Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve....
There are those who piously suggest they believe in no organized religion, suggesting there is some other kind. After my first experiences as a deacon, and then a priest, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio, I know that Catholicism is sufficiently disorganized to serve the most pious hypocrite. Given that our Church spans the globe and includes people of every nation, race, language, and ethnicity the wonder is that it can be called a religion. And yet at its heart, Catholicism is the love of the Lord Jesus and his dear Mother Mary. It is also a marvelous devotion to the saints of our past, the sinners of our present, and the martyrs of our future.
There are many churches dedicated to the apostles Simon and Jude but no website explains why they are coupled together; nor does the scripture offer many stories about either of them. It suffices to say they were chosen, blessed, and commissioned by the Lord to announce the Gospel to all nations; and they did that -- along with the rest of us.
They did not fail, nor have we, despite our continual distracted sinfulness. And that is because the Spirit of God moves us as certainly as John Brown's body lies amoldering in his grave but his soul is marching on.
The glory of Catholicism is the assurance that we are sinners -- as all the world knows and will often remind us -- but we cannot fail because God will not fail. And with that assurance, we can laugh at ourselves. Because faith in God comes with a deep sense of humor about one self.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.