I will continue with the regular post soon but just wanted to offer my best wishes for a blessed and joyful Christmas for all of you. May the New Year bring a closer relationship with you and Jesus Christ. A few of you asked me to post what was on the Christmas Card I got that I referenced in my homily so here goes.
If God thought our greatest need was information,
He would have sent us an educator.
If God thought our greatest need was technology,
He would have sent us a scientist.
If God thought our greatest need was money,
He would have sent us an economist.
If God thought our greatest need was pleasure,
He would have sent us an entertainer.
But God knew our greatest need was forgiveness,
so He sent us a Saviour.
God Bless you...Fr. Mark
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
You said what!?
Imagine the world we would live in if you could not trust the word of another human being...if there was always some skepticism as you listen to what a person is to telling you. Oh wait...we already live there or are not far from that right now. First stop - Politics: I am not real fond of politicians as the democrats and republicans are not divided by a party but by ideologies and neither will listen to the other and most Americans are probably somewhere in the middle of these two schools of thought and not adhering to either. It is all about smearing and making the other look like the less of two evils. Hardly quality representation. Even the news and major networks each work on the side of a political point of view. It is obvious by what is covered and what is not covered, by what one group of people can say and the other can say before it is turned into a smear fest. I have not seen a major news program where there is at least some subtle editorializing.
Within all of this, is usually the dehumanizing of people who do not espouse the opinion of a program. I think of the way comedians treat political candidates, sports stars, movie stars and other celebrities who make a public gaff. Many people are slandered in the tabloids for merely being human and erring, or having an opinion, and making the problem ten fold worse is the tabloid sensationalizing it and making the situation worse than it was to begin with. We as consumers by these papers and contribute to the demand to keep slander all over the news stands, which contributes to the sin of dehumanizing our fellow brothers and sisters.
Kids at school, your own job in the workplace are bastions for slander. Who has not tried to make another look bad to boost one's own esteem through gossip or spreading lies? At the core of gossip is to make ourselves look better at the expense of another. Lying destroys relationships and reputations, and if found out, our own. Our Catechism states that society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, and justice. (2512) It is only truth that promotes the dignity of a person. To lie about another is the destruction of a persons human dignity and must be avoided, as it is the same as destroying the dignity of God who lives in us through our common baptism.
Within all of this, is usually the dehumanizing of people who do not espouse the opinion of a program. I think of the way comedians treat political candidates, sports stars, movie stars and other celebrities who make a public gaff. Many people are slandered in the tabloids for merely being human and erring, or having an opinion, and making the problem ten fold worse is the tabloid sensationalizing it and making the situation worse than it was to begin with. We as consumers by these papers and contribute to the demand to keep slander all over the news stands, which contributes to the sin of dehumanizing our fellow brothers and sisters.
Kids at school, your own job in the workplace are bastions for slander. Who has not tried to make another look bad to boost one's own esteem through gossip or spreading lies? At the core of gossip is to make ourselves look better at the expense of another. Lying destroys relationships and reputations, and if found out, our own. Our Catechism states that society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, and justice. (2512) It is only truth that promotes the dignity of a person. To lie about another is the destruction of a persons human dignity and must be avoided, as it is the same as destroying the dignity of God who lives in us through our common baptism.
Friday, December 11, 2009
What's yours is mine and...
The seventh commandment is pretty straight forward in thou shall not steal. To disrespect the property of another by entrusting it to ones own care is only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many things one can do to steal from another. Many often steal from work just by not putting in the effort expected. Employers are required to pay a fair wage as a tenet of this commandment, but conversely, an employee is to put in the expected amount of time and effort at their job. I know businesses lose billions from productivity of employees who surf the web or play computer games during work hours, not to mention the "office supplies" that find their way home. This is the same as stealing. Not paying our debts when we have the means to do so is stealing.
I remember once when a cashier gave me change for a twenty dollar bill when I only gave her ten dollars. As much as I wanted the extra ten dollars, I knew she would be disciplined at work for the mistake so I corrected her. I turned to leave and this guy looked at me and shook his head like what kind of idiot gives away free money. I think many would see that as "to bad so sad" for the cashier, but to me, I thought it would be knowledgeable stealing and I could not have felt good about that money at all. Restaurants and hotels lose so much property to people who think they are entitled to have the silverware or towels because one perceived they paid enough already. There are so many things we do that society would call permissible and normal that could truly be classified as sin.
Stewardship. God wants the first fruits of our efforts, the first 10% and not the leftovers. Do we steal from God? This is not just the Church but stewardship includes food to the homeless, clothing to the poor and any number of charities. Are we stewards of God's creation and have we taken care of it or do we rob nature of its value. Have I given my talents to others or do I sit on the sidelines watching...and perhaps even complain about others in the process as they do not do it as well as I would do if I were involved. Stealing is not just property and valuables, but so often stealing the dignity of another human being can be far worse in God's eyes.
I remember once when a cashier gave me change for a twenty dollar bill when I only gave her ten dollars. As much as I wanted the extra ten dollars, I knew she would be disciplined at work for the mistake so I corrected her. I turned to leave and this guy looked at me and shook his head like what kind of idiot gives away free money. I think many would see that as "to bad so sad" for the cashier, but to me, I thought it would be knowledgeable stealing and I could not have felt good about that money at all. Restaurants and hotels lose so much property to people who think they are entitled to have the silverware or towels because one perceived they paid enough already. There are so many things we do that society would call permissible and normal that could truly be classified as sin.
Stewardship. God wants the first fruits of our efforts, the first 10% and not the leftovers. Do we steal from God? This is not just the Church but stewardship includes food to the homeless, clothing to the poor and any number of charities. Are we stewards of God's creation and have we taken care of it or do we rob nature of its value. Have I given my talents to others or do I sit on the sidelines watching...and perhaps even complain about others in the process as they do not do it as well as I would do if I were involved. Stealing is not just property and valuables, but so often stealing the dignity of another human being can be far worse in God's eyes.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Don't even think it...
You shall not commit adultery. This is a great common sense Law given by God for our benefit. Is there anything else that destroys love, trust, relationship, feelings, and family quicker and faster than adultery? If it is not discovered, can a person ever have peace again with themselves wondering at any moment when the transgression will be found out...perhaps a lover scorn will re-enter my life like in the movies and cause havoc? There is no good that can come from adultery. For the moments of lust and pleasure come a lifetime scar for the children of a marriage broken, for the spouses it creates havoc on the finances if they divorce and must support two households. Guilt and hurt, a broken covenant before God, embarrassment before family and friends, and perhaps a job lost are but a few consequences.
In Matthew's Gospel (5:28) Jesus tells us that whoever looks on a woman with lust has committed adultery with her in his heart. (this means you also ladies) Again, as with the commandment of murder, Jesus increases the Law to our thought life. It is the Spirit of God who searches the heart and knows our thoughts. Adultery is born and nurtured in the heart. We can harbor these thoughts from a distance with co-workers or friends and if we are not careful, the thoughts will be put into action with a drink after work, or a conversation that takes a relationship to a deeper level...before you know it, the act has been consummated and there is "nothing left but the crying."
The age in which we live attacks this commandment and our senses at every turn. TV, music, and movies glorify adultery, premarital sex, and every other sin against the body one can think of on a regular basis. Even the print media and advertisers are selling sex with their products on a regular basis. With this "eye candy" every where you look, and every time you turn on the TV and click the remote, it is not long before all God's values have been eroded and we are desensitized and have accepted what we see as normal and not sin. If we have become accepting of what society thinks of sex, we have drifted to far from God's Word and need to re-evaluate our position. As always, it is not God who has to change for us, but we who need to change.
In Matthew's Gospel (5:28) Jesus tells us that whoever looks on a woman with lust has committed adultery with her in his heart. (this means you also ladies) Again, as with the commandment of murder, Jesus increases the Law to our thought life. It is the Spirit of God who searches the heart and knows our thoughts. Adultery is born and nurtured in the heart. We can harbor these thoughts from a distance with co-workers or friends and if we are not careful, the thoughts will be put into action with a drink after work, or a conversation that takes a relationship to a deeper level...before you know it, the act has been consummated and there is "nothing left but the crying."
The age in which we live attacks this commandment and our senses at every turn. TV, music, and movies glorify adultery, premarital sex, and every other sin against the body one can think of on a regular basis. Even the print media and advertisers are selling sex with their products on a regular basis. With this "eye candy" every where you look, and every time you turn on the TV and click the remote, it is not long before all God's values have been eroded and we are desensitized and have accepted what we see as normal and not sin. If we have become accepting of what society thinks of sex, we have drifted to far from God's Word and need to re-evaluate our position. As always, it is not God who has to change for us, but we who need to change.
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