Why I Am Catholic
You’ll probably want to stop checking in on my blog now, seeing as I don’t have any deep thoughts to offer on whatever the various concerns of the day might be. Yes, you would be justified in removing my blog from your RSS feed, your blogroll, etc.
I really don’t deserve to have folks reading my thoughts at all, when you get right down to it. Joe Six-Pack? Who aspires to such a pedestrian title? Besides, there is an ever expanding list of folks blogging on the Catholic Channel here at Patheos, and elsewhere, and they all have a lot of very important things to say about stuff that you may find of interest.
Yes, there are many people that deserve to be read by folks because they are living inspiring lives. Or at least their words would have you believe that. As for me, I would rather spend time reading the scriptures, and praying, than I would trying to convince you that the world is coming to an end, and Catholics are doomed. First off, I won’t write that way, because I don’t believe it is true, and secondly, I think that is a pretty saturated market these days.
No. Like most things in my life, I don’t deserve what has been given to me. I could pretend that everything I have accomplished has been because of my diligent hard work, clairvoyant planning, and herculean work effort. But the truth is, everything I have, and have accomplished, is an unearned grace. And in the great scheme of things, it doesn’t amount to a hill of beans if I don’t try to become a little Christ.
Still, I am grateful for all the blessings that have been bestowed upon me. For my life, my wife, my children, my health, etc. But I am especially grateful for having been called to be a Catholic, and to having access to the channels of grace that are provided by the sacraments of the Church, Christ’s body here on earth. I want others to know that this is something that I am grateful for and that what they are searching for can be found in the Catholic church, too.
So you’ve been warned, dear reader. If you stick around for future posts, they are bound to be boring, and from the viewpoint of a regular guy who isn’t pretending to be the smartest guy in the room, but one who claims only to have the faith of a child. Faith in the face of seemingly unending pain, and yet faith filled with joy for having lived at all.
Paradoxical, I know. Like these words attributed to St. Baranabus, St. Paul’s fast friend, and aptly named “son of encouragement.”
When evil days are upon us and the worker of malice gains power, we must attend to our own souls and seek to know the ways of the Lord. In those times reverential fear and perseverance will sustain our faith, and we will find need of forbearance and self-restraint as well. Provided that we hold fast to these virtues and look to the Lord, then wisdom, understanding, knowledge and insight will make joyous company with them.
That’s the plan. St. Paul notes that,
The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words.
Or by blogging. Still, not everything is left to unutterable groanings.
Stay tuned.
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