Why This Blog?

Nobody's reading it YET, but somebody MAY, in the future. So here goes...

When I came back to the Church, a little over four years ago, I was given the grace of understanding so many things I had not understood, before. It was not due to study, or reading, not anything I could put my finger on-it was just there.

Right before I came back, I had begun going to an Assembly of God Bible Study on Wednesday nights. There was definitely a Presence there, and the people were very devoted, and sincere. Of course, i felt out of place because it was not was I was used to, but there was more to my discomfort.

Looking back, I realize that once i stepped fully into Christianity, God pulled me right back into Catholicism. IF I was going to be Christian, I HAD to be Catholic.

Why? I had dabbled with New Age, etc., during my youth, and a sort of "Generic God" concept afterwards. However, as I was led to Jesus as the Key, I had to ask the obvious questions:

"Why shouldn't I believe in the Eucharist as the Real Presence, when that's what Jesus said it was?"

"Why doubt that Peter was made the head of the Church by Christ Himself, when that's what He said?" The Church, however imperfect some of her servants, has kept this "apostolic succession" perfectly.

The AoG minister  once made a passing reference to the Rosary as "vain repetitious prayers". I knew he was wrong, and that Bible passage misquoted.

I also knew to be untrue, the accusations that Catholics had taken our rituals and practicies from the pagans, for no reason other than to appease them.

I could go on and on, but all of a sudden I realized that Catholicism was founded upon 2,000 years of study, theology and truth.

Besides, if early Christians (Catholics) wanted to appease the pagans, why were so many of them martyred? It took 300 years for Christianity to be "legal", and I doubt if, by that time, there was much appeasing left to be done.

Jesus at Gethsemane

The more I read the Bible, the more things jump out at me. That probably sounds like a cliche, but it's true. It has taken awhile, but more than time, it's taken persistence.

Most of us have known the usual stories of the Bible since childhood.
But there are the more unusual stories we don't know about, until we start reading it for ourselves.

Since the Easter Season is upon us, I'll share what I saw in the Garden
of Gethsemane.

A few weeks ago, I found in John 17: 6-26,  Jesus praying not for Himself, but for the disciples and for we who come afterwards. I'd never read this before, but it's always been there, I'm sure.

This prayer is so tender and compassionate, it brought me to tears. It shows without a doubt how much Jesus loved his disciples in spite of
the fact that he often reproved them. He pleads with the Father on their behalf, and then on our behalf, almost in desperation.

"I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours...I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world-and I am coming to you Holy Father-protect them by the power of your name..." This is a small excerpt from it.

The only things I'd heard about the Garden of Gethsemane were the apostles sleeping, His annoyance with them, and Jesus praying for the
cup to pass.

Jesus' love-the love we have been told about, is demonstrated by the words in John 17:6-26. Read it during Eastertime.

Ballykissangel

WHAT did you say? Ballykissangel. It's a TV show. I first saw it  several years ago on PBS, and hadn't seen it since, until PBS put it back on about a year ago. Originally produced about 20 years ago.

What's my point? It's a tongue-in-cheek series made in Ireland, about a village where everyone is Catholic, and the Priests are the main characters. I don't think it could have been done in the US; we are too self-conscious when it comes to religion.

Ballykissangel's wit comes from many an inside joke about the Church;
not in disrespect, but from those things that arise in the day-to-day life
of Catholics.

In this show, Priests are actual human beings with opinions, angers, and prejudices, like everyone else. The village contains devout believers, lukewarm believers, and some who have an outright dislike of the Church.

Some of the themes that cracked me up were:
-The electronic Confessional with rotating doors which did not work.
-The kid who started a Confession Website where, for a fee, you    
 could email your sins and be absolved online.
-The statue who started crying "real tears", bringing up a lagging
 Mass attendance.

The best line was the older priest's answer to the younger one's new suggestion: "What do you think this is, a democracy?" 

Okay, it all may sound silly to you, but still, catch it a few times.
It's a good laugh, and sometimes brings up some good questions.

Here in Baltimore, it's on at 3:40 on PBS CHannel 22.

Just Asking...

Asking questions can definitely spell trouble. Sometimes an inquiry can
be perceived as challenging or combative, even if we just want to know.

Sound like I've been there...well, yes. But these questions are Bible questions, and occasionally I'll be posting some for your comments...

1. Did Jesus wait to see who the Holy Ghost would anoint to say "You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God!", before He handed over the keys to the kingdom?

(Peter's response to Jesus' question "Who do YOU (the apostles) say
that I am?") To which Jesus said (paraphrased), "You didn't think THAT
up yourself, it was given to you by the Holy Spirit." Didn't Jesus wait on the Father to see who He would give those words to say? Didn't have
to be Peter. (Just thinking.)


2. Likewise, did it HAVE to be Judas? Someone had to be the betrayer, but did it have to be Judas Iscariot? Was he marked from birth in some way, or was he just the person to whom satan found easy entry? It is stated very clearly that, at the last supper, satan entered him, and he went out to betray Jesus. For some reason, he was easy prey. Bad attitude? Sin of greed or power?

The movie "Jesus of Nazareth" showed Judas to be disappointed and angry over Jesus' refusal to be a wordly "king". Did that make him vulnerable to such a heinous act?
(Just asking.)

St. Paul

For a long time I couldn't understand much of what St. Paul wrote.
Most of us know his verse that's read at weddings "love is patient,
love is kind"...etc. , but not much more. Neither did I.

However, the more I heard him quoted (from various sources), the more
I began to read and experience the meanings behind his powerful words.

I realized I'd better "listen up" where Paul was concerned, because he
was chosen  specifically by Jesus Christ to teach the Gentiles (us) what
He was all about. And teach he does.There is an urgency in Paul that I've only recently perceived-an urgency which produces the most remarkable statements and insights that cannot help but demand our attention.

These verses are mixed in with concerns about daily life, and directions
for the Churches. Suddenly, as if Christ is whispering in his ear, he writes:"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ, not..." and he goes through every possibile trouble we could endure, and finishes with..."Nor height nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I'd heard this before, and thought "Yeah, I know He loves me, I guess.
At least in theory." No! What Paul means is that Christ's love for us is so great right now, that no matter what happens, or what we feel, or
what we think, His love is trying to get through to us, beaming down like the sun. We can't always sense it or let it through, but it EXISTS, nonetheless.

So much more to be said about St. Paul's message, but that's for another time. Read!

Is This Funny?...

After a few years of reading the Bible, some stories stand out as, well, sort of..............duh!

Failures in Diplomacy:

Poor Joseph (Old Testament), needed some counseling about diplomacy in hostile territory. MAYBE it's not the best idea to tell ten brothers that already hate you that you've dreamed they are bowing down to you. Twice.

MAYBE it's not the best idea to tell the ruling King of Israel that a NEW KING was being born in Bethlehem, and that you were going there to worship him. I mean, couldn't they figure that one out? Nope. Once again, a dream. (Magi..1 AD.)

Like Father like son:

Do you know the story of Abraham in Egypt, when he claimed Sarah was his sister, and gave her over to the King's harem? God intervened by cluing the King in via a dream, and Sarah was returned.

Anyway, did you know that Jacob, Abraham's son, did the EXACT same thing with his wife, Rachel? Yup-took her to Egypt, claimed she was his sister, etc.

BUt, hey. All's well that ends well. They both came out ahead.

"The Journey Home"

For those who do not know,"The Journey Home" is a program on EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network), the Catholic station. (By the way, other than the Mormons, the Catholics are the only denomination to have it's own station.) This show was very instrumental in bringing me back to the Church. Here's why...

As I was flipping through stations, I saw a handsome 40-ish man speaking intently to a beautiful young woman. Just out of curiosity, I stopped and watched. They were talking about her conversion from the Episcopal Church to the Catholic Church. He (Marcus Grodi) was asking pointed questions concerning the reasons for her conversion. My first thought was "Oh come on-someone is actually converting TO CATHOLICISM? I've got to see this...."

You must understand, most Catholics I'd ever known were running AWAY from the Church, not TO it. Running away in droves, I might add. After my initial shock, I was intrigued. Her answers to Marcus' questions were simple-familiar to those of us brought up in the Faith: The presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the power of the Sacraments, Mary, the Saints, etc. She was extremely educated and intelligent, studying for her Phd in Theology. Her conclusion was that Christianity WAS Catholicism.

I thought about it, and began watching every week. The main appeal for me was it's intellectual tone. Guests gave very specific, rational reasons for their conversion (or RE-VERSION).  For the most part, Marcus' guests were articulate, often students of Biblical history. Since I am one who must know "why", I discovered much about my own Faith. Sometimes it is a CONVERT who can show us the clearest picture of what we cannot see for ourselves. Things Catholics take for granted are new to them, and their beauty and truth is evident.

One caveat. If you are angry at the Church; if your mind is not open, this must be dealt with, first. I was not angry, just indifferent. I had come to understand that Christ was the key to our lives, but was still searching.

Please make "The Journey Home" a part of your tv schedule. Your Faith will be strengthened in so many ways. Marcus Grodi is an expert on extracting the exact thought, the exact moment that brought the speaker to the Church. Besides, I like a good story.