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