Gaining the whole world

Have you ever noticed how some Bible passage are short on details? For instance today’s gospel reading is the story of Jesus recruiting Levi (more commonly known as St. Matthew now) as his disciple.

Luke 5:27-29
After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

This is all we are told about Levi. We need to look at the clues to piece his story together. From this passage, we can see that Levi was apparently a very successful tax collector. He had his own house. He had the financial resources to through a banquet at a moment’s notice. He had enough friends that he was able to fill the banquet with a “large crowd.” Levi had all the worldly trappings of success. What more could you want? Money, comfort, leisure for the buying.

Does this sound like anyone else we’ve seen recently? Heath Ledger was 28 years old when he died two weeks ago. He had fame, money, friends, and a life of comfort (he was scheduled for a massage at the time he died). Still, he was so unhappy he accidentally killed himself by taking a lethal combination of pain killers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety meds. At the same time, we also see Brittney Spears continue her very public self-destruction. These two have (had) everything in the world that is supposed to make life enjoyable.

Two thousand years ago a successful tax collector named Levi seemingly found himself in the same position. Then a man walked by and told him to leave it all behind. And he did! Levi gave up everything to follow a Galilean around for three years. He put his life in danger and, years later, likely gave his life for believing in the man who said “follow me.”

Don’t you wish we had the tell-all biography of St. Matthew?

A lesson in forgiveness

Last Wednesday, 6 year-old Noe Balderrama was crossing a street with his 14 year-old sister. His sister got to the other side but Noe had turned around to get a book he dropped. The driver of the pickup truck didn’t see him. After the accident, the driver stopped to give aid, but Noe died at the hospital.

Noe’s funeral was yesterday. James Hoehl attended. James was the driver of the pickup.

During the funeral, Noe’s father called James forward and embraced him saying, “It’s not your fault. It’s God’s decision. There’s nothing we can do about it.” Noe’s mother followed and also embraced James saying, “It’s not your fault. He was an angel and it’s not your fault.”

We can all stand to learn a lesson from these parents on how to forgive.

May God bless Noe Balderrama and the family he left behind.

Did you know…

You can learn Latin via podcast?

I think I might subscribe.

Anti-Catholic sites

Today someone tried to anonymously post a link in my comments to an anti-Catholic site.

I’m hoping he or she comes back to see if the link is there, but I doubt that will happen. These people tend to be drive-by linkers. They aren’t really concerned about dialogue, they just want to spam as many Catholic sites as possible.

Now I’m not really afraid of anti-Catholic propaganda. I’ve been satisfied with my ability to find answers to the questions they believe must be answered by every Catholic. The reason I deleted the link is that I won’t let my site and bandwidth be used to link to Viagra, mortgage, or explicit sites, and I won’t be let it be used to post anonymous links to other trash either.

If you are truly concerned for me because I am Catholic and think I need conversion, feel free to use my contact form, or if that isn’t working, post a comment that actually invites me to converse. Posting anonymous links is like throwing trash on my lawn. It doesn’t convince me of anything. In fact, it shows me that your thoughts aren’t worthy of consideration.

Episcopal-Muslim priest?

The Seattle Times published a profile on one of the most confused people I’ve every heard of. Ann Ann Redding is an Episcopal priest who has become a Muslim. Here is the strange part, she still claims to be a Christian.

“I am both Muslim and Christian, just like I’m both an American of African descent and a woman. I’m 100 percent both.”

Um, riiiiight. She doesn’t realize that her argument is a logical fallacy. Yes, one can be AoAD (American of African descent) and a woman because they aren’t mutually exclusive. But one can’t be 100 percent man and 100 percent woman, or 100 percent AoAD and 100 percent AoCD (American of Chinese Descent).

But what about those contradictions between being a Christian and a Muslim?

She does believe that Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected, and acknowledges those beliefs conflict with the teachings of the Quran. “That’s something I’ll find a challenge the rest of my life,” she said.

Oh. The fact that Islam’s teachings are in direct opposition to the central tenet of Christianity is merely “a challenge.” How does she reconcile this?

“At the most basic level, I understand the two religions to be compatible. That’s all I need.”

She just declares they are compatible and it is so. When one ignores the reality of a situation, it becomes so much easier to live in ignorant bliss, doesn’t it?

But this isn’t the part that really gets me. I mean even the Catholic Church has its rogue priests. Have you ever run across a “Spirit of Vatican II” type? Whew! Looney!

But there are supposed to be checks on this sort of lunacy. Bishops in the Episcopal Church have authority over their priests. She can claim to be whatever she wants, but surely her local Bishop wouldn’t let her to remain a priest. Right?

Well, according to the Seattle Times, “the Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner, says he accepts Redding as an Episcopal priest and a Muslim, and that he finds the interfaith possibilities exciting.” He goes on to say that her announcement of being both a Christian (priest) and a Muslim hasn’t caused much controversy.

You gotta be kidding me! The Episcopal Church is in even more trouble than I thought.

(Hat tip: Powerline blog)

Vote for a Mormon?

Paul at Thoughts of a Regular Guy wrote a post about Mitt Romney where he said:

“Are Mormons Christians?…as a Catholic, I might say the same about Protestants.”

There are great differences between Mormons and Protestants. Mormons believe that God was once a man. Protestants (like Catholics) believe God was always God. Mormons deny the Trinity. Protestants believe in the Trinity(like Catholics). Mormons believe we can become gods. Protestants (like Catholics) believe it is sinful to try to become gods (see Gen 3:5). Mormons believe that God had physical relations with Mary, Protestants hold to the Virgin Birth (like Catholics).

I am conflicted about Romney. I don’t want to support the idea that that his religion is correct. At the same time, I would rather vote for a candidate who supports my values (e.g. the sanctity of marriage, pro-life) which is more than I can say for any Catholic candidate for office. How sad is that?

Baby killers or not?

Roman Catholic Blog posted about the heartbreaking story of a 19-month old boy who died last week:

By Catholic News Service

AUSTIN, Texas (CNS) — Emilio Gonzales, a 19-month-old boy whose care became the focus of a debate over what constituted proportionate medical care, died May 19 at Children’s Hospital of Austin.

Emilio, who had been blind and deaf since birth, was admitted to the hospital Dec. 27 with a collapsed lung. He was also diagnosed with Leigh’s disease, an incurable disease which causes the central nervous system to break down.

Emilio’s mother, Catarina Gonzales, had obtained a restraining order forcing Children’s Hospital of Austin to keep her son on a respirator. He was on life support when he died. 

RCB claims in the post title that the doctors wanted to kill the baby. But it isn’t that easy. This child suffered from an incurrable disease of the central nervous system. Bishop Aymond of Austin even said that the extraordinary treatment that the parents demanded ”will only result in greater pain for Emilio, without curing or improving the condition from which he suffers.”

I can understand family members not letting go. The loss of the child must be painful beyond words. Yet at some point, it becomes cruel to artificially extend the life of a terminally ill patient. It seems that little Emilio was beyond that point. Claiming that the doctors wanted to kill the baby is an uncharitable judgement.

May Emilio go with God. Amen.

Lightning strikes Mother Cabrini Shrine

Lighting struck the Statue of The Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Mother Cabrini Shrine near Golden Colorado this past Saturday. The hands, feet, and base of the statue were damaged.

 Mother Cabrini Shrine is a beautiful place that attracts people for retreats and prayer.

 If you can give to restore the statue please contact:

Sr. Bernadette Casciano, M.S.C.
Administrator
Mother Cabrini Shrine
20189 Cabrini Blvd.
Golden, CO 80401
303.526.0758
sbcasciano@aol.com

Hitchens debate

The Anchoress comments today on potential catholic debate opponents against athiest Christopher Hitchens who promoting his newest book “God Is Not Great”. Among those who others have suggested is Peter Kreeft. In her conclusion, the Anchoress dimisses him (and all the other suggestions) as she believes those who have been best best equipped to debate Hitchens are already dead.

Not sure if she has ever heard Kreeft speak but if not, she might change her mind if she listens to some of his speeches.

Still not the beast

Joe Carter at Evangelical Outpost chastises another blogger for defending the view of some protestants that the catholic church is the beast in the book of Revelation.

Joe’s right because everyone knows that the catholic church is really the “whore of Babylon”.  Sheesh!

This is why I still like Evangelical Outpost. I started reading it while I was an evangelical. Soon thereafter, I came into the catholic church. (Don’t worry Joe, not your fault.) He thinks clearly and doesn’t go for conspiracy theories. If I were to question any book of the Bible, it would be Revelation only because of what some on the fringe movements have done with it.