A special day

Today is the Feast of St. Francis, my patron saint.  I've written about him many times over the years. He was one of those 'anchor' figures for me.  Even in my secular, agnostic, trying to be an atheist days, I conceded St. Francis was quite the fellow.  Though it's worth noting I was never an unbeliever who tried to insist all believers were stupid or in some way wretched and evil.  For instance, I didn't care for the type to insist Mother Theresa was really a racist con.  But then I've always rejected our modern age's tendency to find any way to tear down the good guys while bending over backwards to find excuses for the bad guys so we don't have to confront them.

Because of that, as a non-believer I could still admire St. Francis.  And as a Protestant, including pastor, I had no problem referencing him, mentioning him in sermons, or even having those famous prayers attributed to him hanging in my office. 

So when I entered the Church, it took me all of half a second to figure out who my patron saint would be.  No matter how crazy it has been since we became Catholic, I admit going back to Saint Francis, sometimes more than anything else, is a small place of refuge for me.  Becoming Catholic having made the relationship more than merely gazing at a framed prayer on a wall.  

As a bonus, it's also Ship in a Bottle day! Like you didn't know that.  For those envious of perhaps the most difficult hobby in the history of hobbies, here's an envy inducing little video for your viewing pleasure:

Busy time

This week, and likely next week, will be busy, busy, busy.  Our youngest fell a bit behind in homsechool owing to all the big events this last spring.  We must focus on that right now.  

I'm heartened to see several Christian movements are trying to put a positive Christ focus on the month of Pride.  A month dedicated to what most ancients understood to be a toxic trait is about as symbolic of our modern society as one can imagine.  Nonetheless, offering positive alternatives isn't a bad thing.  Keeping focused, faithful and fearless will be the name of the game.

On a quick aside, some years go when discussing things with the family, we began to talk about 'our half of the year.'  A couple years later, I posted on it, before the rise of the Covid era crazy.  Now we've honed it a bit, with June 25th (6 months before Christmas) becoming the official turning point.  Our third oldest's birthday is right after, and that's when we plunge into the festivities. 

Yes, I get that the Left will continue to attack, chisel away, and generally try to upend anything from beginning to the end of the year.  I also get that we have plenty of great celebrations and traditions in the first half of the year.  

But the template remains, and has become more entrenched in our minds over the last couple years.  Just food for thought as we enter day one of June.  It's getting crazy out there, but if we remain grounded and build our houses on the Rock, we will endure.  Food for thought until I get back to things.

The choice is ours

Happy New Year and blogging forward

Yes, the Earth has gone around the Sun again.  I say that as a statement of faith of course.  The math says that's what happens.  We've never actually seen the Earth go around the Sun.  It's just what our model of the universe says happens, and that's good enough for me.  As Sherlock Holmes observed, whether the sun goes around the earth or vice versa has little direct impact on my day to day life. 

Nonetheless, another thing I accept is that once a year we celebrate the completion of this heavenly cycle.  For Catholics, this falls in the middle of Christmastide.  Christmas itself, as a season, is still going on.  Early on, long before we considered becoming Catholic, my wife and I embraced the '12 Days of Christmas' approach to the holiday. 

As a result, even though the world is fully back to secular rat race mode, we'll still have a few more rounds of celebration.  My second son's fiancée and her family are back in town. That means he's back to normal.  Of course so are schedules.  As a result, it won't be as much celebrating, but it will be something.  As the boys grow and obligations mount, the time spent in festive undertakings has been diminishing anyway. 

Therefore, like last week and the first part of Christmas, blogging will still be light.  That's not to say I was completely separated from the issue trolling of the day. Mark Shea emailed me and we had a back and forth about some things.  Well, a forth at least.  It went about as well as you could imagine.  But since it was private discourse, I'll do my part and not publically reveal the nitty-gritty.  It's enough to say it did occupy some of my time in the world of online opinion making, however fruitless it was. 

One thing I can say is a shout-out to our new bishop.  Since we became Catholic in 2006, we've had seven pastors and three bishops.  Stability is not a selling point for our parish, or our diocese. I began the journey to the Church shortly before Pope John Paul II passed.  The year we entered was the first year for the new bishop.  As bishops go, he was a bishop.  

Then he had to retire due to health issues, and was replaced by Bishop Brennan.  Now he was a bishop.  Almost immediately he came to town with the message that it's time for Catholics to be Christian again.  Sporting an almost theatrical New York accent, he clearly possessed a sympathy for more traditional Catholicism.  Within months, he had the diocese hopping.  But then he was transferred to his home town stomping grounds in The Bronx.

We wondered who would replace him.  On our parish level, any type of stable shepherding would be appreciated. Then we heard the news - some young priest from Cincinnati was going to be our new bishop.  Bishop Earl Fernandes.  The News Media, ever obsessed with group identity and skin color, made it about him being the first non-Anglo bishop in the diocese.  

Most in the area, being normal human beings, didn't care.  We just wanted someone to shepherd this wayward flock.  And shepherd he has.  The first order of business was doing something that caused the uber-left group that dominated The Ohio University's Catholic ministry to leave. Their one contribution was producing priests who put the lie to the old leftwing notion that there have never been clown masses or beer and pretzel communion.  Once a priest from that ministry spoke to our parish and was clear about the Church's need to embrace gay marriage, abortion rights, and a variety of socialist based ideas.  Exactly what happened to make them leave, I don't know.  Naturally the local news was shocked and doomsday predictions abounded.

But Bishop Fernandes has continued to push the diocese back to a more Christian and traditional based approach to the Faith.  Heck, the guy is an official exorcist, so that says something.  But he's everywhere.  Check the news, open a Facebook page, walk down the street - and there he is.  Almost every day he's meeting someone, somewhere. At a football game, at a homeschool group, at a charity, you can't go two days without seeing him out and among the people.  And he wears the Faith on his sleeve when he does so.

Being snowed in on Christmas Eve, we watched the Midnight Mass at the cathedral.  It was his first as bishop.  I haven't seen a Catholic bishop so filled with fun and joy at his job for some time.  Beyond being one of the finest homilies I've heard in many an age, he seemed almost bursting at the seams with joy and giddiness.  I'd say he's the type of leader who makes the serious faithful want to be better Christians.  I know he makes me want to be a better Christian.  In terms of religious leadership, that's about as good as you get.

So we're looking forward to the coming months.  No, you don't want your own pilgrimage to cue off of others.  But leaders are there for a reason, and one is to inspire.  Something I think that has been lacking in the modern Faith as so many leaders choose compromise, acquiescence and surrender in dealing with the modern world.  We're all waiting to see what he does next.  If it's like the first months since he's been bishop, it should be a ride.

So that is that.  I'll be back once the Christmas season has wrapped up.  Next stop: Twelfth Night and Epiphany.  I might post something if it hits me, and posts gushing over family fun and the latest round of board games are always a possibility.  Otherwise, continue to be blessed during this Christmastime, and I'll be back soon. God bless and TTFN. 

Our new bishop at a homeschool event - all smiles as usual

The lukewarm Laodiceans

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’— and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”   Revelation 3.14-22

On this Holy Saturday, while Christ was in the tomb quite dead, it’s worth pondering this.  I’ve often thought this was the seed that was strangled by the thorns and thistles of life. The ones trudging through, spinning a fine Christian yarn on most Sundays and the odd special holy day, but Monday through Friday, from eight until about six in the evening, it’s atheism and materialism and worldly values all the way.   It’s the kind of compromise that leaves us forever with one foot on both the ship and the dock, even as the barque pulls ever further away from the worldly pier.  This especially hurts in our nation, where no matter what we're seeing in terms of godlessness and evil, so many American Christians still take comfort in the fact that we are rich, wealthy and have need of nothing. 

The imagery is not pretty, given that this is probably where many are who otherwise wouldn’t tolerate heresy or false teachings, or support or indulge in sexual debauchery and decadence during such a time as our era of AIDS.  And yet, in refusing to yield on those fronts, it doesn’t mean we are still burning with passion, but rather are tied and twisted in the things of this world.  Note the shocking statement that the Lord would rather us be altogether on the opposite side of the road from the Truth.  Better that than meandering around the middle of the road, where one can be squashed like a grape.  And note the verbiage: I will vomit you out of My mouth.  Being lukewarm is not an option.  It is not a viable alternative to full-blown blasphemy or apostasy.  There is one way, the narrow way.  Any other, including halfway between two camps, merely leads to destruction.

Friday

 

The church of brotherly love

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.  Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie— indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.  Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3. 7-13

The church we all want to be.  On this Good Friday, we remember the handful of faithful followers who continued with Jesus even to the foot of the cross.  Oh, how we like to imagine that would be us.   For those who haven’t concluded that everyone who came before us was a reprobate unworthy of our awesomeness, that’s how it is with studying history.  We like to think we would take the bullet, hide the Jews, transport escaped slaves, stand up to the Hammer and Sickle in Poland, climb up onto our own cross next to Jesus.  Sad fact is, however, that most are like the other disciples who either run for their lives or betray Jesus.  That’s how evil triumphs.  Not because good men do nothing.  But because good men invariably do the wrong thing. 

Nonetheless, here we have a church that has received one long chorus of praise and adoration.   Two thousand years later it seems His promise to come quickly is a bit overstated, but this is from an eternal perspective after all.  It still stands today. It could be tomorrow, today, or before I finish this post.  As the great trials are coming, and have already arrived, remember the constant theme: stand fast and know of God’s grace, love and protection.  Compromise, and that’s when you get the wrath side of the Eternal. 

The dead church at Sardis

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, “These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2“ Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  Revelation 3.1-6

Ouch.  Lesson learned: If you are praised and adored for being awesome as an ambassador of the Kingdom, you might want to think twice.  That has always been true.  The Bible, remember, is a minority witness.  As a general rule, the Scriptures tell of those rare few who stand firm as the majority around them cave, compromise or cower before other gods. 

A sure sign there are problems is if you’re standing on the side of the praise and adoration of the powers that be.  It’s bad enough if those powers simply lend lip service to, or exploit, the Gospel for their own purposes.  It is disastrous if those powers are arrayed against the Gospel with their sole purpose being at war against Christ and His Church and causing as many little ones as possible to sin and fall away from the Faith. If your big selling point is that these are the ones who consider you to have a reputation of being what a Christian should really be, it might be time to reevaluate your strategy.  After all, there is some buckshot in that phrase ‘blot out his name from the Book of Life’. 

Note again, however, that an olive branch is put out to those who haven’t caved and have remained faithful.  That is an ongoing theme here, isn’t it?  Something to ponder on this Holy Thursday when the main exercise of the disciples was insisting they weren't the traitor, but would boldly stand by Jesus even unto death. 

To the church in Thyatira

And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allowed that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.  Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.    

Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come.  And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ as I also have received from My Father;  and I will give him the morning star.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  Revelation 2.18-29

Whew.  That’s loaded.  We’ve allowed ourselves, even in an age of over a billion aborted pregnancies and tens of millions dead from AIDS, drugs and endless millions more lives slain on the altar of our debauchery, to be convinced that sexual sin and hedonism is no big deal. Oh in some dusty old tome in the Vatican furnace room it’s probably technically sin, but we only say that because of mean and hateful people who don’t understand the full divine grace of the ultimate orgasm.  After all, when was the last time you heard anyone say that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit?  Anyone? 

The crazy thing is that the heresy pushing this lottery for libidos, this genocide for genitals, has somehow managed to seize the moral high ground.  I can’t help but think it’s because, deep, deep down in places we don’t admit even to ourselves, we’re more than happy with some of the fringe benefits of this little moral affront to the Gospel of Christ.  I won't go into detail about that, but you get my point. 

Note that after a sweeping broadside of promised suffering and death for those who continue this way, even as we see millions upon millions of lives ruined and lost today due to the sex and drugs revolution, there is that promise for those who do not have such doctrines – which are called the depths of Satan.  The promise? No further burden will be given.

It’s almost as if the widespread agony and suffering we see could be the result, not of divine wrath, but of divine promise that such agony and suffering results when we plumb the depth of Satanic utterances.  Instead, our best bet is to cling to the One who warned us to sin no more, while also assuring us that His burden is light, and His yoke is easy.

What better day than Spy Wednesday to think of how much we've sold out the Faith, for no other reason than accommodating a modern Sodom and Gomorrah?

The church in Pergamos

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, “These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.  Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”  Revelation 2.12-17

The Church that stands firm, and yet tolerates false teachings.  Boy is that the Church today. Somewhere along the line enough of our leaders, and perhaps our people, lost enough faith that compromise for the sake of the Gospel became compromise to avoid proclaiming the Gospel.  Note the warning.  It does no good to be faithful in so many things.  If the Church does not repent of allowing false doctrines to mingle with the Gospel, the One with the sharp two edged sword will come quickly and will fight against them (those promoting the false teachings) with the sword of My mouth.  

That’s always struck me as an odd thing.  You call that a threat?  I was expecting ‘you will be cast into the outer darkness’ or ‘I will take away the keys to the Kingdom’ or something of the sort.  But that?  I can only imagine it’s a reminder that we might at times take God a bit too casually.  The threat reads as a sort of ‘those people whose false doctrine you tolerate, let’s assume for reasons like you love them, will face the wrath if you don’t do something soon.'  If we really care about the ones we’re accommodating despite their embrace of heresies and falsehoods, perhaps the best thing to do is stop accommodating.  If nothing else, for their sake. 

To the church in Smyrna

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”  Revelation 2.8-11

I think Jesus meant it when He said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  

The storms of persecution are coming, and in some corners are already here.  This doesn't count areas around the world where overt persecution has been going on for generations.  

As this develops, many will apostatize and join the darkness.  Many will turn in their brothers and sisters who sit next to them in pews.  They are the ones who ignore or mock those who have already paid for refusing to sell out to the principalities and powers of this present darkness.

For those who don’t sell out, there is a beautiful promise.  This, I think, will become a very important passage of Scripture for that remnant remaining faithful in the upcoming years.  No doubt as important as it was for those under the Roman heel ages ago.  A Holy Monday reflection

To the Ephesians

To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil.

And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.  

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place— unless you repent.

But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”   Revelation 2.1-7

Doing good for the wrong reasons. Dare I say most churches today would do well to live up to half of what the Ephesians have managed.  And yet the rebuke: You’ve lost your first love.  I’ve seen many things written about that jab over the ages.  One thing for sure: It doesn’t matter how much they’ve done, they’ve forgotten what it was all about.   

It may be quite the sin to do the wrong thing for the right reason (we’ll call that consequentialism for now), but it appears to be no better to do the right thing for the wrong reason, or do it without being grounded in the right reason.  Just something to kick around on this Palm Sunday.

It's that time of year again

Celebrating our third boy's birthday and kick off to 'our part of the year'

As I said here, the second half of the year, starting with our third son's birthday, is 'our year.'  It's the half in which we get to celebrate the parts of the heritage of our family nationally, religiously, and culturally.

This year may not prove to be an easy go of it.  The biggest shock of this shocking year has been the speed with which so many who boasted a brave talk of resisting the Marxist Left have collapsed, grovelled and debased themselves before the onslaught of anti-Western Marxism: 'I'm sorry I'm white, I'll never do it again!  Gee, maybe white Jesus is bad and we should destroy sacred art based on ethnicity!  Freedom?  Overrated.'  And on and on.

So who knows where the rest of the year will go. This was supposed to be our youngest's initiation to Ohio State Football at the stadium.  It's unlikely to come about.  Even if it does, it won't be the same.  And again, a growing number of Americans are fine with that.  Perhaps all of these fun and game pastimes we've focused on weren't so important after all.

Nonetheless, this is still our half of the year, and lasts until the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas (as practiced in the West, for those who still follow that).   We expect to do our usual, celebrate the memories of a once great county, indulge in quickly fading pastimes, embark in a little nostalgia around the holidays, watch pagans and anti-American/Christian radicals call to change or eliminate Halloween and Thanksgiving, watch the usual war on Christmas, though now on full octane, but still hold to the core of our Faith nonetheless. 

It won't be as easy as in years past.  Though as I said, already we felt we had lost half the year anyway, as we watched our society marginalize a growing number of things that define us and what we believe and who we are.  Perhaps it was inevitable it would come to the rest of the year.  Until it does, however, we'll enjoy what we can with the time we have and thank God that once all of it has blown away like chaff, we'll still be rooted in the Gospel and the God who revealed His ultimate love for us in a time no worse than today. 

The power of the Christmas Story

Courtesy of Bishop Robert Barron and the LA Times.

Merry Christmas!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to their own town to register.  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.   

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,  and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.