Today's Mass readings

Mark 3:22-30

vs. 24-25 "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand."

This seems to follow up with yesterday's readings. What comes to my mind this morning is what good old Abe said. "United we stand, divided, we fall."

Republican vs. Democrat. Conservative vs. Liberal. Heck, it seems like we have more division in the "UNITED" States than the Civil War era! Why is that? Maybe because we are in an "individual" era. It's all about me. I am the center of the universe. I think what this country needs is a big group hug. Men need to get in touch with their "feminine" sides and women, their "masculine" sides...oh, wait that's already happening. So much so, that we don't know who the heck we are any more. God forbid we discuss "roles" within marriage or even children obeying their parents. After all, "it's all about me and what I want" right? Wrong! I think I did learn a few things in the Army. How come we have the best military in the world? Because everyone has a part to play and if one does not "play" it, there will be consequenses. Our culture has misunderstood the word equality. Sure, we are created equal but NOT the same. There is a reason for our differences. My wife once said that America used to be the melting pot but now we are a tossed salad. Again, united we stand, divided we fall.

As I write this I find a paradox going on here. We need to be united, "ONE nation under God". One nation but many parts. The individuals with the same goal, the same end in sight. Ahh, I think I got it. One nation under me? Under you? Under man, woman, gay, straight, liberal, conservative? Nope. Under God. I think that has to be the unifying factor. If not, we will indeed be divided. Again, we seem to be in the age of the "self". Where the self is the final destination. All the current issues in our lives ironicly can be solved not by serving the self but by dying to self (of course so that He may live).

Maybe I am an idealist. Maybe I am just dreaming. As if we could all die to ourselves and focus on the One who created us. After all, that would achieve unity wouldn't it?

Live once, die twice. Live twice, die once.

God bless.

Today's Mass readings

1 Cor 1:10-13, 17

"I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,that all of you agree in what you say,and that there be no divisions among you,but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters,by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you.I mean that each of you is saying,“I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”Is Christ divided?Was Paul crucified for you?Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning."

Right from the start...divisions! Now add 2 thousand years, a "reformation", multiple schisms and what do get? A lot of confused people wondering/asking, "what is the church?"

Is Christ divided? No. Therefore His church should not be divided. I guess the problem is that His church is full of us human beings! Oh how we always get in the way. Heck, if I am honest with myself, there is division within me. Can't seem to fit with the saints, more at home with the sinners. I guess it's comforting that He came for the sinners.

We must strive for Christian unity. First question is how? How do we strive for such a task? When I reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church, I figured I was "back home". No more division. Wrong. SSPX vs. Novus Ordo. Pre vs. Post Vatican II. Like Charlie Brown says...Uuggggghhhh!

So, how do we strive? Maybe that is the wrong question. Maybe the right question is not how do "we" strive but how "I" strive for this unity.

1)Work on me first. More time in prayer, solitude, time alone with our Lord. Daily time in the Scriptures. Studying, praying, absorbing the Word of God.

2)Create more unity at home with my wife and kids. Daily examining my conscience as a father and husband. This of course seems tough. I guess I have to go back to step one on this one.
...Ok assuming I can get the first one down, prioritizing time spent with the family. I mean, how am I supposed to prioritize between the Xbox 360 and doing an activity with my wife and kids! (Only sort of joking on that one.) This is where I find going to Mass together so important. Receiving the Body and Blood or our Lord together, being unified with fellow Catholics around the world--what a mystery! Oh the Sacraments (see http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13295a.htm). A sign of something sacred and hidden, a mystery. "The redemption of man was not accomplished in an invisible manner. God renewed, through the Patriarchs and the Prophets, the promise of salvation made to the first man; external symbols were used to express faith in the promised Redeemer: "all these things happened to them [the Israelites] in figure" (1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 10:1). "So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman" (Galatians 4:3-4). The Incarnation took place because God dealt with men in the manner that was best suited to their nature. " Ok, I am on a rabbit trail with this one, bear with me. Isn't it like God to touch our senses? To touch our humanity? But I digress...

Back to the unity thing. After being married for 5 years now, I realize how difficult it can be sometime to be united with my wife on such topics as disciplining the kids, what to do with our finances, how to prioritize our time, etc. After thinking about all of this, I think I have my hands full with working on family unity.

Maybe that's why God gives us families. To learn how to die to self and serve others. To put others first. Maybe being a desert father never looked so good!

Ok, now I am really rambling. I gotta get ready to take the fam to Sesame Street live. Who knows, maybe I will be "unified" with Tommy and Molly in enjoying Elmo dance around.
More thoughts later.

Here Goes!

Here goes. I'm not much of a writer. More of a talker. But I figure I'll give my family and friends a break from my soapbox and try a new outlet.

A little about me...
I am a 34 y/o Catholic convert (or should i say a reconciled Catholic) from being an Evangelical Christian for about 18 years. I guess I came to the conclusion that the problem with the Catholic Church is that it is full of human beings (of which I happen to be one;a chief of sinners even!). For many years, being somewhat of an idealist, I was always trying to find out what was wrong with Christianity. All the hypocrites, the sin within, the division, etc. Many influences on this journey have been Kreeft, Chesterton, Lewis, and studying Francis of Assisi, etc. Of course add Scott Hahn, mixed with a bit of Mark Shea, and well, I guess my mind was on to something. One influential book, Peter Kreeft's book Fundamentals of the Faith, explains it well. First, we must see if Truth exists (or is it all relative). If it does, there must be things that aren't true. Ok, is there a God? Who is this God? I believe He the God of Abraham, Issac, Jacob. I believe in Jesus. I believe in the Holy Spirit. Yep, the Trinity. (See Apostle's Creed. I think that does a pretty good job defining who God is as defined in the Holy Scriptures.).I guess I made it this far as an Evangelical. But there was always an unanswered question floating around in my head. What is the Church?! What is this business about "One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church"? Ahh, that is the question that I pursued for many years until coming to believe in...One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
The story is much deeper than that but I guess that is my journey in a really small nutshell.
I'd write more but I gotta go to Mass with the fam.

Pax Christi