action
Wednesday, October 10th, 2007Like St. Matthew’s Gospel, each and every Mass ends with a commissioning, as we’re sent to bring the light of Christ to all the world. We’re not supposed to keep our faith to ourselves or under a bushel basket, but instead it is given to us so we can give it away. Faith without words, [...]
Blessed Are the Meek
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007At first glance, meekness may be the most unattractive Christian virtue. Today, many people think of “meekness as weakness,” the antithesis of the “holy” self-assertion that enables us to get our own way. We picture a meek person as a wimp or doormat, not as a virile, Christian man. Yet, those of us who are [...]
Fighting Poverty
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007I was flipping through a recent issue of Newsweek, and the cover story caught my attention. Its focus is “giving globally”—how we can help bring basic vaccines, clean water, food, and health care (among other things) to impoverished people throughout the world. The photos and captions are a rallying cry and a reminder that we [...]
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