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My maternal grandfather lived in a small, southeast Kansas town. In his yard, he had a big garden and whenever we would go visit, he would take us on the "5 cent tour." My brother tells this story about how one time, he was walking through the tomato plants with our grandpa and our grandpa said, "You know, Michael, a tomato that you buy will never taste as good as one that you grow yourself." To which my young brother said, "I don't know, Grandpa, I think they're all gross." Our grandpa just kind of chuckled and they continued on their way. Years and years later, as my brother was driving down to southeast Kansas for our grandpa's funeral, he was thinking of that conversation. In that moment, it hit my brother that our grandpa wasn't trying to talk about the taste of tomatoes, he was trying to teach my brother about the value of hard work. I've been thinking about wisdom a lot lately and this story of my grandpa keeps popping up in my mind. When he was in the garden with my brother, he knew that he wasn't getting the point of what he said, but he didn't sit my brother down for a lecture and monologue for an hour on the importance of working hard. No, he gave a little laugh and didn't stress about it. Somehow he knew that one day it would all make sense and it did. He probably knew that one day, too, my brother would like tomatoes...and he does. My grandpa was a simple, wonderful man. He was a carpenter. He had such safe, strong hands. He wasn't college educated, he lived in a little town, he wasn't a world traveler, and yet, he had such wisdom. Much like St. Joseph, I'm sure. Jesus, too, taught in parables and while He taught, He didn't browbeat people to death. He allowed His words to penetrate and soak in and that still happens today when we read the Bible. I know that wisdom cannot be attained through noise and bombastic talk. I know this, because three men that I overwhelmingly admire and love weren't that way--my grandfather, St. Joseph, and Jesus. I hope to be more like them. Live the faith boldly and travel well, Catholic Pilgrims.
Continue ReadingIsn't this old Communion Bread mould amazing, Catholic Pilgrims? This past weekend in OCIA, the head teacher and I were teaching on the truths of the Eucharist. As I was sitting listening to Andrew teach about the miracle of the Eucharist, many thoughts were running through my head. I thought back to how the Eucharist was one of the main reasons I converted. I thought about the journey I went on to understand it and how the moment it clicked in my head, I was desperate to become Catholic. Then I thought about how nearly all professed Christians--Protestant, Orthodox, and Catholic--believe in the miracles found in the Bible. Sure, there are some offshoot groups that think they are Christian but aren't because they deny Christ's divinity or the Resurrection. However, if you asked most Christians, "Do you believe that God created the world?" They would say, "Yes." Do you believe in the parting of the Red Sea? Yes Do you believe in God giving Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai? Yes Do you believe Jesus walked on water? Yes Do you believe He healed the blind, deaf, lame, and diseased? Yes Do you believe Jesus rose people from the dead, like Jairus' daughter in today's Gospel reading? Yes. Do you believe He Resurrected from the dead and ascended into Heaven? Yes Do you believe in the miracle of the Eucharist? Many would say, no. Many people have told me that the Eucharist is too much to believe in. As if believing that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity took flesh, was born a baby in manager, was crucified, and rose from the dead after three days isn't too much. That's why those things are considered miracles. They are "too much" for the natural world. Why would belief in the Eucharist be anymore "out there?" God can do anything that is not contrary to His nature and turning ordinary bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus is not contrary to His nature, nor is it impossible for Him. In fact, it is the most amazing way for Christ to truly be present to us throughout all time. "And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." Matthew 28:20 Jesus is always with us in a very spiritual sense, but, also, He is physically present, every day, everywhere around the world in the Eucharist. He promised to be with us and He is. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Tuesday.
Continue ReadingToday, I want to show you our culture's "beatitudes." Underneath our culture's, I'll put Christ's words so that you can see the contrast. Respected are the proud. (Blessed are the poor in spirit.) Admired are those that celebrate death. (Blessed are they who mourn.) Successful are those that are crass and brazen. (Blessed are the meek.) Powerful are those who believe that the ends justify the means. (Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness.) Popular are those who seek to cancel people. (Blessed are the merciful.) Satisfied are the lustful and indulgent. (Blessed are the clean of heart.) Dynamic are those that cause a scene. (Blessed are the peacemakers.) Intelligent are those that reject Christianity. (Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of the kingdom.) Now, what is going to be everybody's tendency is to look to their political opponents and start to point out all the ways they promote the culture's "beatitudes." That's going to be the tendency, but don't do it. Each side has problems and we all know it. I don't want this to be a political debate. Instead, look at yourself. Do you follow any of the world's ways over Christ's? It's hard to do, and I'll admit, I don't want to be honest about how I fail to live up to Christ's Beatitudes, but instead slip into what the culture encourages. But if your fingers itch to type about this person over here or that group over there, just pause, and reflect on yourself. We cannot fix other people or control them very well, but we can fix ourselves. It is far too easy to lay all the blame at everyone else's feet and never look within. It'll make you uncomfortable to do this and not just shift your focus on someone else; it made me uncomfortable. But, looking into our own soul and seeing where we can be better is what matters most. Have a blessed Sunday, Catholic Pilgrims.
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