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I was watching a video the other day of Lila Rose, a prominent pro-life advocate, having a conversation with a group of women. The conversation centered on chastity and Lila, very charitably, shared with the women the desire God has for their relationship with men.
One woman, who clearly disagreed, defensively spoke up and said, “Nobody has the right to tell me what I can and cannot do with my boyfriend in the bedroom.”
Lila calmly explained the beauty of what God wants for the marital embrace.
The other women said something to the effect of, “Yeah, yeah, I believe in God. I mean, I have a Bible in my house. I’m not doing anything wrong. I love my boyfriend.”
Oh, how I could see my younger self in this woman. I knew what was going on in her mind as it was the same thing that used to go on in my mind. I’m pretty sure I uttered those exact words as her. “Look, I believe in God. I have a Bible.”
Notice how both of us said we had a Bible; we didn’t say we read it.
Now, these were the things I told myself and others to seem like a “good person.” Never mind that I did precious little to foster a relationship with God and that Bible I had…well, it was collecting dust in a slot on my nightstand.
I thought these bare minimum professions covered me, an insurance, so to speak. I felt I was free to live how I wanted. In my mind, my label of “Christian” and my possession of a Bible allowed me to feel righteous, better than those without those things.
The thing was, though, was that I wanted the security of Heaven but I wanted to put in zero effort on my part. Christ was constantly inviting me into a relationship with Him, but I constantly put Him on the back burner. I didn’t want Him cramping my style.
Our Gospel reading today shows that the master is inviting many to his amazing feast, a shared banquet of gifts and love, but too many find reasons to decline the invitation.
“Consider me excused, I’ve got other things, don’t you see?” Thanks, but no thanks.
May we see, Catholic Pilgrims, that we must respond to the gifts and graces God gives us. We must be an active participant in this relationship; it can’t be simply a one-sided thing. We can and should give God more than the bare minimum.
Have a blessed Tuesday.
My husband and I were talking to our daughter on the phone the other day and as we were talking, my husband told her about all the different Masses we had been to in one week. We went to our first Latin Mass the Sunday after Christmas. Then, we went to a funeral Mass in San Jose. The day after that, we went to a bilingual Mass at Mission San Juan Baptista--my 12th California Mission. And this past Sunday, we were back at our base chapel with all the familiar faces of our friends that we live with on base. It never ceases to amaze me how good it feels to just walk into a Catholic Church and know that I belong. I don't even have to know anybody. It's always nice when I do know people, but, even when I don't, I feel a great sense of belonging. As the Catholic Pilgrim, I've visited literally hundreds of Catholic Churches in the 16 years since I converted. I've been to Masses where the people spoke French, Turkish, Portuguese, Polish, and Spanish. Latin can now be added to the list. I've been to Mass in enormous cathedrals and in small caves. I've attended Mass outside with over a million Catholics and I attend daily Mass on base where sometimes it's just my son and me. In all of these different circumstances, I sense the universality of the Catholic Church. Even when I'm surrounded by people that don't look like me, I feel such a connection because of our Faith and our one shared Feast at the altar--the Eucharist, which is Jesus Christ. What a blessing to be part of this one, big, universal family, Catholic Pilgrims. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Wednesday.
Continue ReadingWe all remember how, after Charlie Kirk's death, attendance at church dramatically increased. People who had been away from church for years went back. Folks that had never been decided to walk through church doors and hopefully find answers. I saw many videos of people documenting their "return to church" experiences. It was good to see. Running to Christ is always the right answer, tragedy or not. But, then right after Christmas, I started seeing videos of Protestant pastors talking about how they were giving their congregation "time off to rest" for the Sunday after Christmas. It just kills me how low of a bar we set for Christians sometimes. Not even three months out from a huge tragedy in our country which spurred Christian revival are pastors giving their congregations time off to rest. Because, we can't be asked to go to church too much, I guess? It also kills me that we literally just celebrated the birth of the greatest gift God ever gave us and four days later people need rest from church. To be fair, many were not pleased with this "get out of church for free" pass. In today's reading from Mark, though, we see a crowd hungry for Jesus. They follow Him around to hear His teachings, they don't even leave when it's time to eat, they are willing to go without food just to be near Him. They realize that this time with Jesus is THE most important thing. This should always be our attitude, Catholic Pilgrims. Going to Mass is such a blessing and an honor. True rest comes from being with God, not staying away from Him. Because as St. Augustine famously said, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Tuesday. *picture is of Mission San Juan Baptista in CA
Continue ReadingBecause I've prepared numerous episodes for my podcast ahead of time, I've already read through Book Two of St. Augustine's "Confessions." This is where we get the famous pear-stealing story. In his thoughts about it, St. Augustine shares that he didn't steal because he really wanted the pears. The pears were inconsequential. He then wonders if he liked the actual crime of stealing OR did he like going along with his accomplices and being part of the gang? I was telling my husband about this at dinner and said, "There are three things to think about with any sin. 1. Do you like the actual tangible thing? Like, are you stealing because you want, say, a gold watch? 2. Do you like the act of the sin itself? Like watching pornography. 3. Do you sin because of the social acceptance it gives you? You go along just because you lack courage to say no?" Now, it could be just one of these things that leads us to sin or it could be a combo. My husband thought for a minute and said, "And with those three things, you are seeking one of the four reasons St. Thomas Aquinas' says we go after happiness--wealth, power, pleasure, honor. If you never think about why you are doing something sinful--to gain wealth, power, pleasure, or honor--and you never look at the three aspects of the sin--the thing you want, the sin itself, or the social acceptance--you will find it very hard to stop committing that sin. What I fiind most interesting about St. Augustine's pear story is that he didn't care about the pears, he didn't really revel in stealing, but mostly just wanted to fit in with the crowd. I was watching a video yesterday from Bishop Barron and he said, "With hot button topics--abortion, euthanasia, etc--Catholics track pretty much in line with the secular culture." Meaning, we don't look any different. We just blend right in, striking no real difference in how we live or believe. I believe this is because too many desire honor. We want to be accepted and liked and, so, lack the courage to swim against the stream. That is why I'm always saying that we must live the Faith boldly and travel well, Catholic Pilgrims. Have a blessed Monday.
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