Skip to main content
As the Lenten season begins for 2010, I am concentrating on being a good Christian. I have decided to focus on morning and evening prayers and reading the Bible more for Lent. In this way, I think that I will be better prepared for Holy Week. It is requiring me to wake up earlier and I am not a morning person but there is something extraordinary about the lack of noise before my house arises. I have been distracted the last two days. A good friend died on Monday. He had a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer which he won. Then the cancer returned and attached to his liver. He simply did not have the strength to fight this time. He was a brave soul and I know he is working for us in Heaven. I will miss him because he had such a profound effect on me. He taught me how to be a good Christian man. He was a terrific mentor and a father-figure in my life. I truly loved him even though we only became friends less than a decade ago. RIP. I want to urge you to spend some time each day during Lent thinking about Jesus' journey to the cross. He knew what was coming and accepted it for our salvation. What do you think Jesus was wondering about today as he prepared for his death? His fully human thoughts had to be dismayed yet his fully God self understood fully the purpose of his mission. Let's take this walk with Jesus Christ our Savior during the next 40 days.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jesus Came to End Death and to Build a Church

The twelve apostles chosen by Jesus formed the bedrock of the early Church , and their Catholic identity is deeply rooted in their direct relationship with Christ and the mission He entrusted to them. The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights this foundational role, stating that Jesus "instituted the Twelve as 'the seeds of the new Israel and the beginning of the sacred hierarchy'" ( CCC 860 ). These men were not simply followers; they were handpicked by Jesus, lived intimately with Him, witnessed His miracles and teachings firsthand, and were specifically commissioned to preach the Gospel to all nations ( Matthew 28:19-20 ). Their unique position as eyewitnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and their reception of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, established them as the authoritative leaders of the nascent Church, a reality echoed in the writings of early Church Fathers like Ignatius of Antioch, who emphasized the apostles' authority as repre...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pope Saint John Paul II and the Socialist Threat

Pope Saint John Paul II , a towering figure of the 20th century, was a staunch critic of socialist ideologies. He recognized the inherent flaws in systems that sought to control economies and societies through centralized planning and state ownership. The pontiff's teachings offered a prophetic warning against the dangers of such regimes, which often led to oppression, poverty, and the erosion of individual freedoms. Recently, a conference organized by the Catholic Association of Propagandists in Spain brought together prominent figures who echoed the concerns raised by the late Pope. Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Orihuela-Alicante boldly declared socialism an "enemy of the cross," highlighting its incompatibility with Christian values. He emphasized the need for a spiritual renewal, urging individuals to embrace the cross as a path to true happiness and fulfillment. French philosopher Fabrice Hadjadj also addressed the challenges posed by modern society, warning ag...
Post a Comment
Read more

Unpacking Prophecy: Common Pitfalls in Scriptural Interpretation

One of the most significant hurdles people face when engaging with Scripture lies in the interpretation of prophecy. It's a common misconception that prophetic passages inherently refer to future events, leading many to overlook their immediate context. A crucial starting point for understanding prophecy is to first look for its fulfillment in the time period closest to the prophet. Only after considering this contemporary application should we then explore the possibility of more distant or future fulfillments. This foundational principle helps to ground our understanding and prevent misinterpretations that can arise from solely focusing on what's to come. Beyond the tendency to project all prophecy into the future, another pervasive error is adopting an "egocentric" interpretation, where individuals believe biblical prophecy is primarily about them. While extreme examples involve figures like Charles Manson or David Koresh claiming to be prophesied individuals, a ...
Post a Comment
Read more