In one sense, the cross didn’t have to happen. In another sense, it is a part of the eternal kenosis of God, and so is central to who God is. The cross wasn’t necessary for the sake of our salvation. God could have chosen other ways to save us, but each of those ways would not have been as fitting to who and what God is, for through them, God would have ended up imposing salvation upon us as act... Read more
We can pursue the truth in many different ways, each of which has much to offer. Not everyone will or can pursue the truth in the same way. They are not meant to. Each way will provide a different way of apprehending the truth, and in that fashion, complement what others can get from their own engagement of the truth. Sometimes, we might find ourselves engaging the truth in a variety of fashions, but often, we find ourselves embracing a... Read more
It is easy to miss, in the midst of his words indicating that circumcision was not meant for all, that Paul called it a good thing; what he did not think was good was forcing it upon every male convert. God’s intentions were not for everyone to be circumcised, but to use it as a sign and as a vessel of grace for the people of Israel. What Paul didn’t want was for people to exaggerate that good, to make... Read more
“And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors;” (Matt. 6:12 RSV). Jesus was clear: we are to be merciful to others because we have received mercy ourselves. We are meant to lift each other up, making sure that those most in need are not neglected. If we are merciless, we risk losing mercy for ourselves. This was a point Jesus wanted us to understand from his Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor. In it, he tells of... Read more
Our habits and desires often make us react to others in ways which are not as charitable or compassionate as we should. When they do so, we must work to overcome them and put them aside. For, we are called to look out at others with a heart filled with compassion, treating others as we would like to be treated. We should be able to sympathize with pains and sorrows others feel, having experienced similar troubles ourselves. And when we... Read more
God is love, and so what God does, is love. Love is kind and generous, self-giving, yes, but it is also productive, and in that productivity, there is creativity. In this fashion, we can see love is at the foundation of God’s creative activity, for, being so full of love, God wanted to share that love with others. God made creation, and with it, creatures who could and would freely share in and participate in the love God gives to... Read more
Paul understood that if our faith can develop and become strong, it can also weaken; this is why he encouraged us to do what we can to make sure our faith doesn’t wane. “Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13 RSV). The next statement he made can be seen as a separate exhortation, or it can be seen as explaining how one is to hold one’s faith: “Let all that you do be... Read more
When we ignore history, the mistakes and sins of the past are bound to be repeated. When we think we no longer have to make restitution for the sins of the past, we find ourselves ignoring history, and so it should not be surprising we find ourselves replicating its evils. Catholics who, in theory, have learned that inculturation is important, and with it, the recognition of the dignity and values of the cultures around the world should be supported instead... Read more
St. Ammonas, a disciple of St. Antony of Egypt, eventually found himself in a position of authority and leadership in his community. His spiritual experiences gave him a charism that allowed him to direct other monks. He helped them receive spiritual experiences of their own. Once, he heard about some monks who were getting restless, thinking it was time for them to go somewhere else. Ammonas believed they were letting their passions get the best of them, that is, that... Read more
We have grown accustomed to accept the notion that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. The law is the law, and authorities have the power to enforce it, even upon people who had no way to know what the law expected them to do. Taken as an absolute, this would be unjust which is why, when we look to how ignorance is dealt in the judicial system, sometimes ignorance does become an excuse. If this were not the... Read more
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