Why I Am Not An Atheist Part One: Morality

It's been awhile since my last post. I've recently started a new job, and have been ironing things out for a second one, all while going to school and staying involved in Church. But, I'm back, because I wanted to weigh in on a topic brought up by comments made by Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson at a prayer breakfast. I don't usually go for current issues and pop culture, but this touched on a subject about which many people have asked me that goes something like this: "A lot of young people are atheists. Why aren't you?" This will be the first of at least two posts on this, maybe more. This first post concerns morality, which is the subject the Mr. Robertson touched on. 

I won't go into details on Robertson's overly graphic scenario, as I don't think that it was a good example at all and it did far more harm than good. Obviously, most Christians wouldn't be violent criminals if they happened to be atheists, and most atheists are not violent criminals; like most Christians, they are decent human beings. Yet, atheism has it's fair share of subscribers who have killed for the cause. Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao Zedong,  and the Kim Dynasty of North Korea all have their hands soaked in the blood of the followers of the religions that they tried to stamp out. A religion or lack thereof doesn't make the person automatically commit acts of horror and violence, but neither does it automatically make someone a better, more charitable and compassionate person. Our choices, regardless of our beliefs, are ours and ours alone to make. Yet, the source of the morality and values behind those choices must also be pondered and taken into consideration, hence my writing. But first, a little backstory to set the stage for this and subsequent blogs. 

I first experienced atheism in high school. It's a time when many people are growing and changing. Many of my friends were renouncing God and becoming atheists. They quoted atheistic thinkers and proclaimed themselves to be "free-thinkers." They also became more bitter, angry, and aggressive. The mere mention of the name of Jesus was like nails on chalkboard to them. It often led to clashes and arguments. Yet, the worst thing that I could see about atheism was a bleak nothingness. All feelings, emotions, and desires were some kind of chemical, and it didn't matter for whom you felt them. The world had existed before and would exist after you, and in the great scheme of things, you life really didn't matter. In the end, you would die, rot, and be forgotten. Strip away a conscience, a soul, a purpose, and you're left with nothing but a growing meat bag on bones that's out to do an activity that many consider enjoyable that results in more little meat bags. You have no reason to exist other than for yourself in what fleeting time that you have. 

Why, then, be decent to others? Why care? One could say, "It's the right thing to do" or "We need to help each other." A common atheist argument, and the popular one against Mr. Robertson is, "If you wouldn't do anything good for anyone else without Jesus telling you to do so, you're a <insert your favorite insult here>." 

Here's my counter as a Christian: That's all well and good, but where do you suppose that notion or desire to help comes from? Why do you feel good when you help others? It can't be self-preservation, as you are spending your precious time alive that you could be spending enjoying yourself and making money to enjoy yourself. It can't be the herd instinct either, because why would you help a complete stranger? Plus, instincts don't leave you with a choice, you simply act, as an animal would. No, you have two options with something within you telling you which one to choose and you can either obey that something or disobey it. Something is telling all of us, believers and non-believers, in every decision that we make, how to act. So, in other words, we all must be <insert your favorite insult here>'s because something is beckoning to us and calling us from within. 

Is that something God? Centuries of thinkers from Sts. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas to C.S. Lewis seem to think so. My own experience has been that accepting that it is God has answered several other questions like, "Do I matter? Why or why not?" "What is my purpose?" It's led me to have a far better life than I otherwise would have. It hasn't stopped me from questioning or wondering, but I've always found a satisfactory answer. 

Bottom line: Would I be a decent person if I were an atheist? Probably. Would I still care about other people and help them? Probably. Would I be living in denial of something greater than myself, and a calling from that something? Definitely. 

An Inspiration and a Challenge: Young Saints

One of my favorite places to attend Daily Mass during the week is at Mount St. Francis, a Franciscan retreat center near where I live. The main chapel is still very much like it was before the reforms of Second Vatican Council. There are side alters along the walls where each priest used to offer his own Mass alongside the Mass being celebrated at the main high altar (nowadays, If more than one priest is present for a liturgy, they concelebrate that same liturgy together with one priest as the main celebrant) Each alter has a statue of a saint, not for worshipping that saint, as our worship is for God alone, but as a memorial of that saint, and a way to ask for that saint's prayers (For an excellent spoken word piece on Mary and the Saints by Fr. Pontifex, click here.) Two of the Saints in particular stick out to me, St. Therese of Liseaux, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary.

St. Therese was a French Carmelite nun who, At the direction of her superior, wrote down her reflections and kept a diary. Her writings we're so influential, that, after her death, she was not only declared a saint, but a Doctor of the Church, one of the highest honors the Catholic Church can bestow upon anyone. However, one of the most amazing parts of St. Terese's story is that she died at the age of 24.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary has a similar story. She was a princess of Hungary who showed amazing concern for the poor after her husband died by using her dowry to open a hospital where she herself cared for the dying poor. Like St. Therese, St. Elizabeth died at 24.

I will be 24 in May. I certainly hope to live much beyond that age. But it challenges me, to think these two women both died when they were not much older than me. In that time, they accomplished enough to be declared Saints of the Catholic Church. They showed us that it doesn't matter how old we are; God can work wonders through us. They show us that it doesn't take very long at all to make enough for the difference that people whisper your name in churches where you are memorialized

I'm certainly not saint material now, but I hope to be someday. I look to St. Therese and St. Elizabeth as an inspiration. They're two of many young saints in the Church, and they inspire us all to strive for greatness.

St Therese of Liseaux, pray for us.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, pray for us.

Purgatory: Paying the Final Debts

When I was attending Protestant churches, I heard many arguments against the Catholic faith or aspects of the Catholic faith. Many of them were simple misunderstandings, or lack of clarification, some dating back to the time of Martin Luther. One of the biggest sticking points though was the notion of Purgatory. Protestants claimed Purgatory was not in the Bible and was man-made tradition. While there are many aspects of the Catholic faith that are Tradition, most if not all of them have some Biblical backing. Purgatory is no different. (it's also important to note that the Bible for itself speaks of traditions. See 2 Thessalonians 2:15) Today, I'd like to discuss Purgatory, and clear some of the air around it.

Purgatory is not a state between Heaven and Hell. It's not a final chance to receive salvation if one has not attained it. Purgatory is for those who have died in a state of grace and are saved, but still need a final purification before entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Purgatory like a refinery, removing what final impurities, earthly desires, and attachments we have. While these attachments and desires may not necessarily have been bad, They prevent us from fully experiencing the eternal joy and bliss that is Heaven. The souls in Purgatory are holy, and they're happy to be there because it means that one day they will enter Paradise.

How long does someone stay in Purgatory? It depends on what all needs done for them to enter heaven, And that is forgot alone to decide. Yet, Purgatory, like heaven is not subject to earthly time constraints. The world beyond is eternal. A great analogy is Narnia in C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. When the children enter in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, they stay until adulthood, and after many years,  return to Earth and find that it is the exact moment in which they left. In the following novel, Prince Caspian, they enter again to find that 1,000 years have passed. Using these images, CS Lewis shows us that Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell are not limited by our time.

Now, the all important question: Where is this in the Bible? In Catholic Bibles, there are the books of 1st and 2nd Maccabees, the story of Judas Maccabeus, a Jewish general who lived and fought about 50 years before Jesus's birth. These books, Along with the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, and Sirach, were removed from the Bible by Martin Luther at the time of the Protestant Reformation. In Second Maccabees 12:38– 46, Judas Maccabeus discovers that his soldiers have been killed because they were wearing graven images of neighboring heathen gods. He then takes up a collection, and offers a prayer in atonement for their sins they may be forgiven. If there was no hope of their salvation, and the soldiers were condemned for their sin, and offering would not have been made. This indicates that at least some Jews believe in a final atonement or purification before the Resurrection.

Jesus references this belief many times in the Gospels. During the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5) He tells his disciples, "Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him, otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." Jesus is discussing eternal salvation and the afterlife. He isn't simply talking about earthly morality. In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks of the king throwing a servant in prison for not forgiving his fellow servants a smaller debt than the King forgave him. Jesus said he would be handed over until he paid off the entire debt. Both of these situations implied eventual release, otherwise Jesus would've simply said that the person was condemned.

However, the strongest evidence for Purgatory in the New Testament is found in St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. In first Corinthians 3:12-15, St. Paul writes, "If anyone builds on this foundation cold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one's work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive wage. But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer a loss; the person will be saved, only as through fire." Here, Paul speaks of the foundation of faith, in the necessity for that faith to have strength. Paul speaks of fire being used to purify and test the work of the faithful. As I mentioned in a previous blog post our actions and works alone cannot save us. God's grace is the only thing that can redeem us, but we have to accept His grace through our actions. Yet, as we see here, our actions have merit, and what we build in faith will be tested.

As we've seen here, there is strong evidence for existence of Purgatory in the Bible. Is a Tradition that dates back to the time of the Apostles. The idea of Purgatory should not scare us, but should gives us hope. Purgatory is not our final destination. It means we're saved, and will one day enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The souls in Purgatory are awaiting God. They're praying for us that we may experience eternal life as they will. We should also pray for them, which is why many Catholic Masses are offered for the dead and why Catholics pray for the repose of the souls of those who have gone before us. Purgatory is a place of preparation, the final dress rehearsal before standing before God, the final refining and purifying of our hearts. It is where we pay our final debts before entering salvation.

Mid-Lent Meatless Recipes

I'm taking a break from my typical blog posts to explore another favorite pastime of mine: experimental cooking. I've never been much on tuna, and while fried seafood is tasty, it is in no way healthy, especially if you're on a diet. Plus, seafood is expensive, and the idea of abstaining from meat is to live more simply and sympathize with the poor. Many people use that argument to break the abstinence rule, but that's not a valid excuse. To help you keep your Lenten abstinence and fasting, Here are some of my favorite cheap, meatless recipes.

Hummus

Hummus is a dip from the Mediterranean and Arabic countries. It's made from cooked ground chickpeas and olive oil. The best part about hummus is you can eat it with crackers, different types of bread, and vegetables. To Give it more flavor try adding different spices, such as red pepper, cumin, sage, or my personal favorite, Siracha sauce.

To make hummus, you'll need a slow cooker and a food processor.

1 pound dried chickpeas
7 cups water
2 tablespoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon red pepper
1 teaspoon garlic
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup tahini (you can also use creamy peanut butter)
1/4 cup olive oil

Serving:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon parsley

In the slow cooker, Cook the dried chickpeas in 7 cups water  for 3 1/2 hours on high heat or 7 to 8 hours on low. Add the baking soda to control the smell of cooking chickpeas.

Once the chickpeas are done let them cool till at least room temperature. The chickpeas in a food processor with the salt, Cumin, red pepper, and garlic. Process until the beans are a paste, Or about 30 to 45 seconds. Add the lemon juice and water, and process until well blended, about 30 seconds. You may need to scrape the contents down. Add the tahini, And process for another 30 seconds or until well blended. Add the olive oil, And processed until well blended about 30 seconds.

Scrape the hummus into a bowl and stir slightly to even it out. Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil over the hummus, and sprinkle parsley on it to serve. Serve with raw vegetables, pita bread, or crackers.

Click here for a very tasty Pita Bread Recipe

Ugali

Ugali is a thick paste made from white cornmeal and water and is a popular dish in Kenya. It's cheap, fast, filling, tasty, and easy to make.

4 cups water
2 cups white cornmeal
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons butter (optional)

In a small cooking pot, bring the water to a boil. Add the salt. Place the corn meal into a small mixing bowl. Using your hands, drop the cornmeal in the water one handful at a time. Doing it by hand sifts the corn meal. Lower the heat to medium heat and add the butter. Stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture starts to thicken and pull away from the side of the cooking pot, forming a solid shape, about 10 minutes. Transfer the Ugali to a serving bowl and allow to cool. Serve with vegetables or greens.

Cheese Pizza

Who says adults can't enjoy cheese pizza? This is one of my favorite meatless meals during Lent! The recipe I'm about to give you can be used for basically any pizza, but we're sticking to cheese for now.

Crust

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 .25 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
One cup warm water (90-110 degrees F)
1 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt

Topping
1 8 oz can tomato sauce or pizza sauce
1 16 oz package shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese (You can use Monterey Jack here instead)
2 tablespoons Garlic Powder or Garlic Salt
1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
1 teaspoon Red Pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, combine yeast, water, and sugar. Allow to proof for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture resembles the head of a beer. Add oil and salt. Using a mixture with a dough hook, mix in flour gradually, until it's all gone and the dough starts to form a ball. Transfer dough to a well floured surface, and knead until slightly elastic, about 5 to 10 minutes. Let dough rest for 10 minutes.

Brush olive oil onto a pizza pan or pizza stone. Roll the dough out into circular shape until it is about 1/4 inch thick. Using your fingers, roll the sides of the dough up around the edges until the edge of the crust is about a 1/2 inch tall. Sprinkle garlic powder, Italian Seasoning, and Red Pepper over crust. Pour tomato sauce over the crust and use the back of a soup spoon to spread it until the crust is evenly coated. Pour cheese over the sauce until crust is evenly coated.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Variations:

Super Mario Special: Add sliced mushrooms on top of cheese before baking.
Hawaiian: Add pineapple on top before baking.

Grilled Cheese

Again, another childhood favorite that you should never outgrow. Instead of the American or cheddar cheese usually served elementary schools, I like to make mine with pepper jack. It's good with a bowl of warm tomato soup.

Conclusion

While we're on the subject of meals, don't forget the most important meal of the day, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Mass is offered every day around the world with the exception of Good Friday. Though Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation are the only days that Catholics are required to attend Mass, we are encouraged to attend during the week as well, especially during Lent. Masses are offered every day throughout the day in most cities. Check your local diocesan website or parish bulletin to see what times Daily Masses are offered. Daily Mass is usually shorter than Sunday Mass, and it's a great way to encounter the Lord each day.

Marketplace or Church?

Today's Gospel is not for the faint of heart. There's a lot there that someone could cover. What strikes me though, is Jesus's reaction to the moneychangers and people selling sacrificial animals in the temple. He does not simply chide them with strong words and parables as with the Pharisees. He makes a whip out of chords and drives them out of the temple area, overturns tables, and tells them to stop making His Father's House a marketplace. I don't think said is the proper verb here, I think it's more like yelled or screamed. 

Jesus is very passionate and consumed with zeal for His Father's house. He has a good reason. The Temple was not simply a synagogue; it was central to ancient Jewish worship. The Jews of Jesus's time believed that God dwelled in the Temple. When they offered sacrifices in the Temple, they were sacrificing directly to God Himself. In other words, the moneychangers and salesmen were acting right in God's face. They were taking advantage of the fact that God was there and using Him as a marketing tool. They had no reverence for His house.

Modern churches are no different. As Catholics, we believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. When the host is consecrated, it is no longer merely bread, but Jesus Himself. When it is stored in a tabernacle, Jesus is present in that place, making every single Catholic Church around the world is just like the Temple in Jerusalem. God dwells there in the Eucharist. It is a holy place, And a place that deserves respect.

Yet, how many times do we use church as a marketing tool? How many times doing our professional lives expect our fellow parishioners to patronize our businesses, visit our offices, or buy our products simply because we go to church together? Do we attach strings to our money? Do we like to flaunt our wealth? Do we let our egos get involved in our ministry, and make it more about ourselves than about God? These are things we're all guilty of at one point, whether we admit it are not.

Having a profitable business is not a bad thing. Having desires for your community the Church is not necessarily a bad thing. Being rich well off is not a bad thing. Being confident in your ministry and taking charge is not a bad thing. Yet, these things can become bad if we view them as things we do for God, and not the grateful response to all the wonderful things He's given us. They can become bad if we use them to gain power, prestige, and to rule over others. 

Our churches give us all so much. They give us Christ and hope for everlasting life. They give us healing and mercy. They are the places where we are baptized, married, and buried. They give us a community of friends and family. Whatever we do for them should just be out of gratitude and to preserve them for future generations to come and experience the same joys that we have. Let church be church, and don't make Jesus's house a marketplace.

Busy Person's Retreat

This week, I participated in a young adult Busy Persons Retreat. It's not like a typical retreat in that it's only three hours spread out over a week, with a lot of self study and self reflection on your own. The idea is to get you to reflect on your life and, with the help of the spiritual director, try to flush out some things to make you less busy, and focus more on God. Tonight was our last section. 

We discussed everything that my commend playing create busyness: money, time, relationships, and wants and needs. We discussed ways to figure out how we can use those once and needs to discern are calling, not just for a life on a vocation, but for day-to-day living. Everyone had different insights, from pros and cons lists, to compartmentalizing their different tasks, roles, and duties, and figuring out what was the really key one that laid the foundation for everything else.

For me, there still a lot of unanswered questions. I still have a lot of freedom in my life to make choices. But with their freedom comes responsibility and I need to be open to new possibilities. The retreat has left me a lot to think about as I interview for a new job, pursue a new degree, and try to figure out how to restart my career. It's going to be a long road ahead, but wherever it leads, with God's help, I'm ready.

Would It Convince You?

"If they will not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead."

These are the words spoken by Abraham to the rich man in today's Gospel. The rich man is languishing in hell, and begs Abraham to send for man, Lazarus, to his father's house so that his brothers will be spared from the same torments. To us, these words may seem strange. We may think, "I know if I saw someone rise from the dead, that would convince me." But, would it?

God is often challenged and questions in our society. This is nothing new. Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator during World War II, once challenged God to strike him down in front of many of his supporters to prove His existence. Mussolini took the fact that he lived as evidence that his atheism was correct, and that God did not exist. In our own lives, we often do the same thing. "If God exists, why did you let my grandfather die?" "Cancer in children, what's up with that God? Why don't you miraculously heal them? Then I'll believe."

But, would we? When we recognize a true medical miracle, or chalk it up as a fluke? If God did strike someone down, would we not simply say it was a freak lightning strike? The bottom line is, faith has to be present for miracles to be effective methods of conversion. In the Gospels, Jesus heals the sick, drives out demons, makes blind people see, deaf people hear, and raises the dead to life again. Yet, throughout the Gospels, the people still demand that Jesus gives them a sign that he is indeed the Messiah. Despite all the good works in front of them, they still do not believe. They still are not convinced, even with supernatural occurrences right before their eyes. If there's one thing history tells us, it is that humanity hasn't changed much in 2,000 years. We still can't recognize God's work without faith.

We have a Church that has survived for 2,000 years, through persecutions, heresies, schisms, and scandals. We have Scriptures and the Sacred Traditions passed on from the time of the Apostles to the Pope and bishops of our Church. Men and women still come to Catholicism seeking the answers it can give to the questions in their lives. If all that isn't enough to convince you, you probably aren't going to be convinced if you're struck by lightning, miraculously healed, or if someone rises from the dead.

"To those who have faith, no explanation is necessary. To those who do not have faith, no explanation is possible." – St. Thomas Aquinas

Providence Versus Predestination

Do you ever feel that sometimes your life is being steered in a crazy direction? Sometimes you think, "God must hate me or want me to suffer. Why am I going through this? What can be gained from it?" It's ideas like that that lead to thinking that our lives are predestined by God, and that we really have no control. However, there is another way, the Catholic way. That Catholic way is called Providence.

Providence is God's way of using our free choices to further His Kingdom. Got has a plan for all of us, it's true, and he does nudge us in the right direction. However, if we go another way, as long as we seek Him, He can lead us to salvation. Got may be calling a man to the priesthood, but if a man doesn't get the hint and gets married instead, god can still got him in being a good Catholic husband and father. He can ultimately weave that into his plan, like a tapestry.

Now, what about cases in the Bible like pharaoh in the book of Exodus, or Judas Iscariot in the Gospels? One could argue that God had already condemned them because they committed such evil acts and were woven into his plan. Got even tells Moses in the book of Exodus that he will make Pharaoh obstinate. How does this work with Providence?

As Psalm 139 tells us, God understands our thoughts from afar and is familiar with all our. ways and words. He knows how we will respond to certain promptings, even if He wishes we would respond a different way. Obviously, Jesus must have seen some good in Judas, otherwise he would not have chosen him as an Apostle in the first place. As an Apostle, Judas was chosen to carry out Jesus's work, and to be one of His successors on earth. However, Jesus already knew how he would respond in temptation, even if he didn't wish that to be the case. He was ultimately able to weave that into his plan. In the same way, God knew that Pharaoh was arrogant and that Pharaoh saw himself as a living god. As much as God wanted him to listen, He ultimately knew Pharaoh would not.

Every day we make choices that impact others. We don't know how these choices will be used or perceived. Something we think may have been a grave mistake can ultimately lead to good. There are countless stories of people being arrested and then turning their lives around and spreading the good news of the Gospel. Other times, going through difficult situation can help us help others going through the same situation.

In my own life, I have the experience of having lapsed in my Catholic faith and come back to practicing my faith again. I went to different churches during that time and did some things I wasn't proud of. Ultimately though, it has let me to be a much stronger Catholic, and it has also given me a lot of insight into common misconceptions about the Catholic Church, and allowed me to meet those misconceptions and explain them. Ultimately, God took something bad that I did, and turned into good. He can do that in your life, you just have to let Him do it.

Make choices for God and do your best and trust that He'll take care of the rest of it. Trust that He has a plan that's bigger than you, but ultimately, he wants what's good for you. As he tells the nation of Israel through Isaiah the Prophet, "Because you are precious in my eyes in glorious, and because I love you. I give men in return for you and peoples in exchange for your life."

My Reaction

Since my senior year of college, I've made every attempt to be a daily communicant, or attend Mass somewhere every day. I get involved at my normal parish and in the local deanery activities. Often, older folks will tell me how good it is to see a young person at Mass and getting involved in their faith. I get showered with compliments and asked if I've considered the priesthood or religious life. People say, "I wish more young people would come." My reaction inside is always the same: 

Sadness.

Sadness because so many others in my generation don't know Christ's love in the way that I do. Sadness that they won't let Him change their life. Sadness because they don't and won't understand our Church. Sadness because I know so many of them fell neglected or chased out of the Church. 

Sadness.

Sadness when older people don't notice the other young people that come or make an effort to talk to them when they walk in the door. Sadness when people get annoyed at a baby's cry. Sadness when I hear conversations about how young people "aren't generous" and "need to know their place in the Church." 

I experience sadness because people feel that a 23-year-old man in Church is rare enough to say something, yet no one seems to want to do anything about it. 

Millennials want what the Church offers. We just need to know what it offers. We just need to experience what it offers. But, most importantly, we need to experience joy in what it offers. Joy in worship. Joy in God's call. Joy in the love of our God and our neighbor. But, for us to experience joy, it must be present already. It must be in the hearts of the faithful from the start. It must be in smiles, in words of welcome, in engaging music and prayers. Young people want to be more than just the strong backs doing the grunt work. We have talents and we want to use them. We want to learn. We want to grow. The Catholic Church can give us these opportunities. The question is, who in the Church will give them to us? 

Judgment, Or Mercy?

"Judge not, lest ye be judged."

If only I had a nickel for every time someone had quoted that like it was the only verse in the Bible! It seems we Catholics hear this verse all the time, followed by, "You're judging me! Stop judging me! Let me make my own decisions!" But are we really judging a person if we disagree with their actions?

This is where intent matters. If you are condemning the other person's actions out of malice, contempt, and disdain for them, and you are already convinced that this soul is damned and so you, the good righteous one, might as well point that out to them, then yes, the person quoting Scripture out of context is, sadly, correct. But, if you are doing it out of the kindness of your heart for the welfare of the immortal souls of the people you are chastising, and you want them to change for the better, that isn't judgement. That isn't against the Bible. In fact, it is the second of the Spiritual Works of Mercy, or a series of virtuous actions which every Christian is called to perform: Admonish the Sinner.

Admonishment isn't judgment. It is done with the welfare of the other in mind. It is done to guide the person back to God and prevent them from endangering themselves or others physically or spiritually. It is very different than judging.

Here's an example: You and your friend are at a party. Your friend has had a little too much to drink and decides that she wants to drive home. You call her an idiot and tell her she'll get busted, but do nothing to prevent her from driving off. She drives drunk and causes an accident, killing both herself and the driver of the other vehicle. You condemned your friend's actions, but did nothing to stop her or warn her of the danger. After the accident, you think to yourself, "I was right. She got someone killed. I told her so." That is judgment. You didn't have your friend's welfare and life in mind. You simply wanted to be on your high horse so you could say, "I told you so" afterwards.

Now, suppose you tell your friend, "No, you're in no condition to drive home." You get in her face and tell her that she could get herself or someone else killed. You eventually persuade her to give you her keys and take her upstairs so she can sleep it off before driving home. That is admonishment. Not only do you tell your friend that what she is doing is wrong, you also take steps to prevent her from harming herself because you care about your friend and want what is best for her. The next day, she wakes up and thanks you for not letting her drive home.

In the same way, telling someone that an action can be a mortal sin is not judging them. It is simply looking out for their eternal well being to prevent them from separating themselves from God or doing something that they will later regret. It should be done with their best interest at heart and in a loving way. Don't simply say, "Abortion is a mortal sin and you're going to Hell." Instead try, "That baby is your son or daughter. They are a person, just like you, and an abortion will kill them. We can help you. Don't do this."

Now, where is admonishment in the Bible? Excellent question! Let's look at Matthew 18:15-18 "If your brother sins, go and tell him directly, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, then you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you so that the testimony may be established by two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to even listen to the church, treat him as you would a gentile or tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you lose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven." Here Jesus gives specific instructions for settling disputes and admonishing others. Acts 8:18-24 sees St. Peter admonish Simon the Magician for attempting to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul's entire Letter to the Galatians admonishes them for not keeping with the New Covenant, and rather obeying the Mosaic Law above Jesus. So, as we can see, the Bible gives clear cases and procedures for admonishment. Again, it should be in a spirit of love for the other with their best interests at heart.

Admonishment in a spirit of love is mercy, not judgment. We should be like our Lord, slow to anger and merciful with others. Only then will we lead others to Christ.

Sounds of Hope

The Mass I normally attend on Sundays is attended by many young families. During Mass, the chatter of babies is constant. Occasionally someone makes an escape down the aisle in the middle of the consecration. Most of the time, you have to listen carefully to even hear the Eucharistic Prayers over a baby crying. Yes, Sunday Mass can be a noisy, sometimes chaotic, experience.

It's awesome. 

Not the response you were expecting? Maybe it should be. If a baby is crying in church, it means their parents have brought them to Mass. It means they are being raised in the faith. Jesus has a another little soul, a tiny sheep in His flock. It is a sound of hope for a future Catholic Church. It is a sign of a  healthy parish that will continue to move into the future.

Yet, so many young families feel uncomfortable bringing their children to church. Some have had bead experiences with people giving them dirty looks or making negative comments. Others don't want to have to keep their child occupied. Many feel they aren't wanted.

To young families, you are not only needed, you are wanted. We want you to worship with us. Your children bring life to our Church and our Mass. They are our future Church, and the Church is their future guiding light to bring them to Christ. Please join us. We want you. Sit near the front so your children can see what's going on. Quietly explain the Mass to them. They get to see Jesus, present on the altar! That's exciting! Let it be that way.

To everyone else, be patient with young parents in your churches. Many of you once had small children yourselves. Don't send children away to special rooms. Church is a time for family, and a time to be family. Mass isn't about you, it's about Christ, and Christ said, "Let the children come to me." Let's create a place where they feel that they can come to Christ. They are our future Church. They are our future priests, brothers, and sisters. They will be the husbands, wives, mothers, and fathers who are the lay body of the Church and teach their own children in the Faith. They will be doctors, lawyers, lawmakers, and teachers who will turn to their Catholic Faith to guide their decisions. But first they must learn that faith. First, someone must welcome them and guide them in the faith. Who will that someone be? 

I love my noisy, young, healthy church. I pray that it says that way. I want it to stay that way.

Are They Really My Enemy?

When we look at today's Mass readings, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute and curse us. When we hear that, it's easy to let our thoughts go far away. It's easy to immediately think of groups like ISIS, al-Qaeda, or North Korea. It's easy to look at media outlets that often criticize our churches and our faith. It's easy to look at outspoken atheists or fundamentalists who attack our Church. It's easy to look far away. The Middle East, the television, the Internet, the newspaper, they all provide a barrier, a screen, a protection from truly facing and confronting that anger and pain. We get farsighted, and often don't look at the animosity toward others right in front of us in our own hearts.

When I graduated with my first bachelor's degree, in marketing, I was hired by a local State Farm agent. My job was to manage the front desk and internet marketing for the agency. The agent was a 35-year veteran of State Farm, and so our clientele were mainly senior citizens. Many of them could have been my parents or grandparents, and they treated me as such. Many of them told me that I was too young to know anything, and they didn't want "some damned kid" even taking their payments. I found out many of them had had bad experiences with young people. Some had had children and grandchildren succumb to drugs and alcoholism. Some were upset because their grandchildren never visited them anymore or were on their phones when they did. 

Age is just one thing that can divide us. Income, sexual orientation, race, religion, these are all differences that we face. These are all differences that can make us enemies if we let them. Think about people who have wronged you directly. Maybe someone harasses you at work. Maybe the same old man yells at you in church when your kids cry. Maybe the same teenager drives through your neighborhood with his speakers blasting at 10:00 at night. Do you ever pray for them? Do you ever try to understand them and reach out to them? Are they really your enemy? Would simply praying start to change your perspective?

There's not much we can do about ISIS, al-Qaeda, or North Korea. We can't stop the media from attacking our Church. We aren't likely to change the hearts of atheists or televangelists who are making millions attacking our faith. What we can change is our own hearts. We can change our interactions that we have with others each day. When we do that, then we can change the world. 

Science and Faith: How One Enhances the Other (In Memory of Leonard Nimoy)

Like every other Trekkie today, I was saddened to hear of Leonard Nimoy's passing. I've been a huge sci-fi fan since third grade, and that included Star Trek. As an engineering student, I'm also studying to be a scientist (Which is honestly what I should have done my first time around in college) So today, I wanted to honor a man who brought us a scientist character with a post about science and faith. It's also a little known fact about Leonard Nimoy that he was an observant Jew and the that famous "Live Long and Prosper" Vulcan Salute comes from a gesture during a Jewish blessing. You can watch Nimoy discuss it here. For this post, we'll mainly be looking at the Theory of Evolution and the Big Bang, the two points of contingency.

Since I was 17 years old, I've tried to reconcile science and faith, and I'm not alone. Since Pope Pius XII's Encyclical Humani Generis in 1950, the Catholic Church has allowed for belief in The Theory of Evolution. Belgian priest Msgr. Georges Lemaitre, SJ, was first to propose the Big Bang Theory. Many other Catholic scientists such as Dr. Kenneth Miller, Fr. George Coyne, SJ, and Br. Guy Consolmagno, SJ, have advanced the cause of science and faith (I will discuss atheists' favorite "White Elephants" Galileo Galilei and Giordano Bruno in a later post. Stay tuned)

So, how do Christian scientists and science students (such as myself) reconcile our belief in God with Evolution? Well, first you have to recognize that God is not part of our universe. He's not a factor competing with science. To use a C.S. Lewis analogy from Mere Christianity, an architect cannot be a wall, staircase, or fireplace in a house. You see signs that the architect has been there and you see his or her handiwork, but the architect isn't part of the house. God is the "First Mover" as Thomas Aquinas puts it, the start of it all.

Second, like other things in our world, we don't have the entire story on Evolution. If we did, it would be The Law of Evolution and we would have witnessed everything from start to finish. Alas, we have not. We only have clues, like fireplaces, staircases, and banisters to see the architect's touch. What looks like a violent, chaotic, insane process to us from God's perspective might be very orderly and meticulously planned as He created the animal that would contain an immortal element.

This leads to my third point, Imago Dei, or "The Image of God." Our souls are created in the image of God, directly by God. Again, C.S. Lewis, "You do not have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body." Our souls are designed for God, by God, and to ultimately return to God. One day, we believe that Christ will raise our mortal bodies and make them like His own, but still, they will contain our soul and be a temple. Our mortal body is part of nature, so it makes sense that it is made be natural process.

Now, what about Genesis? I've already answered the question of Imago Dei, but what about the Creation Stories?

Like everything else in the Bible, you have to look at context, audience, and style. Genesis is very allegorical. For instance, God speaks like a king saying, "Let there be light." Notice that four days go by before the Sun and the Moon are created and the animals are made close to dead last? Many cultures around the Israelites, such as the Egyptians, worshipped the Sun, Moon, and various animals or animal-human hybrids as gods. Using these literary tricks, the authors of Genesis establish that God is the One True Sovereign God of the Universe and the Creator of all things. They distinguish Him from anything else in the universe and not as a factor in the universe. Genesis is not a science book. It never claimed to be.

Like any student, I'm only scratching the surface of science and faith. Wiser minds than mine have delved much deeper into this subject. However, science and faith have been key factors in my life from day one, and I firmly believe that one enhances the other. As the chant by St. Thomas Aquinas Pange Lingua Gloriosi aptly puts it, here translated, "Faith will tell us Christ is present when our human senses fail." As I've said before, religious faith does not involve turning your brain off and surrendering to ignorance. It requires you to open your mind, to think, and to explore, to replace blind faith with faith enhanced by knowledge and reason. Science and faith work for me, and I hope to use both to continue to learn more about this wonderful universe that inspired Leonard Nimoy in his character of Spock and thousands like him. 

Life's Deserts are Blessings for Blessings

On October 17, 2014, I received the beginning of a blessing. I lost my job.

I know that's not what most people would consider a blessing. Most people would demand to know why God had cursed them, what they'd done wrong, etc. I initially reacted the same way. I was angry at my former boss for firing me. I was angry at God for letting me down. I was angry that I finally had a job that I somewhat liked and now had no job. Then, I thought back on the past year and a half of my life:

The first time I went to college, I majored in business despite everyone telling me, "Go to engineering school." My logic was that all five of my uncles who were engineers were managers, so I could just cut out the fat, get a business degree, and still be a manager, because ultimately, that's what I would end up doing anyway. 

After college, I got my first job as a Licensed Team Member for a local State Farm agent and started working at the front desk. After the initial first job excitement wore off, I was miserable. I dreaded waking up to face another day and went home at night so angry that I could barely see the road. I was tired of being told that I was too young, too inexperienced, and that I looked like a kid. It seemed that older people hated me simply for the fact that I was young. I started looking for a way out after only 4 months.

After a year at State Farm, I accepted an offer at a ServiceMaster Franchise. Now, I was going out and meeting people, passing out pamphlets and talking to potential clients. I didn't want to admit it, but I wasn't any happier there either. Insurance agents, realtors, and homeowners still dismissed me as some kid. Yet, I kept trying to push forward in business, telling myself that one day, I would make it. Then came October 17, 2014, and the words, "We're gonna have to let you go." 

Two weeks later, I was at my parents' house taking some time to help them around the farm and clear my head. One day as we sat in the family room, Dad looked at me and said, "Go back to school for engineering. We'll help you." When I got back to New Albany, I applied at Purdue College of Technology and was accepted to the Electrical Engineering Technology degree program.

At first, I might have disagreed with Jesus in today's Gospel. He tells the disciples that God will give us good gifts what we need to sustain ourselves. Losing a job doesn't seem like a gift or a blessing. Yet, it was a wakeup call. It was God's way of saying, "This isn't my plan for you, kid. My plan involves you actually being happy. Let's go back to square one." 

Right now, things aren't much better than October 17, 2014. I'm again unemployed and going to school for probably another 4 years. Yet, I see my time back in school as a desert that I have cross. I'm facing the trials now and learning to appreciate the simple life and experience the generosity of others. I know when I'm an engineer and I'm successful, I'll appreciate it a lot more. I'll have a more generous heart than I would have had before. I'll think twice before buying a nice new car, the latest gadget, a fancy house, or going for a master's degree that I don't really need. All of this is a blessing in disguise that will make me a better steward of the gifts I've been given. 

We all need a desert in life. We all need Lent. It's only in passing through the desert that we can appreciate the Promised Land. It's only in the sacrifice and penitence of Lent that we can experience the true joys of Easter. And like everything else in the Christian life, it isn't a solitary journey. We don't walk alone. Let us journey together in the desert, so as to one day experience together the joy of Easter and the Promised Land of everlasting life with God. 

Fair Catch, Calculus, and... Catholicism?

I'm currently taking calculus at Purdue College of Technology at New Albany studying for a second bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. My professor is an older gentleman who uses sports analogies for everything. One of his favorites is an analogy to Fair Catch Rule in Football. According to the NFL Rule Book, Fair Catch is a catch where the opposing team may not interfere with the receiver catching the ball. Likewise, the ball is "dead" upon the receiver catching and may not be run. My professor's point with this analogy is simple: "Take what I'm giving you and accept where it is. Don't try to run with it and try to rediscover and reinvent things that have already been proven."

 

Calculus is a subject with which many people find difficulty. Most of us, if we encounter it in our coursework, will never use it again after the calculus class. Its a series of processes that work a certain way, and the shortcuts have been determined. Lots of people try to overthink it or come up with other ways, and consequently get into trouble instead of simply accepting that the legwork has been done, following the proven process when shown evidence, and moving on. They don't learn what others have already shown before trying to find their own ways and make their own discoveries. 

Today's readings give us a similar story. Jonah goes through the City of Nineveh preaching repentance. Nineveh's citizens likewise repent and are not harmed. They see the signs, believe, and act on them. On the other hand, in the Gospel, the people do not accept Jesus's claims or get His hints and demand a sign that He is the Christ, the Messiah. After all the healing, exorcisms, other miracles that Christ has performed before their very eyes, they still demand a sign that Jesus is the Messiah that He claims to be. After hearing the prophets foretell Jesus's coming and with all the parallels in their Scriptures (Our Old Testament) as evidence, they don't fair catch. They try to run with it and go their own way. They have their own ideas about what the Messiah should be and don't reexamine them in the face of all the evidence.

I've often questioned God and questioned the Church's teachings. Yet, if I dig deep enough and keep an open mind, usually I will find an answer provided by someone else before me as an explanation. It may not be the most comfortable or satisfying answer, but it is still an answer that usually makes sense and works, even I don't completely understand why. Likewise, the processes of finding derivatives in Calculus may not be the fastest or easiest thing to do, but in light of the evidence, it makes sense and has come to play in everything from life-saving medical breakthroughs to space flight. In other words, as crazy as it looks and sounds, it works, and if we just have faith and accept it, it can work for us too. A better way has yet to be found. 

The signs are present. 2,000 years worth of argument, counterargument, miracles, preaching, and millions of lives changed for the better. But it isn't an answer to everything. The world is still confusing. There's still pain, sorrow, and uncertainty. But, if we have faith in light of the evidence, maybe the process can work for us too. Maybe it can make the world a little less painful, a little happier, and give us hope that, no matter what uncertainty we face, there is something bigger at work than us, and He will eventually work things out. 

If you've run the ball and keep getting tackled, try fair catching and starting from that point. If you're searching for answers, the Catholic Church has them for you. Join us on the journey as we discover God's plan together by following the process laid down by those who have gone before. Keep questioning, keep praying, keep searching, keep having faith, and maybe one day, we will discover greater things than we know right now about God and His ways. 

Our Father, Send Us With Your Word

The Lord's Prayer. It's the first prayer we Catholics learned when were little, and the last one that many of our elderly remember even as other memories fade. Next, many of us learned the parts of the Mass and how to respond. Over time, these things can become as second nature as breathing to the point that we don't even think about them. We take our knowledge for granted.

Many older Catholics have told me about how when they were in school, the sisters who staffed the schools drilled the Baltimore Catechism into their heads. By the time I entered elementary school, the sisters were almost gone, replaced by primarily lay teachers. Now, the parochial school I attended is lucky to even have Catholic lay teachers who know their faith well enough to teach it. Most of what I have learned about Catholicism, I learned on my own, and I am an anomaly among my peers. Our faith hasn't been handed to us in a tangible way. Questions aren't answered. Problems aren't solved. When we ask questions, we often get a long, technical explanation that is still very confusing.

We can no longer assume as a Church that people just understand. We can't take our knowledge for granted and just expect others to show up. People want to know why. People want to know what's in religion for them. If we don't tell the truth, others will tell them lies. We have to tell others the truth in a way that they understand, and that way is not the seminary/lay theology degree definition. It needs to be black and white, plain and simple. Clarification comes later in the conversation if it is needed.

If you want a mission statement for my blog, that's it. I want to translate the theology into people's lives and show them why I love Catholicism so that they will hopefully love it too. I invite my fellow Catholics to join me. Like the rain and snow, the Lord's Word has come. Like the Lord's Prayer, it is given to us to be spoken and shared. Let us carry it to the world so it might water and nourish the Earth.

All About That Grace: Today's Readings and Salvation

Shortly after Pope Francis was elected, an acquaintance on Facebook posted an article from her evangelical pastor. She said that both of them would would ask Pope Francis the same question, "How are you justified as a Catholic?"

Many of our separated Protestant brethren ascribe to a misconception that Catholics believe that they can somehow earn Heaven by good works and that good works are like tokens that we cash in at our earthly demise. Many Catholics have similar misconceptions about their faith, so as today centers on good works and the last judgment, I'd like to clear the air a bit.

Catholics are justified by God's Grace alone. That is the only thing that can save us. Humans fail often. We are all sinful and broken to the point that no amount of good works could ever earn us something as wonderful and beautiful as everlasting life in bliss with God. Jesus Christ offers that grace to everyone through His passion, death, and resurrection. That grace is all that is needed for salvation, and all that can bring about salvation.

Now at this point, you might be asking, "Ok, hold up, Matt. What exactly is Grace?" Glad you asked!
Grace is God's way of letting us in to Heaven and forgiving our faults in such a way beyond anything we deserve. Here's an analogy a Franciscan priest I know once gave in a homily: You're driving on the interstate going about 15 mph over the speed limit; clearly breaking the law. Suddenly, you see a state trooper behind you with his lights on. You get pulled over. The officer comes up to your window and hands you a hefty ticket for speeding. That is justice. You were caught, and now you are being punished according to the law.

Now, suppose the officer walks up to your window and says, "You were speeding, and the fine is substantial, so I'm going to let you off with a warning. Don't do it again." That is mercy. The officer had every right to ticket you for speeding and breaking the law, but he chose to simply give you a warning. These are the two typical scenarios you will face.

But, suppose something different happens. Suppose the officer comes up to your window and hands you a gift card to a retail store and says, "I see that you have children. Here's something to help you out." That is grace. The officer has not only let you off, he's given you something good that you can use, and you have done nothing to deserve it. In fact, you did the opposite, you were breaking the law. That is how grace works. God offers us eternal life with Him and joys beyond our wildest imagination even though we are a sinful people who constantly break His rules and let Him down.

Ok, Matt, but how do good works come into play here? Well, let's go back to the gift card analogy with the police officer. The police officer has given you a gift card. In that, there is some expectation that you will use to buy things for your children. Now, the decision is on you. Let's assume for the sake of argument that you have three options:

First, you can refuse to take the gift card. You'll probably hurt the officer's feelings since he's doing something incredibly kind for you. He may simply walk away, or he may decide to go ahead and ticket you. Similarly, you can refuse God's gift of salvation. He will not force you take it and spend eternity with Him if you don't want to.

Second, you can take the gift card and pull away, and then right away speed up to 20 mph over the speed limit in front of the officer and throw the gift card out the window where he can clearly see you doing it. The officer probably isn't going to be so nice in your second encounter. He not only let you off the hook when you were clearly breaking the law, he also gave you a gift card to help your children, and you just threw it out the window in front of him. If he pulls you over again, and you ask him for another gift card, he's going to be really angry and probably write you up twice for both speeding and littering.

Your third option is to do what the officer hopes you will do. You can drive off, obey the speed limit, go to a store, and use the gift card to buy things for your children. If the officer sees your car in the parking lot and you with a cart full of good things for your children, he's going to be pretty happy. If he pulls you over again for speeding a little bit, and you own up to making a mistake, he's probably going to let you off.

Jesus gives us His grace, and that is all that is needed for salvation. However, Jesus wants you to share that gift with others and not abuse that gift. He wants the poor to be cared for. He wants everyone to receive and accept the grace that He offers. If someone gives you a valuable gift, your response is gratitude and to use that gift. In short, all the good works that Catholics do, from schools to hospitals to soup kitchens, are nothing more than a response of gratitude for the gift of saving grace that Jesus has already given us. Nowhere is this more evident than in our worship. The word "Mass" comes from "misa est" which means "to be sent." In other words, Christ gives us the Truth through His Word and the nourishment of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist and bestows His Grace on us through the Sacraments of His Church. At the end of Mass, we are sent forth with the expectation that we will use that gift to further God's Kingdom on Earth. We have faith that we receive Jesus's Body and Blood and receive the Grace of His Sacraments. We have faith that our good works are pleasing to God, because we are using His gift of grace to further His Kingdom. So, through faith and good works, we accept God's grace that He freely gives us and achieve salvation.

We can't earn Heaven. We don't deserve Heaven or God's mercy. We deserve God's justice. But God gives us grace, and wants us to share that grace with others. May we share that grace for the salvation of all.

We Are So Much More

The First Sunday of Lent is always the Temptation of Jesus. Since this is Year B (A-Matthew, B-Mark & John, C-Luke) we get the abridged version of the Temptation and don't hear Satan's discourses to Christ. Satan tries to tempt Jesus into using his divine powers to feed Himself after 40 days without eating. Yet, despite Jesus's hunger, he responds, "One does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." He does not allow Himself to be controlled by His most base desires.

In our world today, Satan has tempted many others in the same way, and they have fallen. Fast food restaurants serve us food that is instantly prepared before our eyes, even as we scream at the high school kid behind the counter to hurry it up. Beauty is seen as everything. When was the last time you turned on the TV and didn't see a commercial for a hair-transforming shampoo, a wrinkle-wiping cream, or some other cosmetic wonder? Our culture's "sexual revolution" objectifies women, reducing beautiful creations of God to mere sex objects. Our culture seeks to redefine marriage, gender, and reduce humans, made in the image and likeness of God, to being defined by their sexuality, a trait we share with most other forms of life. We're constantly bombarded with messages telling us that the latest sports car, home appliance, or cell phone will finally make us happy. "Experts" in everything from astronomy to psychology wave their PhD's and advanced degrees in our faces, saying, "Get this degree and be smart like me." It can be easy to lose hope, or to give in to these temptations.

Yet, Jesus gives us an example by not succumbing to one base desire. He shows us that we defined by more than our sexuality, our possessions, our beauty, or our education. He shows us that only one definition matters: our definition as Children of God. That, no matter what talents we have or don't have, we are all given gifts to be used in the service of a God who loves us and desperately wants us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. When we deny ourselves worldly pleasures, our emptiness can be filled by His grace, which is all we really need. 

So, next time you are tempted, remember, you're a child of God. You are loved. You are worth more to God than you could ever imagine. That in itself should give you strength like Jesus to say, "Go away, Satan!" 

Turning Back To God: Success Story

The past two nights, I went to my local Catholic Youth Ministry's Lenten Mission. The first night was in a small unincorporated town called Bradford, which consists of about a dozen houses, a bar, and a large modern Catholic Church and cemetery. The second night was at Mt. St. Francis, a retreat center run by the Conventual Franciscan Friars. The leader was Jesse Manibusan, a well-known Catholic songwriter, speaker, and retreat leader. Jesse's message went along with today's scripture readings, which includes the calling of Levi, or St. Matthew, my patron saint, and who I am named after. The readings are about turning back to God, which was the main theme of Jesse's talk last night. Today seems as good a day as any to share my own success story of returning to God.

Like my patron saint, I came from a religious background, being raised in the Church. As I grew up, a combination of teenage rebellion and a bad priest led me to stop practicing my Catholic faith and even questioned God's existence. However, after several disturbing encounters with atheism among my peers, I concluded that I needed God in my life, lest I end up going down the dark path that my friends were exploring. I believed in God, but my faith was shaky. After a rough last two years of high school, I entered college and started attending various evangelical and Protestant churches, none of which satisfied me.

In 2011, on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, I was attending a Methodist service. During the service, the minister traced a cross in water on our foreheads. When it was my turn he said to me, "Matt, remember your Baptism, and be thankful."

It was in that moment that my thoughts went back to my Catholic Baptism and I knew that, like it or not, God was calling me back to the Catholic Church. The next Sunday, I said good-bye to my Methodist congregation and started attending Catholic Mass as often as possible. It was in this moment, like with St. Matthew, Jesus was saying, "Come, follow me."

Over the four years since I have returned to my Catholic Faith, my life has changed completely. Most of my friendships and relationships have come through the local Church. I've become healthier, less angry, and more conscientious in my decision making. And this is only the beginning. Who knows what the years down the road will bring?

To those who seek to find a purpose, an anchor in the storm, or an ideal to strive towards, please consider the Catholic Church. It has changed my life for the better, and I know that it can help you too if you give it a try. You have nothing to lose, but so much to gain. To those who are already Catholic, dig deeper. The more that you put in, the more you get out of Catholicism. God tells us through Isaiah the Prophet that if we turn back to Him, our gloom will be like the midday. Turn to God with all your heart. Learn your faith, understand your faith, and grow.

Growing up, I resented being named after St. Matthew. Now, I see him as a role model. Both of us were called back to God from our own ways, and both of us have had our lives transformed forever by Christ and his Church. Though I doubt I'll ever be canonized, and my blog will never be gospel, I can aspire to continue my lifelong conversion back to the Catholic Faith.

St. Matthew, ora pro nobis!

3 Days In, Don't Be A Grumpy Christian

Have you ever noticed that the first day is never the hardest day? Whether it is a new job, a new diet, a new exercise program, learning a new instrument, or virtually any other new commitment, the first day is always easy. You're excited, you're passionate, you're ready to do whatever it is that you're doing. The second day, well, you're passion is starting to fade, but it is still there. By day three though, you are frustrated. You've had your first nasty client, you haven't lost any weight, the six pack abs are still in the cooler of belly fat, and your instrument still sounds like someone is baptizing a cat. It can be tempting to give up, or become angry and take out your frustrations on others. 

Lent is no different. On Ash Wednesday, we've gotten our "ashtag" and we're ready to repent. After a few days of giving up something or adding a Rosary or scripture reading to our daily schedule, we're not seeing results. We may think, "Come on God! Give me something!" We may take out our frustration on others and become a grumpy Christian.

Our readings today fit this third day mentality well. God reminds us through the Prophet Isaiah that fasting does no good if it ends in taking out our frustrations on others or not actually changing our lives for the better. These actions separate us from others and focus us on ourselves, thus turning us away from God. Jesus takes it a step further and says that guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them. In other words, by His physical presence, His disciples are close to Him and learning directly from Him. They have no need to fast and abstain to change their focus. When He is not with them, however, then they will need to fast to turn their focus back to God when it drifts away. 

Our fasting is not meant as a self-induced punishment. God calls us to fast from things of this world so that we can be filled by Him. He calls us to focus on others so that we can truly discover how He has called us to live. God always calls out of love, including in His discipline. If our fasting makes us only think about ourselves and our suffering, it does us no good. What we do during Lent should turn us back towards God and by that same merit, turn us outward toward others. 

This Lent, don't be a grumpy Christian. Allow the emptiness of your fast to be filled with the good things of God. 

Today's Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022015.cfm