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Whoops! Where’s my faith?

POSTED BY CINHOSA ⋅ JANUARY 28, 2012 ⋅ LEAVE A COMMENT

Thanks be to God for the timing of the Gospel reading today- the story where Jesus calms a storm at sea: A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to …Continue reading »

Here’s what parents can do to plant seeds of faith

POSTED BY CINHOSA ⋅ JANUARY 27, 2012 ⋅ 2 COMMENTS

Father Marty often joins our men’s leadership program, That Man Is You!  Recently, I asked him about the gap many cradle Catholics experience as they move from childhood into adulthood.  They no longer attend mass, practice the sacraments and leave the faith – sometimes forever.  I suggested that the Church could bridge the gap with … Continue reading»

7 Quick Takes Friday (#2)

POSTED BY CINHOSA ⋅ JANUARY 27, 2012 ⋅ LEAVE A COMMENT

My daily reflection will be published later today so please check back again this evening. — 1 — As I have mentioned, I enjoy reading the Saint of the Day over on Catholic Online.  I stumbled upon an interesting site called Miracles of the Saints.  As Fr. Ted wrote the other day, “It is the … Continue reading »

There’s something beautiful about the light

POSTED BY CINHOSA ⋅ JANUARY 26, 2012 ⋅ LEAVE A COMMENT

Father Stahl said to us in RCIA that when you are baptized, you are forever plugged into the Body of Christ.  He compared it to being a light bulb plugged on a dimmer switch – the kind where you can dim the light by turning the switch.  He also said that even in times when … Continue reading »

Warning: avoid these mistakes when you preach the Gospel

POSTED BY CINHOSA ⋅ JANUARY 25, 2012 ⋅ 1 COMMENT

Today is the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul.  He’s a great example when we want to learn ways to effectively preach the Gospel.  In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (9:1-22), Paul describes his conversion story in his own words – how he was questioned by Jesus and afflicted with … Continue reading »

What everybody ought to know about the family of Jesus

POSTED BY CINHOSA ⋅ JANUARY 24, 2012 ⋅ 1 COMMENT

Yesterday, I wrote about my demons and how I enable them to attach to me, turn me toward sin and away from God.  I suggested that prayer, reconciliation and (thanks to statements by Pope Benedict XVI today) – I’ll add silence help me to banish my demons. Today’s Gospel reading is an interesting narrative about … Continue reading »

How to banish your demons

POSTED BY CINHOSA ⋅ JANUARY 23, 2012 ⋅ 6 COMMENTS

I have a hate-hate relationship with my demons.  I used to find them satisfying.  I reveled in their ability to give me a shadow of happiness.  Dare I say that I loved them and their false promise of true happiness.  See friends, I was unaware of the feeling of true happiness so I settled for … Continue reading »

Bible and Rosary

Thanks be to God for the timing of the Gospel reading today- the story where Jesus calms a storm at sea:

A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,
so that it was already filling up.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
They woke him and said to him,
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
He woke up,
rebuked the wind,
and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.

I have been anxious the past three few days as my life circumstances feel like a squall – ready to sink me.  Between the mixed messages I get from my employer, a difficult bout of illness within my family, and my own addition of fear of the unknown, I am a wreck.

Not coincidentally, my anxiety is heightened as I rescheduled my morning routine of prayer, reading scriptures and reflection for the past three days.  I hope to better remember the advice of St. Francis De Sales who wrote: “Do not lose your inward peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.”

Today, I feel like the disciples who were terrified in the boat when I should be asleep peacefully, like Jesus who had faith:

Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”

No, Jesus.  I do not have (enough) faith today.  I am too busy thinking “I have to shoulder all of my burdens today,”  instead of offering them to you as a sacrifice.

Thanks be to God for your grace and mercy.  I pray for those throughout the world who need much more than I.

†

You might also like these related posts from cinhosa:

When you are summoned by Jesus

Warning: avoid these mistakes when you preach the Gospe

There’s something beautiful about the light

What everybody ought to know about the family of Jesus

Today we remember Saint Thomas Aquinas - priest and doctor of the Church, patron of all universities and of students.

Related articles

• Feast of St. Francis de Sales (furmanccm.wordpress.com)
• Memorial of St. Francis de Sales (redemptoristpreacher.com)
• By the intercession of Saint Francis de Sales…This writer keeps writing! (catholicjournaling.wordpress.com)
• When you are summoned by Jesus (cinhosa.wordpress.com)

Fit the pieces together

Father Marty often joins our men’s leadership program, That Man Is You!  Recently, I asked him about the gap many cradle Catholics experience as they move from childhood into adulthood.  They no longer attend mass, practice the sacraments and leave the faith – sometimes forever.  I suggested that the Church could bridge the gap with education programs for young adults.

Fr. Marty responded with his observation and in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus offers another through two parables where he compared seeds and the Kingdom of God.  In the first parable, the seed grows itself – despite the best intentions of the sower:

“This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and the s eed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how.
Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.”

In the second parable, the mustard seed – “the smallest of all the seeds on the earth” “springs up and becomes the largest of plants…”

In both cases the seeds grow of their own accord and as Jesus stated: “This is like the Kingdom of God.”

At times Christian parents like me wring their hands about the frequency, depth, and effectiveness of the transmission of our faith to our children.  We know that outside our homes is a secular world that is often ignorant, dismissive, and even hostile against Christian theology.

Fr. Marty observed that the parental obligation of catechesis is to provide enough information so that our children are able “fit the pieces together.”  What came to me today after reflecting on today’s Gospel reading is to offer four pieces to help our children fit together an accurate understanding of the Gospel:

Received – Like the sower of the seed, parents can try to cultivate an environment where our children grow to love our Lord.  However, it is through the grace of our Lord, that our faith “grows of its own accord.”  We can pray that our children will be open to receive grace for such growth..

Relevant – It took me a while to figure out that I need to demonstrate to my children the reasons why Christianity is relevant to my life.  I look for opportunities to explain things from the point of view of Jesus and it surprised me that these often lead into longer conversations where I can answer questions about our religion.

Regular - Catholicism is a lifestyle – not a one hour obligation on Sundays.  For example, we take time before dinner to pray as a family.  Often this can take more than 5 minutes for the four of us to show our love for one another and thanksgiving to God for our blessings.

Relaxed – I have read many blog posts of “former Catholics” who were turned off by their well-intentioned but over-zealous parents.  Perhaps we can remember that our children learn best from the example we set as parents because we undermine their faith if we do not model it.

As parents, our job is not to create small Christian robots who are uneducated in the mysteries of faith and the great and beautiful meaning of the sacraments and their basis in scripture and tradition.

Pray with me that we may offer for our children a model of love and acceptance of the faith of our children.  Also a special prayer for Skyler – a man who was reading the bible in a coffee shop today.  We chatted for a minute and I hope to learn more about his ministry.

†

You might also like these related posts from cinhosa:

What I am willing to risk

Given a choice, do you choose God?

There's something beautiful about the light

Balancing obedience and evangelization

Today we remember Saint Angela Merci

Related articles

• Memorial of St. Agnes (redemptoristpreacher.com)

My daily reflection will be published later today so please check back again this evening.

— 1 —

As I have mentioned, I enjoy reading the Saint of the Day over on Catholic Online.  I stumbled upon an interesting site called Miracles of the Saints.  As Fr. Ted wrote the other day, “It is the old adage that miracles will not help the non-believer come to faith. You have to believe in God to witness a miracle. Miracles are for believers, not the unbelievers.“

— 2 —

Dr. Taylor Marshall, a well-known Catholic convert and writer, who was an Episcopalian priest, posted a series of thoughts on his conversion, called Becoming Catholic, hosted on Called to Communion.  He’s a great writer and story teller.   Also, his personal blog canterbury tales is in my blogroll.  It’s a must read for me!

Part 1 – Becoming a Catholic in my heart
Part 2 – How Catholicism Made Me Socially Aware
Part 3 – What Would Your Family Say … If You Became Catholic?
Part 4 - Salvation Pinball & the Devotional Life of Catholics
Part 5 – Going to Confession: How it works
Part 6 – How Will the Catholic Faith Change Your Marriage?

— 3 —

In case you missed the reblog, here is an Excellent 2012 March For Life Video. H/T: http://catholibertarian.com/

— 4 —

Looking for free eBooks?  Rann suggests that you go to eReaderLove.com  She also hosts Sunday Snippets a Catholic blog carnival.

— 5 —

Will we Catholics Tolerate Obama and More Abortions?

— 6 —

Check out FishEaters.com – whether you are Protestant, Converting to Catholicism or Catholic.

— 7 —

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

†

Top 4 posts on cinhosa this week:

Sunday Snippets

Warning: Avoid these mistakes when you preach the Gospel

Was Jesus out of his mind?

How to banish your demons

After my conversion, light for me took new meanings as I have experienced the times when the light is bright and I feel the power of the Holy Spirit.  There are times when the light is dim and I feel weighed down by my sins.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus delivers the Parable of the Lamp:

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”

I think my spiritual life is a constant determination of where I should put the lamp (meaning my faith).

Should I display it proudly or hide it under my bed?
Should I share the Good News or should I keep it private and under a basket?
Should I light a candle so that others can find it or hide it behind my hand so it won’t blow out?

I wonder how often I place Jesus in the most prominent place in my life?
What opportunities are there for me to share his light with those around me?

In a professional meeting last week, the human resource expert talked about different generations of Americans and what they bring (in general to the work place).  As a Generation X (born between 1960 and 1980), she explained that we are independent.  I fall into her characterization because in my independence, I spent that time hiding the light under my bed, loudly proclaiming that:

“I CAN DO IT MYSELF!”

Friends, I was dead wrong.

To reach my full potential, I must be plugged into the Body of Christ.  I must seek out opportunities to understand and relate to my brothers and sisters.  I can offer help and be a servant to those around me without expecting something in return.

I must loosen the death grip I have on my life and spirit and allow myself to be captured by the loving hands of God.  I must swoon in his light so that I do not have to hide in the shame of my sins.

There’s something beautiful about the light.

My prayers and blessings to you.

†

You might also like these related posts from cinhosa:

What everybody ought to know about the family of Jesus

The refulgence of his glory

What is the intent of your worship?

You are more than…

Today we remember Saint Timothy

Related articles

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Ananias restoring the sight of Saint Paul by Pietro De Cortana - Image via Wikipedia

Today is the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul.  He’s a great example when we want to learn ways to effectively preach the Gospel.  In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (9:1-22), Paul describes his conversion story in his own words – how he was questioned by Jesus and afflicted with temporary blindness on the road to Damascus.

Paul’s conversion is a dramatic story for Christians to keep in mind as we accept the command of Evangelization from Jesus.

In the Gospel reading,

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

In Paul’s letters, we can recognize a pattern of conversion.  Here’s his secret:  Paul made many close friends.  He constantly names them in his letters.  He led a life of Christian devotion.  By his example, his close friends were attracted to Christianity.  As Matthew Kelly wrote in Rediscover Catholicism, “Friendship is the original model of evangelization.”

In our zeal to share the Good News and win converts, I hope Christians remember the timeless example of Paul and many others who have come before us.  So, in honor of the conversion of Saint Paul, I offer a list mistakes to avoid when we preach the Gospel:

» ”Looking” for potential converts – I avoid keeping a mental check list of people who “need converting.”  I do not know what is in the heart of another person and to presume anything will be a disaster.  The result is a deep offense that is difficult to overcome.  So I must remember the advice of Jesus from Matthew 5:1-5 and first remove the plank from my eye and focus on building habits of virtue in my life.

» Acquaintance conversion - For most of the people I know, their spiritual life is one of the most personal matters.  So, most people are not comfortable to discuss their faith casually.  It requires a deep trust in order to discuss faith.  Trust is not something we develop in one or two hallway conversations at work; rather, trust depends on the amount of time I spend with someone and my ability to honest and genuine during time spent.  There are no shortcuts to building trust.

» Preaching “at” people – Raise your hand if you do not want someone to listen to you.  This is what can result when I tell people what they “should” do with their faith.  A more effective approach is to listen to someone when they want to ask questions about my faith.  Look for opportunities, rather than forcing them into a conversation.

» Remember free will – God gave us free will and invites us to follow him.  He does not coerce us.  So we should not try to coerce others to follow God.  It does not work.

Christian Bible, rosary, and crucifix by Issagm via Wikipedia

Christianity is a lifestyle and a choice.  My hope is to practice virtue so my lifestyle may be an example that attracts others to Christianity.  In this way, I hope to emulate Saint Paul and I believe (and have experienced) that it will yield plenty of opportunities to preach the Gospel.

†

You might also like these related posts from cinhosa:

When you are summoned by Jesus

Can our testimony change hearts and minds?

7 Quick Takes

Why we are failing to convert others to Christianity

Today we remember Saint Paul

Related articles

• “God Created Saint Paul and Then Broke the Mold” (insightscoop.typepad.com)
• “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation” (worryisuseless.wordpress.com)
• 366 Days with the Lord 2012: Jan. 25 (lovelyframie.wordpress.com)
• An Atheist’s Case for Religion (tuscaloosaanglicans.wordpress.com)
• Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle (catholicjules.net)

Today’s Gospel reading is an interesting narrative about God’s will – paramount to banish demons.  Remember that to banish them aids me in my essential purpose: to lead a life of holiness.

In the reading today, Jesus’s family comes to visit him and he is surrounded by a crowd:

A crowd seated around him told him,
“Your mother and your brothers and your sisters
are outside asking for you.”
But he said to them in reply,
“Who are my mother and my brothers?”

I wrote the other day that contemporaries of Jesus and even members of his family thought him to be out of his mind.  You could add his question about his mother and brothers to the case.  However, with a simple statement, Jesus redefines not only family but establishes the Body of Christ:

And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.”

Being a member of a family is important to most of us.  It can protect us from loneliness or even despair.

Body of Christ by bemky

I think of the times in my own life when I felt isolated from my family – particularly when I left my parents house for college.  I was in between worlds – the world of my childhood and the world of adults.  I felt lonely and unsure of myself.  I had not developed a relationship with God and I tried to do everything myself.

There were other times in my family now, with my wife and two children, when I felt isolated – particularly when I let those demons convince me that their way is best – better than God’s will for my life.

Like most families, the family of Jesus sets expectations to be a member.  I know my wife and I work each day to remind our 8 and 4 year olds of familial expectations.  In today’s scripture reading, Jesus was clear: “whoever does the will of God” is a member of his family.

So what everybody ought to know about the family of Jesus are two things:

1.  All of us are welcome.  Jesus gives to each of us the ability to join his family – to be a brother, or a sister or a mother.  No longer do we Christians need to feel isolated – we have a permanent and open invitation from the Son of God to join his family.

2.  We must do the will of God.  All of us struggle to understand the will of God for ourselves and then actually do it.  If you read about Saint Francis de Sales (we celebrate his memorial today), we see that he waited 13 years between the time he knew God called him to be a priest until the time he was ordained.  How many years I have wasted, chasing demons instead of embracing God’s will for my life.

I am thankful for everyone who reads my words each day.  Writing helps me slow down to read scripture and think about it.  This helps me grow in my faith.  The interactions we have help us grow together as a Christian family.  I pray each day for each of you and thank you for your kindness.

Let us pray for our brothers and sisters who feel isolated from the family of Christ.  Let our faith, words, actions and devotion lead them to see that God is love and they are welcome to join us.

Finally, let us pray that through God’s grace, we will be moved away from our fear of God’s will for us and embrace it so that in it we can find love for him and those around us.

Have a blessed evening!

†

You might also like these related posts from cinhosa:

Was Jesus out of his mind?

The effort to /biˈlēv/

Have pity like Jesus

Drop Everything and Join Me

Today we remember Saint Francis de Sales

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• Doing The Will Of God (catholicjules.net)
• Memorial of St. Francis de Sales (redemptoristpreacher.com)
• How St. Francis de Sales can teach you to trust in the Lord like never before… (regnumnovum.com)
• By the intercession of Saint Francis de Sales…This writer keeps writing! (catholicjournaling.wordpress.com)

That’s the thing about demons – their goal is to bring us down.

For example, one of demons appeared for me this morning.  His name is negativity.  He wants me to revel in all things imperfect.  When I give him attention, his presence overpowers me so that he comes out of me through disapproving looks, words, derision, and disrespect.  I learned to recognize what it means for me when he appears.

Death and the Usurer (detail) by Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450–1516)

I have other demons – some are more horrible to me than others – but all lead me to sin and ruin.  I’m sure you can identify yours.  If you are feeling brave, write about them in the comments.

I’m writing about demons because I think today’s scripture makes an excellent point about demons.  The scene is Jesus and the omnipresent scribes.  Jesus knew a thing or two about demons and was accused of being one himself in today’s Gospel reading:

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,
“He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and
“By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”

Jesus challenged the scribes:

“How can Satan drive out Satan?”

Jesus explains to them that their accusation makes no sense and that those who accuse him of being Satan will not be forgiven.  In the midst of making his point, this verse grabbed me today:

But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property
unless he first ties up the strong man.
Then he can plunder his house.

Image via Wikipedia

When we read and interpret this scripture, we men can easily misunderstand it.  We read: “no one can enter a strong man’s house” and conclude that “I must be strong (at all times) to protect my house.”  This is the wrong conclusion.

So how can I be a strong enough to avoid the plunder of my house?

Consider the advice from Jesus about becoming tied up.  To me, being tied up means I am distracted from my essential purpose: to lead a life of holiness.  My demons tie me up.  The tempt me to commit sin and this tightens the knots.

For example, I can choose to focus on my career because it gratifies my ego.  My ego demon tempts me, telling me that to be successful, I need to win friends and influence people.  I need to have an important title, earn a ton of money, and receive praise for my brilliant intellect or personality or charisma.  Women should swoon over me.

I went down this road.  I bought the ticket and found out that it was one-way.  I had to hitch-hike back to my life.  By the grace of God, I didn’t reach the end of this road before I realized my mistakes.

From these experiences, I learned (and I hope to remember) that life does not require me to pay attention all of the time (because this is impossible); rather it requires that I paying full attention at the most important times.  When I am tempted by one of my demons, I need to pay full attention at this time and pray.

So when I woke up in a foul mood, my demon of negativity licked his chops.  By the grace of God, I dove into my morning prayer and reading.  Soon the demon was gone and I was able to move on to a wonderful day – despite all of the flu viruses floating around my house that grabbed my wife and son.

Image via Wikipedia

Prayer banishes my demons 100% of the time.

When you are attacked by your demons, try to remember to stop and pray.  See them for the false promises that they represent.  Hold them up to the light and examine their folly and the terrible consequences of allowing them to seduce you.

Finally, when I give in to temptation and commit sins, prayer helps me to avoid it again.  Reconciliation helps the most for me and this is why I love going to confession more than I used to love my demons.  Reconciliation is hope.  Reconciliation is love.  Reconciliation is the means for me to apologize and pledge to do better next time.

If you haven’t been to confession lately, please go and thank God for his grace in this sacrament.

†

You might also like these related posts from cinhosa:

When you are summoned by Jesus

Do I make Jesus angry?

Renew Yourself With Prayer

God's finger and marriage

Today we remember Saint Ildephonsus

Check out Strong Enough by Matthew West.  I think he adds to today’s reading.

Related articles

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• “All sins will be forgiven except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” (worryisuseless.wordpress.com)
• Some Things About Demons (palamas.info)