We Are Not Being Judged By God With The Coronavirus, But We Will Be Judged By How We Deal With It

Last updated on: April 19, 2020 at 10:22 am By Henry Karlson

While the novel coronavirus COVID-19 should not be seen as divine punishment, some manipulators are trying to suggest otherwise. They use terrible theological arguments about God’s judgment in order to use the coronavirus as a way to enforce their own particular ideology. For example, some modernist Catholics, denying the piety and holiness possible with communion in the hand, ignore history and say the faithful may only receive communion only on the tongue. They suggest that the virus is God’s judgment upon... Read more

Our Actions, Not Fate, Determine What We Experience

Last updated on: April 14, 2020 at 3:22 am By Henry Karlson

One of the most dangerous things to develop in popular forms of piety in religion – and this happens in multiple religions – is to turn religious belief into a dangerous, indeed, deadly fatalism discourages people from acting for their own benefit (or the benefit of others). A fatalistic attitude can reveal itself in many different ways. In Christianity, it often follows along the lines of: “God is all powerful. He rules over the earth. Therefore, all things which happen,... Read more

Easter, Passover, and the Coronavirus

Last updated on: April 12, 2020 at 3:22 am By Henry Karlson

The First Ode for Resurrection Matins (in the Byzantine tradition) reminds us of the connection between the Easter Feast and Passover: It is the day of Resurrection, O People let us be enlightened by it. The Passover is the Lord’s Passover, since Christ our God, has brought us from death to life and from earth to heaven – Therefore we sing a hymn of victory! (Resurrection Matins, Ode 1 ) The day of Resurrection, the day on which Christ has... Read more

The Revelation of the True Messianic Kingdom on the Cross

Last updated on: April 10, 2020 at 3:27 am By Henry Karlson

By accepting a place next to criminals, next to those recognized as public sinners, Jesus demonstrated his love and solidarity for all sinful humanity on the cross. Throughout his public ministry, he was around those who were outcast and despised, those considered ritually or spiritually impure. They were the ones who welcomed Jesus. They were the ones who welcomed his message of love and hope. They were the ones who accepted his spiritual and physical healing. The kingdom of God... Read more

For the Sake of the Common Good, Save the Postal Service

Last updated on: April 8, 2020 at 5:57 am By Henry Karlson

Through the pride of his riches the rich man rules over other men, whom he can harm, and treats them badly, just as if they were not fellow creatures, and in this way the good name of mankind (that man is the image and likeness of God [cf. Gen 1.26]) is blasphemed – St. Hildegard of Bingen[1] The postal service is an important, indeed, vital civic institution. The American public relies upon it for various needs, among which are paying... Read more

Grace or Judgment

Last updated on: April 7, 2020 at 3:29 am By Henry Karlson

The desert fathers and mothers wanted to establish a utopian like community in the desert. However, they were also human. When someone entered the growing monastic community, they brought all the foibles of humanity with them. This meant that the monastic community had to deal with many of the same problems as secular society. People, even those who love and care for each other, often can get on each other’s nerves. Minor differences of opinion can become the foundation for... Read more

Jesus Enters Into Jerusalem

Last updated on: April 5, 2020 at 3:34 am By Henry Karlson

Soon after raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus entered into Jerusalem. There, he found a crowd waiting to greet him. They were expecting him to establish the messianic kingdom. In a sense, they were right. That was exactly what he was going to do. But they did not understand what that meant. They did not understand what Jesus was about to do. The messianic kingdom was not going to be like any other kingdom on earth. It was not going... Read more

The Raising of Lazarus and Us

Last updated on: April 4, 2020 at 3:31 am By Henry Karlson

Before entering Jerusalem, Jesus demonstrated that he is the Lord of the living and the dead by having Lazarus come forth from his tomb. Lazarus, being dead for four days, had already acquired the stench of death: Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. When Martha... Read more

Closing Houses of Worship During a Pandemic Does Not Violate Religious Liberty

Last updated on: April 2, 2020 at 8:21 am By Henry Karlson

With COVID-19 exponentially spreading across the world, quarantines have been put in place, restricting where people can go, and how many people can congregate together. This is necessary in order to save lives. As a result, most places of worship have temporally found themselves closed to the general public. This is not because the state is fighting against religion, nor indeed, discriminating against religion, but because the state is equally applying social distancing to all.[1] It is the furthest thing... Read more

Humility

Last updated on: April 1, 2020 at 3:31 am By Henry Karlson

My son, glorify yourself with humility, and ascribe to yourself honor according to your worth –Sirach 10:28 RSV. If pride comes before a fall, then what better way is there to rise back up, or even to prevent a fall, than to embrace the virtue of humility? Sadly, this is easier said than done. We might recognize the truth of this. We might even try to embrace humility, and in some aspects of our lives, do so. But the stain... Read more

What occupation did Peter, Andrew, James, and John have before following Jesus?