How do you measure greatness? We all want it. We all have a certain desire within us to do something different. We do not want to just fall into the routine of life with a mediocre job and settle for less than we are capable of. Just because we all have this desire doesn’t necessarily mean that we reach it. How come? Why do we often sell ourselves short? Why do we settle for less then greatness? Many people would say that life throws some pretty hard punches and as long as you learn to take the hits you will be fine. I think that is cowardly. Please, do yourself a favor and don’t just take the hit, but move forward and strike back!
So often in our lives we compare ourselves to other people. “She has the bag I want.” “His car is sweet.” “Why can’t I have the life he has?” “Wow, they really have done something with their lives and made a difference in this world.” In a world that seems to focus so much on ourselves, we tend to do a lot of outward gazing. In a society that focuses on ME ME ME, why is our gaze fixed on the other person? Just because what we are doing is different from someone else, does not take away the fact that we have the potential to achieve the greatness we want and desire.
We just celebrated the 40th anniversary of our first successful trip to the moon. Do you think that Neil Armstrong woke up one day as a 6 year old farm boy and said, “I am going to be the first man to walk on the moon.” I highly doubt that. What he did say was, “I am going to be a pilot one day.” For him, there was nothing greater than flying a plane. He chased down that dream and achieved that greatness. At the age of 16, before he even had his driver’s license, he attained a pilot’s license. Now, did his desire for greatness or rather, his CALL to greatness end there? Absolutely not.
Neil Armstrong was said to be one of the greatest pilots in American history. As a Navy pilot, he fought in the Korean War. He flew in just under 80 combat missions and won 3 Air Medals. He returned from war and began working for NACA (NASA’s predecessor) as a test pilot. There was not an aircraft that he didn’t know how to fly. He was great at what he did. But did his call to greatness end there? NO.
He was elevated to the status of Astronaut and commanded the Gemini 8 mission and of course the Apollo 11 mission, for which he is remembered. He was awarded many medals and honors when he returned from the Apollo 11 mission. He continued his call to greatness by becoming a professor of Aerospace Engineering and serving for the United States Government. Anyone who hears the name Neil Armstrong will think it to be synonymous with the word greatness.
Just because I am not going to be the first man to walk on Mars, cure Cancer, or do something else that will change the world, does not mean that I am not called to greatness. Although I had dreams of becoming a Military pilot, astronaut, and a professional baseball player, I have come to realize that I am not called to do those things. Those do not fit into my call to greatness. Regardless of what I end up doing with my life, I know that it will be something I am called to do. It will be great.
Greatness is not measured by one triumphant event, medals, or stock market portfolios. It is not the quantity of what you do, but the quality in which you do it. It is not based on what you have, but what you give. Your greatness is attainable. Rather than focusing on who you might become or what you might do in the future, center your attention on who you are right now. Become the best you can be at whatever it is do right now. Like Neil Armstrong, the moon shouldn’t be our focal point, but rather our focus must be on becoming the best pilot we can be. Once we do that, the doors will keep opening and the effects are out of this world.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Excuse me, Mr. President, you are stepping on my faith
When I first heard the news of President Obama at Georgetown University, my original reaction was based on who I am as a Catholic who works in Higher Education. However, there is something wrong here. What gives anyone the right to or the need to ask an institution to cover up symbols of their identity?
President Obama is not doing a great job of unifying this country. Of course, as President, you cannot make everyone happy. Yet, there are Tea parties and rumors of states such as Texas seceding from the Union. This is a long way from his "bi-partison" plans, which seem to have gone out the window. A rather large portion of Americans are Catholic. But the purpose of this writing is not to single out this specific instance, but a call to stand up for who you are. Embracing your identity is what makes this country so great. No one has the right to impede on you based on religion, race, or ethnicity. However this past Wednesday, President Obama attacked our freedom once again.
On Wednesday, April 15, President Obama made a speech at Georgetown University, one of the oldest universities in the nation. It just so happens that this university is Catholic. Of course when a diplomat or politician speaks at any university, a proper backdrop is necessary. International flags, American flags, the state flag, or some other public symbol is put up. However, our president seemed to take it a step further. Since the blue curtain couldn’t cover all of the Catholic symbols and pictures behind where the president would speak, he ordered a black, triangular molding to be place above it. Why? Because the letters, “IHS” would have still been visible. These letters, in case you didn’t know, symbolize the name of Jesus.
Separation of Church and State—any liberal, leftist, left-wing, democrat, or whatever you wish to call half of our nation’s population, will adamantly argue that the Church has no right to impede on public affairs such as elections or political conventions. Yet, President Obama had a Seder meal in the White House, and now he is covering up the name of Jesus at a CATHOLIC university. I guess separation of Church and State is a one way street? WRONG!
Let’s analyze the First Amendment, shall we?
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Nowhere in the Constitution does it say the phrase, “Separation of Church and State,” nor does it give any branch of government the power to do what the White House did this past Wednesday. So anyone thinking that the President was simply separating Church and State, does not have an argument. Please tell me where in the 1st Amendment it says that the government has the right to impede on religious institutions. The idea of this Separation has been taken way out of context. Its original purpose was to protect the free practice and worship of religion and to make sure that no “national religion” was established. This gives people the right to believe in what they want to believe in and to freely express that. It is ridiculous that an institution had to cover up it’s identity as Catholic for this one-time speech.
Imagine for a second if President Obama went to give a speech at Xavier University at the Center for Black Studies and asked to cover up a picture of Martin Luther King, Jr. Or, visiting the American Jewish University, asked to cover up the Star of David. There would be hell to pay! Why isn’t there an uproar by Catholics, or better yet, why didn’t the Administration at Georgetown say, “What? You want us to cover up symbols which represent what we believe in and who we are? Are you nuts?”
I do not know what disturbs me more—the fact that our President continues to extend the power of government in this nation and divide it OR that a Catholic institution would bend so easily to an unlawful request to deny who they are by covering up the name of Jesus. I am not one to judge a man's faith, but our President claims to be Christian, yet he ordered a Christian university to cover up the name of Jesus.
“Whoever denies Me before men, I will deny him before My Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 10:33)
For a complete article on this, Google it, or check out:
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=46667
President Obama is not doing a great job of unifying this country. Of course, as President, you cannot make everyone happy. Yet, there are Tea parties and rumors of states such as Texas seceding from the Union. This is a long way from his "bi-partison" plans, which seem to have gone out the window. A rather large portion of Americans are Catholic. But the purpose of this writing is not to single out this specific instance, but a call to stand up for who you are. Embracing your identity is what makes this country so great. No one has the right to impede on you based on religion, race, or ethnicity. However this past Wednesday, President Obama attacked our freedom once again.
On Wednesday, April 15, President Obama made a speech at Georgetown University, one of the oldest universities in the nation. It just so happens that this university is Catholic. Of course when a diplomat or politician speaks at any university, a proper backdrop is necessary. International flags, American flags, the state flag, or some other public symbol is put up. However, our president seemed to take it a step further. Since the blue curtain couldn’t cover all of the Catholic symbols and pictures behind where the president would speak, he ordered a black, triangular molding to be place above it. Why? Because the letters, “IHS” would have still been visible. These letters, in case you didn’t know, symbolize the name of Jesus.
Separation of Church and State—any liberal, leftist, left-wing, democrat, or whatever you wish to call half of our nation’s population, will adamantly argue that the Church has no right to impede on public affairs such as elections or political conventions. Yet, President Obama had a Seder meal in the White House, and now he is covering up the name of Jesus at a CATHOLIC university. I guess separation of Church and State is a one way street? WRONG!
Let’s analyze the First Amendment, shall we?
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Nowhere in the Constitution does it say the phrase, “Separation of Church and State,” nor does it give any branch of government the power to do what the White House did this past Wednesday. So anyone thinking that the President was simply separating Church and State, does not have an argument. Please tell me where in the 1st Amendment it says that the government has the right to impede on religious institutions. The idea of this Separation has been taken way out of context. Its original purpose was to protect the free practice and worship of religion and to make sure that no “national religion” was established. This gives people the right to believe in what they want to believe in and to freely express that. It is ridiculous that an institution had to cover up it’s identity as Catholic for this one-time speech.
Imagine for a second if President Obama went to give a speech at Xavier University at the Center for Black Studies and asked to cover up a picture of Martin Luther King, Jr. Or, visiting the American Jewish University, asked to cover up the Star of David. There would be hell to pay! Why isn’t there an uproar by Catholics, or better yet, why didn’t the Administration at Georgetown say, “What? You want us to cover up symbols which represent what we believe in and who we are? Are you nuts?”
I do not know what disturbs me more—the fact that our President continues to extend the power of government in this nation and divide it OR that a Catholic institution would bend so easily to an unlawful request to deny who they are by covering up the name of Jesus. I am not one to judge a man's faith, but our President claims to be Christian, yet he ordered a Christian university to cover up the name of Jesus.
“Whoever denies Me before men, I will deny him before My Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 10:33)
For a complete article on this, Google it, or check out:
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=46667
Thursday, March 19, 2009
You WISH You Were Irish
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day (two days late, oh well), I decided to explore a bit of my ancestry—all 37.5% of it.
Some of the finest people in American History have been of Irish decent. That’s right from our founding fathers to Rock artists; Irish ancestry is probably the best thing to happen to America since that crazy Mick Andrew Jackson slaughtered an entire population of helpless natives so that he could expand his empire of BIG GOVERNMENT. With such wonderful presidents such as John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, William Clinton and yes, our new president Barack Obama having the same whiskey flavored blood running through their veins, we can be sure that America rests in good hands. (I hope you can sense my sarcasm)
Charles Carroll represented the Catholic population of the 13 colonies at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, for he was the only Catholic to sign. While Irishwoman Molly Pitcher was fighting in the Revolution, the United States Navy helped with victory for the Continental Navy under the command of John Barry, who later was titled the Father of the United States Navy. Many others served for their country and paid the price of their life. Without Ulysses S. Grant leading the Union forces during the Civil War, the country may have fallen into the hands of a wonderful Irishman named Jefferson Davis, who would have continued slavery.
As for your artistic side, Walt Disney and all of his genius was more than half Irish. C.S. Lewis would challenge you to explore a world you do not know by going into a closet. A trip down memory lane would perhaps have you listening to Kurt Kobane, a wonderful Irishman who was made fun of for being from the great Emerald Isle. (you see, words can be hurtful) The words of F. Scott Fitzgerald would snap you out of your trip to the past when this Irishman tells you that “Everybody’s youth is a dream, a form of chemical madness.” You don’t want to drive yourself mad do you? Perhaps you do.
If you desire a life of madness perhaps you could find yourself amongst Billy the Kid, Lester Joseph Gillis (Baby Face Nelson), Kevin Kelly, or other Irish mobsters and criminals who had some sinful fun with those of Italian decent. But don’t think too much about the distant past.
And what about in recent history? Some of the best, most unbiased news comes from the mouths of good Irish-Catholics such as Sean Hannity, Peggy Noonan, and Bill O’Reilly. They speak about the wonderful Irish, Republican president Ronald Reagan and his wonderful successes in the White House. They defend the maverick from Russia’s backyard, Sarah Palin—oh bless her Irish heart, you know.
As you sit and ponder about how much of this blessed blood is in your own veins, remember that I, Matthew Higgins, grandson of William, the brother of Liam, have the universal donor blood, type O positive. I will gladly donate more to you if you ever needed it. I feel the need to keep the bloodline strong so that there will be more inventors like those who made the stethoscope and portable defibrillator, a politician like Ronald Reagan, a leader like George Washington, or a Pulitzer prize winning author like Frank McCourt.
The Irish are everywhere and in more places than you think. You better bite your tongue before you make your crude comments about drinking and disgusting slander towards one of the greatest peoples to ever walk this earth. Excuse me, I have to start this St. Patrick’s Day off right with a glass of Guinness, a shot of Jameson, an Irish car-bomb, a pint of McSorley’s, eat bangers and mash, pray the rosary, take another shot of Jameson, and sip the finest Single-Malt Whiskey in the World (Tyrconnell).
Éirinn go brách!
Some of the finest people in American History have been of Irish decent. That’s right from our founding fathers to Rock artists; Irish ancestry is probably the best thing to happen to America since that crazy Mick Andrew Jackson slaughtered an entire population of helpless natives so that he could expand his empire of BIG GOVERNMENT. With such wonderful presidents such as John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, William Clinton and yes, our new president Barack Obama having the same whiskey flavored blood running through their veins, we can be sure that America rests in good hands. (I hope you can sense my sarcasm)
Charles Carroll represented the Catholic population of the 13 colonies at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, for he was the only Catholic to sign. While Irishwoman Molly Pitcher was fighting in the Revolution, the United States Navy helped with victory for the Continental Navy under the command of John Barry, who later was titled the Father of the United States Navy. Many others served for their country and paid the price of their life. Without Ulysses S. Grant leading the Union forces during the Civil War, the country may have fallen into the hands of a wonderful Irishman named Jefferson Davis, who would have continued slavery.
As for your artistic side, Walt Disney and all of his genius was more than half Irish. C.S. Lewis would challenge you to explore a world you do not know by going into a closet. A trip down memory lane would perhaps have you listening to Kurt Kobane, a wonderful Irishman who was made fun of for being from the great Emerald Isle. (you see, words can be hurtful) The words of F. Scott Fitzgerald would snap you out of your trip to the past when this Irishman tells you that “Everybody’s youth is a dream, a form of chemical madness.” You don’t want to drive yourself mad do you? Perhaps you do.
If you desire a life of madness perhaps you could find yourself amongst Billy the Kid, Lester Joseph Gillis (Baby Face Nelson), Kevin Kelly, or other Irish mobsters and criminals who had some sinful fun with those of Italian decent. But don’t think too much about the distant past.
And what about in recent history? Some of the best, most unbiased news comes from the mouths of good Irish-Catholics such as Sean Hannity, Peggy Noonan, and Bill O’Reilly. They speak about the wonderful Irish, Republican president Ronald Reagan and his wonderful successes in the White House. They defend the maverick from Russia’s backyard, Sarah Palin—oh bless her Irish heart, you know.
As you sit and ponder about how much of this blessed blood is in your own veins, remember that I, Matthew Higgins, grandson of William, the brother of Liam, have the universal donor blood, type O positive. I will gladly donate more to you if you ever needed it. I feel the need to keep the bloodline strong so that there will be more inventors like those who made the stethoscope and portable defibrillator, a politician like Ronald Reagan, a leader like George Washington, or a Pulitzer prize winning author like Frank McCourt.
The Irish are everywhere and in more places than you think. You better bite your tongue before you make your crude comments about drinking and disgusting slander towards one of the greatest peoples to ever walk this earth. Excuse me, I have to start this St. Patrick’s Day off right with a glass of Guinness, a shot of Jameson, an Irish car-bomb, a pint of McSorley’s, eat bangers and mash, pray the rosary, take another shot of Jameson, and sip the finest Single-Malt Whiskey in the World (Tyrconnell).
Éirinn go brách!
Do You Know How Fast You Were Going?
Instant Messaging, E-mail, text messages, blackberries, iPhones—all part of our 24-hour instant gratification, fast-paced society. I can’t wait for summer, I cannot wait for this semester to be over, I can’t wait to finally go on vacation. When did life become all about moving fast and always looking to take the next step? We are always looking for the next best thing. We need to have internet at our fingertips so we get the latest news, gossip, sports scores, or stock quotes. We need to have 1000 channels and DVR so we never miss American Idol or The Office in HD. But what are we missing out on by allowing these things to become a top priority?
Why can’t we slow things down? Have you ever lost your cell-phone or been without internet for a couple hours or Heaven-forbid an entire day? Why is it that we lose our minds if we get “cut-off” from our info-in-an-instant lifestyle? If we truly took time away and “shut up and listened” maybe we could see a world that is better than what we think of it.
For instance, how many times have we said or heard someone say, “I can’t wait for ____________.” Why can’t we wait? What is so horrible about the present that we NEED to move on? If we are constantly focusing on what needs to come next, we lose sight of the present and we lose the beauty of the moment. In my own life, I think about where I believe God is calling me to. When I think too much about that, I am filled with joy. Sounds great right? Well yes it is, but God’s calling is not something that we will one day accomplish, rather it is a daily process (shout out to Jon Hayes and the UNSTOPPABLE retreatants).
God calls us to serve Him and love Him DAILY. If I am constantly thinking, “I can’t wait to get engaged,” then I get engaged and I think, “I cannot wait until I am married,” then I get married and I think, “I cannot wait to have my first child,” then I have my first child and I think, “I cannot wait to have another,” then I have another child and I think, “I cannot wait until they grow up and I can teach them about life,” then they grow up and I teach them about life and I think, “I can’t wait for retirement,” then I retire and I think, “What’s next? What can’t I wait for? Death?”
If we are never happy with the here and now, we will never be truly happy. When we think about our current situation, we need to look at how we got there. What led us there? Where is it leading us? What are we learning from it? Is it fruitful and helping me grow in my relationship with God? The truth is, my brothers and sisters, that the here and now is the only thing we have control over. The here and now is the only thing we can experience. The past is done with, the future is in God’s hands—what matters is every single second of the present. Because, guess what? What we do in the here and now lays the foundation for the future. If we are constantly thinking of how much life stinks or how it could be better, we are laying the foundation for a future of more of the same.
Also, what happens if I get engaged, get married, but then am unable to have children? Will I constantly be waiting for the day where I will be happy when God blesses me with a child? Of course I will hope for such a blessing, but that does not mean that I discard the present and the blessings I am being handed within it. So whatever your current situation may be—struggling through school, waiting to get engaged, thinking about a career change, trying to have a child, or discerning your vocation, remember that the here and now is a gift and that is why it is called the present. So slow it down a bit, take it all in and rejoice. What is God calling you to do for Him TODAY?
Why can’t we slow things down? Have you ever lost your cell-phone or been without internet for a couple hours or Heaven-forbid an entire day? Why is it that we lose our minds if we get “cut-off” from our info-in-an-instant lifestyle? If we truly took time away and “shut up and listened” maybe we could see a world that is better than what we think of it.
For instance, how many times have we said or heard someone say, “I can’t wait for ____________.” Why can’t we wait? What is so horrible about the present that we NEED to move on? If we are constantly focusing on what needs to come next, we lose sight of the present and we lose the beauty of the moment. In my own life, I think about where I believe God is calling me to. When I think too much about that, I am filled with joy. Sounds great right? Well yes it is, but God’s calling is not something that we will one day accomplish, rather it is a daily process (shout out to Jon Hayes and the UNSTOPPABLE retreatants).
God calls us to serve Him and love Him DAILY. If I am constantly thinking, “I can’t wait to get engaged,” then I get engaged and I think, “I cannot wait until I am married,” then I get married and I think, “I cannot wait to have my first child,” then I have my first child and I think, “I cannot wait to have another,” then I have another child and I think, “I cannot wait until they grow up and I can teach them about life,” then they grow up and I teach them about life and I think, “I can’t wait for retirement,” then I retire and I think, “What’s next? What can’t I wait for? Death?”
If we are never happy with the here and now, we will never be truly happy. When we think about our current situation, we need to look at how we got there. What led us there? Where is it leading us? What are we learning from it? Is it fruitful and helping me grow in my relationship with God? The truth is, my brothers and sisters, that the here and now is the only thing we have control over. The here and now is the only thing we can experience. The past is done with, the future is in God’s hands—what matters is every single second of the present. Because, guess what? What we do in the here and now lays the foundation for the future. If we are constantly thinking of how much life stinks or how it could be better, we are laying the foundation for a future of more of the same.
Also, what happens if I get engaged, get married, but then am unable to have children? Will I constantly be waiting for the day where I will be happy when God blesses me with a child? Of course I will hope for such a blessing, but that does not mean that I discard the present and the blessings I am being handed within it. So whatever your current situation may be—struggling through school, waiting to get engaged, thinking about a career change, trying to have a child, or discerning your vocation, remember that the here and now is a gift and that is why it is called the present. So slow it down a bit, take it all in and rejoice. What is God calling you to do for Him TODAY?
Friday, January 30, 2009
An Historic Day Indeed
With the inauguration of President Barack Obama, newspapers, reporters, and all types of media have heads turned and tuned into this historic occurrence that has blessed our life time. I use the term blessed because it is hard for some of us, my age group in particular, to realize the significance of such an event. Watching the event take place, I was filled with amazement as I saw such historic figures such as Muhammad Ali and Jesse Jackson. I heard constant reference to Dr. Martin Luther King and how unbelievable it is that an African-American is president of the United States. Folks of older generations stood in shock as they thought something like this would have never taken place in their lifetime.
It was an historic day indeed. But history was not made only with the inauguration of the highest office in this country. The second and third in command, so to speak, of this nation has fallen into the hands of Catholics. Catholics have been the victim of a silent bigotry in this country since colonization began. Anti-Catholicism is very prominent throughout American history and to this day we have only had one Catholic president. However the idea of a Catholic politician is something that raises eyebrows in this day in age.
After hearing a few blurbs on the radio about Nancy Pelosi’s comments about President Obama’s stimulus package regarding contraception, abortion, and other “healthcare” issues, I have been seriously thinking about the status of Catholicism in America. How can someone who claims to be “an ardent, practicing Catholic,” be so unaware of Church teachings? Has she chosen to ignore the teachings? Has her parish priests neglected to preach about these issues? Or has she simply become like the many other “cafeteria Christians” out there?
A term that is being used in Theology recently is “Baptized Non-believers.” This term is used to describe those who claim be raised Catholic but in one way or another have fallen away from the faith. (How many times have we heard that in conversation?) Has Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Biden fallen into this category? It seems remarkable to me that someone would claim to be an ardent and practicing Catholic, yet simultaneously actively promote laws and policies which are contrary to the Church teachings. (Government funded abortions, FOCA, Medicaid provided contraceptives, etc.)
Do not get me wrong, there are a few Catholic politicians who stand for what the Church teaches (Sam Brownback being one. He ran for nomination this past year, we can see how that went.) This ideology is not something that is exclusive to politicians. Ask anyone who claims to be Catholic what the Church has instituted since Vatican II or who their bishop is. Ask them what John Paul II taught about Theology of the Body. A majority of Americans who classify themselves as Catholic will not know the answers to these questions or even know where to look to find them.
The point of all this is not to say Catholics in America are stupid. The point is to show that there is so much to know about the Catholic Church. There are people who spend their entire lives studying the Church’s teachings and that is not long enough to know and understand it all. If Catholics knew what the Church called for in Vatican II, they would know that it is their duty to learn about their faith, love it, live it, and encourage others to do the same. When a question about the faith arises, do not dismiss it-ASK IT! If you do not agree with the answer, do not turn your back but ask more questions and come to understand your faith. As Catholics, we have come way to lackadaisical in our faith. We need to grow in our faith, not simply be complacent with it.
Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Biden may go to mass on Sundays and may have received the Sacraments of Initiation, but as Pope Paul VI said in his Apostolic Exhortation (fancy word for Papal Advice) “Above all the Gospel must be proclaimed by witness…they radiate in an altogether simple and unaffected way their faith in values that go beyond current values…” (Evangelii Nuntiandi “On Evangelization of the Modern World” paragraph 21) It is our duty as Catholics to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ by example even when common belief says otherwise. I pose a question to all of the baptized non-believers, all of the cafeteria Catholics, all of the Nancy Pelosis and Joe Bidens: What type of witness are you giving the world?
The witness that American Catholics are getting and have been getting due to this cancer within the Church is one of untruth. The witness American Catholics receive from people in such a high office is this: “Catholicism and the Church teachings that have been around for over 2000 years don’t have to apply to you if you don’t want them to. You can pick and choose what you want to believe.” This could not be further from the truth. This false witness is leading God’s children to lives of hurt, loneliness, and pain. This false witness is leading a society towards a government funded culture of death. This false witness is causing our Church to suffer. It is a cancer. I pray for a cure.
It was an historic day indeed. But history was not made only with the inauguration of the highest office in this country. The second and third in command, so to speak, of this nation has fallen into the hands of Catholics. Catholics have been the victim of a silent bigotry in this country since colonization began. Anti-Catholicism is very prominent throughout American history and to this day we have only had one Catholic president. However the idea of a Catholic politician is something that raises eyebrows in this day in age.
After hearing a few blurbs on the radio about Nancy Pelosi’s comments about President Obama’s stimulus package regarding contraception, abortion, and other “healthcare” issues, I have been seriously thinking about the status of Catholicism in America. How can someone who claims to be “an ardent, practicing Catholic,” be so unaware of Church teachings? Has she chosen to ignore the teachings? Has her parish priests neglected to preach about these issues? Or has she simply become like the many other “cafeteria Christians” out there?
A term that is being used in Theology recently is “Baptized Non-believers.” This term is used to describe those who claim be raised Catholic but in one way or another have fallen away from the faith. (How many times have we heard that in conversation?) Has Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Biden fallen into this category? It seems remarkable to me that someone would claim to be an ardent and practicing Catholic, yet simultaneously actively promote laws and policies which are contrary to the Church teachings. (Government funded abortions, FOCA, Medicaid provided contraceptives, etc.)
Do not get me wrong, there are a few Catholic politicians who stand for what the Church teaches (Sam Brownback being one. He ran for nomination this past year, we can see how that went.) This ideology is not something that is exclusive to politicians. Ask anyone who claims to be Catholic what the Church has instituted since Vatican II or who their bishop is. Ask them what John Paul II taught about Theology of the Body. A majority of Americans who classify themselves as Catholic will not know the answers to these questions or even know where to look to find them.
The point of all this is not to say Catholics in America are stupid. The point is to show that there is so much to know about the Catholic Church. There are people who spend their entire lives studying the Church’s teachings and that is not long enough to know and understand it all. If Catholics knew what the Church called for in Vatican II, they would know that it is their duty to learn about their faith, love it, live it, and encourage others to do the same. When a question about the faith arises, do not dismiss it-ASK IT! If you do not agree with the answer, do not turn your back but ask more questions and come to understand your faith. As Catholics, we have come way to lackadaisical in our faith. We need to grow in our faith, not simply be complacent with it.
Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Biden may go to mass on Sundays and may have received the Sacraments of Initiation, but as Pope Paul VI said in his Apostolic Exhortation (fancy word for Papal Advice) “Above all the Gospel must be proclaimed by witness…they radiate in an altogether simple and unaffected way their faith in values that go beyond current values…” (Evangelii Nuntiandi “On Evangelization of the Modern World” paragraph 21) It is our duty as Catholics to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ by example even when common belief says otherwise. I pose a question to all of the baptized non-believers, all of the cafeteria Catholics, all of the Nancy Pelosis and Joe Bidens: What type of witness are you giving the world?
The witness that American Catholics are getting and have been getting due to this cancer within the Church is one of untruth. The witness American Catholics receive from people in such a high office is this: “Catholicism and the Church teachings that have been around for over 2000 years don’t have to apply to you if you don’t want them to. You can pick and choose what you want to believe.” This could not be further from the truth. This false witness is leading God’s children to lives of hurt, loneliness, and pain. This false witness is leading a society towards a government funded culture of death. This false witness is causing our Church to suffer. It is a cancer. I pray for a cure.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Epiphany on the Epiphany
So during a long day of planning, prayer, and preparation with the student leaders of our Campus Ministry, something struck me in a profound way. I guess you can say I had an epiphany on the feast of the Epiphany. I had created the newest section of my “Meditations of a Modern Mystic” (a short book of Catholic/Christian meditations) It’s not yet published. Don’t steal my title or ideas! This meditation focuses on the three magi who visited the baby Jesus after following pagan astrology and ancient prophecies. These three kings, as they are often described, traveled through the desert for days following a star. This star led them to where the King of Kings was to be born and thus fulfill the prophecies which they dedicated their lives to studying.
These wise men may or may not have believed that the prophecies were true or that they would find a baby who would save the world lying in a manger. However they followed a star, blindly. They went on through sand storms and risk of danger and harm due to desert thieves and bandits. What made them continue on?
When they arrived, they found that all they had studied was true. Everything had come to be and they knelt before the King of Kings. They were among the first to participate in Adoration of our savior. They were the first Christians.
At this point in the meditation, is when I had my epiphany. I realized that God made pagan astronomers believe in Him. They were speechless. They fell to their knees in wonder and amazement at the sight of God made man-Emmanuel. They offered Him some of the finest gifts of the time. Why? God makes men and women do some pretty unexplainable things
For instance, St. Paul, formerly Saul, had Christians killed and God made him do a complete 180 and Paul began to evangelize the world. Mother Theresa cared for and loved the poorest and sickest of people. People wake up every Sunday morning and go to a building where they repeat prayers that have been said for thousands of years—prayers and words that are routed in scripture. These people eat and drink their God! Why?
The epiphany, my friends, is this. There is a reason why we call our faith a mystery. There is a reason why for thousands of years theologians and philosophers, believers and non-believers have been trying to explain God. He is just that AWE-some. In every sense of that word. That word is tosses around in frat houses and college campuses very frequently. But think about it—awesome—full of awe. God has an unexplainable presence that He reveals to us each and every day in the Eucharist. Why have we grown numb to the wonder and awe experienced by the wise kings 2000 years ago? Why do we not fall to our knees and offer Him all that we have and all that we are? Why are we struggling to go and spread the good news to all as the kings did and as St. Paul did?
My challenge for us all is this—1. Follow His guiding light, 2. Adore and praise the King who has come, 3. Offer Him all that we are, 4. GO HOME and bring Him to those we love.
These wise men may or may not have believed that the prophecies were true or that they would find a baby who would save the world lying in a manger. However they followed a star, blindly. They went on through sand storms and risk of danger and harm due to desert thieves and bandits. What made them continue on?
When they arrived, they found that all they had studied was true. Everything had come to be and they knelt before the King of Kings. They were among the first to participate in Adoration of our savior. They were the first Christians.
At this point in the meditation, is when I had my epiphany. I realized that God made pagan astronomers believe in Him. They were speechless. They fell to their knees in wonder and amazement at the sight of God made man-Emmanuel. They offered Him some of the finest gifts of the time. Why? God makes men and women do some pretty unexplainable things
For instance, St. Paul, formerly Saul, had Christians killed and God made him do a complete 180 and Paul began to evangelize the world. Mother Theresa cared for and loved the poorest and sickest of people. People wake up every Sunday morning and go to a building where they repeat prayers that have been said for thousands of years—prayers and words that are routed in scripture. These people eat and drink their God! Why?
The epiphany, my friends, is this. There is a reason why we call our faith a mystery. There is a reason why for thousands of years theologians and philosophers, believers and non-believers have been trying to explain God. He is just that AWE-some. In every sense of that word. That word is tosses around in frat houses and college campuses very frequently. But think about it—awesome—full of awe. God has an unexplainable presence that He reveals to us each and every day in the Eucharist. Why have we grown numb to the wonder and awe experienced by the wise kings 2000 years ago? Why do we not fall to our knees and offer Him all that we have and all that we are? Why are we struggling to go and spread the good news to all as the kings did and as St. Paul did?
My challenge for us all is this—1. Follow His guiding light, 2. Adore and praise the King who has come, 3. Offer Him all that we are, 4. GO HOME and bring Him to those we love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)