Prayers for Pope Leo

By now everyone has heard that Pope Leo is going in for surgery.  I think it's appropriate that we pause and pray that all goes well and the news is good.  I have no doubt he's well taken care of.  Nonetheless, he's human, and we all know what it is to face something like this.

As an aside, I have been heartened to see not a single person who has been critical of Pope Leo do anything but post prayers and hopes that he is well.  Oh, I'm sure if I deep delved it into the cesspool of darkest digital world, I'd find some.  

But on the surface and among those who come by my pages over the days, it's been prayers and prayers alone.  Be them conservative, MAGA, MAGA Catholic, radtrad or whatever.  The only thing I've seen is that we should gather with our thoughts and prayers and lift up Pope Leo, those medical pros tending to him, and ask that when the dust settles, he'll be OK.  So shines a good deed in a dark world. 

UPDATE:  By now many have heard the news that Pope Leo does have lung cancer.  Ugh.  I think if there is one thing that would unite all people it's that we are sick and tired of hearing that word.  So double down on prayers for Pope Leo, his loved ones and all who are impacted, and those within the medical world who will be using their gifts and talents to navigate this challenge of challenges.  

Musing on The Chosen

 

L-R: Thomas, Ramah (F), John, Simon the Zealot, Judas (sitting), Matthew (standing), Simon Peter, Jesus, Mary Magdalene (standing in rear), Andrew (sitting), James (standing), Mary Mother of Jesus (standing in rear), Eden (wife of Peter, standing), James the Lesser (standing in front of Eden), Philip (on ground), Thaddeus (sitting), Tamar the Ethiopian ((F), standing in rear), Nathaniel.
[(F) - fictional characters]

As a general rule I have an aversion for watching anything to do with history published within the last decade or so.  I know that's not fair.  I'm sure some good productions have come out during this time.  It's just so often things are infused with the Leftwing anti-Westernism it's tough to get by any fair viewing or enjoying of the content without choking on the agendas. 

That's why, despite the buzz, I didn't try to get hold of The Chosen when it was first released.  If I have an aversion to historical productions, I avoid like the plague modernist spins on anything Scriptural.  

Nonetheless, a couple years ago when my mom was still living with us, and everyone was at Mass while I was home watching her, I decided for her TV viewing of the day, I'd turn this on.  It just happened to be one of the first options, and there are only so many times I can watch Matlock.  

At first I was befuddled.  What was this dumpster heap I was watching?  Yes, I immediately recognized the actor Erick Avari as Nicodemus, who was the show's obvious ringer.  But it made no sense.  The first episode was almost over and no Jesus. It was all about Mary Magdalene, her demons, Nicodemus's and the Pharisees' inability to help her, and her downward spiral.  Until, at the end of the episode, she leaves a tavern, stumbles into a back alley, and suddenly, there is Jesus.  All he says is 'Mary.'  And that's that. End of episode. 

Which is about how the show handles things.  Now, I have come to enjoy and, more importantly, appreciate the show since that first Easter weekend when I saw it.  But before telling why, a few notes about some issues that I or others have with it and how it handles things in ways I think could be better.

First, it's a series.  Like all television series in the history of television, even with the greatest series, you will have good seasons and not so good seasons.  Good episodes, and not so good episodes.  Same here.  The first season was inspired, and the second season batted it out of the ballpark.  Some of the best religious production I've ever seen came from those.  After that?  A hit, two hits, there's a miss, another hit, a bunt, a strike, and a hit again.  Both in terms of seasons as well as episodes. Every season has had at least some shows worth their salt.  But again, a full TV series with the warts and all.

Second, its basic gimmick.  In some ways, the show approaches the Gospel like a combination of DC Comics and Tom Stoppard.  That is, Jesus, especially in the early episodes, is basically Clark Kent. He's your buddy Jesus from Nazareth.  He laughs, kids, jokes about.  He's an itinerant carpenter, building different things to make a buck.  He hurts his hand while crafting something.  He's one of the guys.  But then, when the Bible story hits, he's all Second Person of the Holy Trinity.  No suffering fools or taking gruff there.  From the beginning, it makes it clear his eyes are on his passion and he never loses sight of that, no matter how much tomfoolery in the meantime.  

Likewise, a tremendous amount of the story is pure fan fiction.  Like your 'Dracula: The True Story!' types you see today, whereby they mean completely changed around and made up, same here.  But like Stoppard's play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, that all changes when the biblical accounts walk into the room.  With Stoppard, the titular characters are modern, speak modern, act modern, and more or less carry on like a modernized sitcom.  But when the actual characters of Hamlet come into the scene, it's straight from Shakespeare quote by quote.  Same with The Chosen.  However fictionalized or made up the characters or storylines, once the biblical narrative kicks in, it's usually verbatim from the Scriptures. 

Now, this is all fine and dandy, but I think one thing it suffers from is an abundance of time.  They know they now have many seasons and episodes, and the temptation to fill the air with endless fictional accounts or this and that can be a bit much.  Some is done well, such as a fictional exposition to help the audience understand the political factions within the Jewish leadership.  But sometimes it's a bit much.  I mean, you can't make things too suspenseful because we all know what will happen.  So endless fictionalized machinations and intrigue and subplots can lose their flavor after awhile.

I do love the idea of Jesus as 'every dude' in that Clark Kent sort of way.  After all, it's refreshing to discover that the Second Person of the Holy Trinity is actually lousy at handball.  But there are times when they go a bit far with that, or with the more modernized dialogue.  Sometimes it works.  Sometimes it doesn't.  It's just one of those things.  The worst part is probably for those well versed in the biblical narratives.  Sometimes the show changes around timelines or stories to the point that those who know the biblical accounts might be genuinely confused.  Though people who have no clue will not be bothered.  And the series does begin, it should be noted, with an opening text explaining that this is a heavily fictionalized account, and recommending all viewers grab a Bible and read for themselves.  So there is that. 

Finally you have the character portrayals. The show goes out of its way to reimagine various biblical characters in new ways.  And that, as can be expected, has caused a great deal of discussion. Matthew is heavily autistic, which accounts for his obsession with details.  James the Lesser is disabled (more on that later).  Pontius Pilate is a fop, an almost effeminate popinjay who is in over his head but knows Emperor Tiberius is ever behind the scenes like a Romanized Sauron, ready to drop the hammer if he doesn't get his act together.  Simon Peter, while muscular, is one of the shortest in the cast.  Simon is often shown as a larger, dominant natural leader type.  Simon the Zealot is practically a ninja warrior Judea style.  There is reason to believe that the character of  Yussif, a major secondary character who is in the Sanhedrin, whose family are wealthy stonemasons, and is sympathetic to the Jesus mission, will turn out to be none other than Joseph of Arimathea.  And on it goes.  Like any creative decisions, these have brought praise and condemnation, with many preferring more traditional portrayals, even if they like the series as a whole. Others, naturally, find them refreshing or thought provoking.  In this case, a matter of opinion I suppose.  

Now, to paraphrase Peter O'Toole in the movie Becket, I have told you why I hate The Chosen, but I haven't told you why I love it.  Though hate is a strong word.  Simply some criticisms I believe are valid.  Next time, however, it will be the positives.  And don't worry, they far outpace the negatives, which is why I don't hesitate, despite the issues I have, giving it a rousing thumbs up. More on that next time. 

And a happy Easter to all

 

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. Matthew 28.1-8

The Easter Triduum

Therefore onto the most important of things. I'll be back after Easter.  Until then then, God's blessings on everyone, thanks for stopping by, and a blessed and happy Easter to all. 

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.  Luke 24.28-29

And a Merry Christmas to all

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9.6-7

Happy Easter!

 

A blessed and joyful Easter to all!  

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.  Mark 16.1-8

I sometimes wonder if we aren't properly afraid, given the immensity of what our Faith claims.  Just a thought. 

Merry Christmas

 

“NOEL” by J.R.R. Tolkien

 Grim was the world and grey last night:

The moon and stars were fled,

The hall was dark without song or light,

The fires were fallen dead.

The wind in the trees was like to the sea,

And over the mountains’ teeth

It whistled bitter-cold and free,

As a sword leapt from its sheath.

 

The lord of snows upreared his head;

His mantle long and pale

Upon the bitter blast was spread

And hung o’er hill and dale.

The world was blind,

the boughs were bent,

All ways and paths were wild:

Then the veil of cloud apart was rent,

And here was born a Child.

 

The ancient dome of heaven sheer

Was pricked with distant light;

A star came shining white and clear

Alone above the night.

In the dale of dark in that hour of birth

One voice on a sudden sang:

Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth

Together at midnight rang.

 

Mary sang in this world below:

They heard her song arise

O’er mist and over mountain snow

To the walls of Paradise,

And the tongue of many bells was stirred

in Heaven’s towers to ring

When the voice of mortal maid was heard,

That was mother of Heaven’s King.

 

Glad is the world and fair this night

With stars about its head,

And the hall is filled with laughter and light,

And fires are burning red.

The bells of Paradise now ring

With bells of Christendom,

And Gloria, Gloria we will sing

That God on earth is come.

 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9.6

Christ is risen!

 Truly He is Risen!

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.  Mark 16.5-7

A long Good Friday

One of my boys said we are living through a long Good Friday.  It's hard to disagree.

That first Good Friday, from the POV of Jesus' followers, ended a good thing.  A week earlier and a triumphal entry.  Dare we think Rome will be tossed out the window and a new David will reign (minus the bad stuff)?  Now He's dead.  Lying on the ground, dead.  And having made Himself an enemy of the powers that be, his followers knew the score. 

We often give the disciples grief.  Couldn't you even stay awake?  How could you be so daft?  Running away from Jesus?  Ages ago in my ministry days, I recall one Easter sermon I gave. 

In that sermon, I took on that tendency to judge too harshly when it comes to His followers.  I told the congregation that I can show some pity since I'm sure I never would have abandoned Jesus.  Unlike the disciples, I would not have run away. 

How do I know this?  Sounds sort of arrogant, more arrogant than just judging the disciples, don't it?  Well, how can I make such a bold claim?  Easy. I wouldn't have abandoned Jesus when He was arrested, tried and crucified because I wouldn't have been within a hundred miles of Him in the first place. I would have been home, going about business, doing my thing.  Perhaps I heard of Him, saw Him, was even healed by Him.

But knowing me, I would have been glad, maybe liked what He had to say, then back to business as usual.   To abandon Jesus, the disciples already had to have given up everything and everyone to follow Him.  They would have done more than I ever have.  Only when you leave hearth and home and walk with Jesus through thick and thin do you have the chance to fully abandon Him.  Or even betray Him.  And how many of us who so easily judge the disciples over that first Good Friday can say we've made the grade in that department? 

Well, today there are ones who are holding fast to the historical Faith as so much of it is being pulled out from under us.  We see the World openly make war on everything God revealed.  And as we watch our leaders and those we  trusted throw in the towel, wave the white flag, and willingly question anything we ever believed rather than stand up to the World, it reminds us of something. Something that might make us a little more understanding when we see such capitulation.

We've been a godless, atheistic, secular society for many generations.  Oh, there was some Christian residue, but that was fading fast.  By now, we can see the secularization was purposeful, and the paganizing increasingly complete.  From a time when leaders invoked Almighty God, to today where ideas of the afterlife or divine will have no place anywhere in our social debate, we've seen a growing number of believers and leaders turn their backs on God, Christ, the Gospel, and goodness. 

And I know it's frustrating.  As my son said, we're heading into a long, dark Good Friday that seems to show no end.  But as we see so many throw in the towel, consider that at least until recently, many were holding fast..  If they're buckling now, they've had decades to join our nation and abandon God and flip the bird to the Gospel, yet they didn't until relatively recently.

Perhaps they're finally doing it now.  But at least they held out, so there is hope.  I'm not downplaying or diminishing the harm being done as Christians and our leaders day after day seem to grovel and buckle under the World's assaults.  But at least they made it this far.  Many buckled ages ago.  Many turned their back on God long before I came along.  Our nation certainly did.  But the ones we're watching today at least made it to the modern Gethsemane.  And that's worth something.

Again, I'm not downplaying the severe harm done in our Church's age of capitulation.  The harm it does and the damage to the witness of the Truth.  But before we get too angry, consider that the ones we talk about and say "I never thought it would be him" at least made it this far.   As a former agnostic, I can testify that our God fearing nation had already gone pagan, and provided plenty of reasons and excuses to abandon God back when cable meant twelve channels.  Yet these who are struggling and giving in today made it this far. 

Of course there is even hope for those who turned away decades ago or grew up never caring because our nation and its institutions told them not to.  Thief on the cross moment there.  But for those who fought the good fight until the Internet, or Facebook, or Twitter, or BLM, or this or that social woke twist to sanity in recent years, at least made it farther than we sometimes give credit.

So pray that at some point as we stumble through this Good Friday time in the Church's history, they will come back around.  That those of us who say 'surely not I Lord'" will mind ourselves so that we don't join the ranks of those fleeing into the woods.  Instead, pray that we remain faithful, and those who traveled so long will return to the narrow path.  For however long our Good Friday is, we know that Easter is always round the corner.  And that's our hope and assurance that nothing happening today can't be overcome. 

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.   John 16.33b

A reminder

Pope Francis nails the spirit of modern Christainity

By telling Ukraine to embrace the 'white flag' of negotiations.

Let's face it.  Christians have been charging forth with white flags waving for generations.  Since WW2, Westerners and Americans have joined the call to charge forth and surrender.  That's how we're at the place we are today.  

And it isn't in one area alone.  The world has been having its way with the Church, and by extension the civilization it helped build, for more years than I can remember.  If what Pope Francis said seems bothersome, I'd suggest we take a long, hard, honest look at the last century or so and ask why.  

Easter

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid. Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.  Mark 16.1-10

Heading into Easter

A little post from back in the day, showcasing our annual viewing around this time.  We won't get anywhere near watching all of these now, with busyness and our second oldest ready to move on.  Fact is, the very weekend of his wedding, our oldest is graduating from college.  Also our youngest was supposed to be confirmed that weekend, but he will be going through another church a week before.  Plus our third is passing his year long training stint for his promotion at work.  Did I say May and this time in general would be busy?   

Anyhoo, that was our viewing for many a year, and this year we'll see some of it.  We already watched The Ten Commandments on a big screen and projector the family bought me for Christmas a year ago.  One of the perks of those old 'great rooms' that were all the rage some years ago.  We can fit a mighty big screen that's as close as you'll get to theaters without being there.  I must admit, seeing it up close and giant was a new way of enjoying the spectacle.  

Blogging will go back to being light as we head into Easter.  I came out of semi-retirement because of the Nashville shooting and the clear corner we turned as a nation.  Christians were killed because of the relevant church's adherence to historical Christianity - and we darn well know that plays into it.  Yet the Left made it clear we would not go there and, for the most part, our nation didn't.  No nationwide Christian prayer vigils.  No protests.  No Christian leaders decrying the horrible post-shooting vitriol from the transgender community.  The US Catholic Bishops have been silent.  Few if any even mentioned a thought or prayer, and nobody looked glaringly at the movement increasingly comfortable saying anyone who believes in boys and girls must go.  Again, because the Left is now Caesar, and as far as most Americans are concerned - including a large swath of believers and their leadership - what Caesar says, Caesar gets .

Pondering the implications of living in a hostile empire in light of Easter this year will certainly cast a new light on things.  We are no longer an anti-Christian nation.  We are a zealously pro-secular pagan nation.  There is a new god in town, and a new Caesar who rules.  Neither will tolerate disobedience and, more to the point, in most cases neither will receive any.  Nashville showed that in flying colors. 

Those few, those remnant few, who keep to the historical Faith increasingly will be targeted.  Nashville was merely a mile marker.  One more that historians will look back at and study when the inevitable question of 'what went wrong' is pondered.  

Nonetheless, all the viewing (Charlie Brown excepted) above reminds us of a time when even our entertainment industry conveyed the message of our faith in troubled times.  So let us hold firm and rejoice.  Even if the bulk of our leaders flinch and cower, we can look past them to the God we serve. Our nation says now that there is no God, and our faith is myth at best, evil at worst.  At some point, dust off the heels is an appropriate reaction. 

It won't be easy in the coming years.  But as one of my sons said, if we just take an honest look at the track record of our post-Christian nation and civilization, that alone should be enough to instill a solid faith in God's revelation that they so openly reject.  

BTW, bonus quote from one of my sons while discussing the state of things: "For moderns, perseverance is the only solution to failure." I liked that.  Because it's true.  It took the most educated generation in history to refuse to admit failure  no matter what the body count.  The problem is, so few leaders with access to the national stage will call it for what it is.  

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.

A blessed and merry Christmas to all

 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  

Isaiah, 9.6

Out of the mouths of babes

In the series finale of the television show Frasier, Frasier Crane says his goodbyes before he flies away to a new chapter in life.  He says his farewells, gives his hugs, and receives best wishes from his closest friends and family.  Then he comes to his brother Niles, played by David Hyde Pierce, whose performance as Frasier's pretentious brother is considered by many the reason the series became a smash hit.  One constant set piece for the show was the two brothers discussing various topics over coffee in a local Seattle coffee house.  As Frasier moves toward Niles in that last episode, Nile responds with a simple statement that summed up the mood of fans everywhere: "I'll miss the coffees."

When our second oldest gets married and moves out, and when the other boys move on in their own times, I must say that sums up my thoughts as well.  Our family has had many adventures, many ups and downs, taken trips, built traditions, enjoyed vacations, attended sporting events and concerts, watched movies and shows, and played a million games together. But when all is said and done, and my wife and I turn back to our empty nest, I admit more than anything else, I'll miss the coffees.  That is, our endless talks and conversations over the years.  

Sometimes we went off topic during prayer time.  Or we began rambling on during dinner.  Or we prattled on if we were in the van together traveling from place to place.  Or sometimes we were just chilling after a long day and began a conversational stream of consciousness that could take us from Mario Brothers to the Battle of Jutland to the filioque clause to gay marriage to the tonal differences between Aliens and Terminator 2 to the proportional influence of Chuck Mangione compared to Bach, to looking into Nietzsche's abyss, to the benefits of organic vegetables.  It didn't matter.  The sky was the limit when our conversations reached the tarmac.  Sometimes we watched hours go by, and everyone - even our youngest - would offer his or her two cents worth, before the talks wrapped up.

Which brings us to the point.  We don't have the full family talks as often now owing to life's obligations. When we do, sometimes it is shorter, with commentary from this or that son following a day or so later.  After we had a hefty discussion about the lack of emphasis on the hereafter in our modern society, and why we need to recapture that within the faith, my youngest came to me to offer his take. He mused on the role our material obsessed culture has in distracting us from the invisible part of Creation.  He thought for a few about what heaven must be like, as well as the alternative.  Then he gave his thoughts about all the things people want today rather than the important things of God and loved ones. 

He said heaven must be where there is nothing to own, but we have God and all of our loved ones to spend eternity with.  Hell must be where you have everything you ever wanted to own, but nobody around to spend eternity with.  Not to downplay the great theologians or doctors of the Church, but I'm at pains to think of a more poignant image of our eternal options.

I'll let Rod Serling take it from here (an episode we've watched that might have inspired his thinking): 

Christianity: The Flowchart

Heh. And not too inaccurate:

I would amend it in one spot.  From Catholic to Eastern Orthodox there might be OK with, but from Orthodox back to Catholic it's definitely does NOT like.  

I'm often amused at the naiveté of some Catholics who think reconciliation with 'Orthodox Christians' is just a day away.  Not quite.  When Catholicism eliminates Papal infallibility, and the Catholic Church grovels and begs forgiveness for it's persecution of Orthodox Christians', then maybe.  Not until then. Nowhere near until then. 

A happy and blessed Pascha to our Orthodox brothers and sisters

Today is Pascha - that's Easter to us Westerners.  Of course Pascha works for those in the West just the same.  But popular Western parlance calls it Easter, while most Orthodox will correct you in two shakes of a paschal lamb's tail if you use Easter in their company. 

My second oldest son has chosen to remain in the Orthodox way, even as the rest of us returned to the Catholic Church.  This wasn't surprising, just as it wasn't surprising our oldest remained Catholic when the rest sojourned with the Orthodox tradition for a season.  

Years and years ago, on our way into the Catholic Church, we actually visited with the Orthodox for a bit.  In Protestantism, you have engrained certain 'anti-Catholic' biases that are a bit like having the Queen of Diamonds laid in front of you when you get too close to a Catholic tradition.  Because my wife had been born and bred Baptist, her family drinking deeply from the well of Baptist life, it wasn't easy for her to transition to Catholicism in a direct line.

Therefore we went in an outflanking maneuver that included visiting the Orthodox cathedral in Columbus, Ohio.  It was too far to seriously consider visiting on a regular basis.  And it was quite foreign to us.  But it wasn't Catholic, and that helped us look at various doctrines and teachings in ways a lifelong Protestant might not have if the only option was through a Catholic lens. 

Eventually we came into the Catholic Church - a long road to be sure.  But we did get an appreciation for the Orthodox tradition.  There were problems, of course, and that's why we returned.  But for my son, the problems our outweighed by the benefits, and the problems he sees in the churches of the Dead West.  Plus, from the time we first entered an Orthodox church before becoming Catholic, he had a wide eyed wonder that he never quite matched in the Catholic tradition.  

So for him, and all who will be worshipping through the Paschal Celebration today and last night - especially those in war torn Ukraine who will be doing so from underground bunkers and hiding places - prayers for a blessed and joyous celebration. 

Easter Sunday

 An old Sunday cartoon strip that says it all:

Have a happy and blessed Easter. 

Suddenly it's fine to pray for someone's death

In this case, Christianity Today lets us know that praying for Putin to kick the bucket and do so quickly can be a right biblical thing to do.

Here's my thing.  I know from a purely historical, traditional, pre-modern Judeo-Christian understanding of Creation and salvation, such an attitude could be, and was sometimes, advocated.  My problem is, since I've been a Christian, at no time have mainstream Christians condoned such attitudes.  Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or Christianity Today. 

In fact, when people cheered for the death of Osama bin Laden, more than a few Christian leaders and pundits and publications bemoaned such attitudes.  We pray for people, we don't cheer when they die.  We certainly don't pray they die.  God loves everyone.  All can be saved.  We end the death penalty because this life and salvation are practically the same.  We no more pray for someone's death than we say it's good to execute them because it forces their hand on reconciling with the Almighty.

And on and on.  But the greatest thing about modernity, especially as incarnate in the political Left, is its 'here today, gone later today' approach to principles, ethics, standards and anything else you want. So you heard it said yesterday that it's entirely unchristian to pray that someone should die? Well by the sacred dogma of progress, today we say that it's perfectly acceptable  to pray for someone to die since it's today, and it's convenient. 

Again, I'm not saying the debate was settled.  I'm not saying there were never arguments from parts of the church advocating for the old ninja warrior approach to our faith, including death penalties and praying that the Hitlers of the world meet with an untimely end.

I'm saying those Christian outlets that tried to stay relevant to our modern sensitivities  - and that was the bulk of most mainstream traditions - tended dispense with those olden ways. Often they outright condemned such thinking.  Even now, I'm trying to recall anyone of credible worth arguing that modern, 20th Century Christians should pray for the death of someone.  

I know, I know.  The article is very agreeable in its tone.  It's careful.  It's cautious.  It's trying to not come out and say it directly and with gusto that we should gleefully petition Heaven for Putin's quick entry into the netherworld.  But its attempt to open up this possibility when I'm at pains to think of anyone mainstream coming close since I've been a Christian, shows just how almost anything we took for granted is on the chopping block.  Even if it's topics Christians were forced by the world to reconsider being reconsidered again because the world says so. 

My private prayer?  That after several generations of Christians trying to modify the Faith to keep up with the Joneses, we'll stop it.  It hasn't worked well, and the world has shown itself to be a rather fickle and unreliable guide. 

A happy and blessed Holy Week to my Orhtodox brethren

 A nifty treasure map for the occasion

Nobody does Christian preparation like the Orthodox.  Their fasts were the stuff of legend, and rightly so.  As my sons said, the best way to live up to their often months long fasts was to open the door and graze on the grass in the front yard.  In fact, one of the problems with Eastern Orthodoxy was just how surprisingly cultural it was.  For us Westerners, those fasts were nigh on impossible.  But they were not for people in parts of Eastern Europe and the Middle East, where the fasts tend to align more closely to the daily diets and menus of the average population.  

That was, in fact, one of the surprising things we discovered in the half decade or so in which we sojourned with the Orthodox side of the tracks.  Here in our Western lands, even our dying, anti-Christian Western lands, we still have a semblance of the Christian Faith's long shadow.  Many of the things we take for granted are rooted in eons of Christian influence.  There is also a sort of give and take with certain cultural tendencies that found their way into the Church.  

So when we see something like Orthodox Christianity, more or less divorced from any noticable Western influence, we have a tendency of saying 'Ooooo, Ahhhhh, look how otherworldly and not-conformist it is.'  Well, here in the States it can look that way.  But in their own back yard, turns out their churches are just as linked to the cultural heritage of those countries and lands as a Baptist tent revival is with good old 19th Century Americana. 

Nonetheless, a heartfelt wish for a blessed Holy Week.  Orthodoxy, like all faith traditions, is under the same assault as the faithful in the Dying West.  In some ways, the lessons they learned under centuries of Ottoman, Muslim and later Communist oppression have given them a different take on some of these problems.  Nonetheless, the sudden burst of openness and freedom that came with the collapse of the USSR has also exposed them to unique dangers that they are now only beginning to confront.  So prayers and best wishes through this Pascha season.

Christ is Risen!

(to which we all respond, Truly He is Risen!)

Khristós anésti! Alithós anésti!

al-Masīḥ qām! Bi-l-ḥaqīqati qām! 

Khristos voskrese! Voistinu voskrese!

(for those in our former church)