Peace be with me

Philippians 4:6-7   ⁶ Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. ⁷ Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Being well acquainted with anxiety, this passage caught my eye on the back cover of a prayer booklet I was reading during Eucharistic Adoration last Sunday.  That evening, I went to my computer and copied the passage from the Bible Gateway source and pasted it above.  The next morning, I checked my social media and found the same passage cited on a friend’s posting.  Maybe God is trying to tell me something.

Having enough faith to put complete trust in God is not easy for us worriers.  Some of our brains are wired in such a way to overreact to stressful situations.  That feeling of panic with a pounding heart, upset stomach, chest tightness, and the compounding reactions to the reaction only serve to exacerbate the anxiety. 

I have written on this topic before because of the impact it has had on my life, and the realization that there are likely many people, especially young people, who are experiencing similar feelings every day. Unchecked anxiety can make the most mundane situation seem like an insurmountable obstacle for some. 

One of my current anxieties comes from the realization that I passed this tendency on to my children, all three of which have been affected.  While a genetic component contributes to this affliction, my anxiety-affected behavior undoubtedly influenced them as they grew up.  Observing a parent who appears overly cautious in avoiding certain situations is bound to crimp a child’s self-confidence.  I so regret that one of my sons still suffers greatly.

Today, much help is available that did not exist when I was young.   Awareness of the problem among healthcare professionals, counselors, and the general population have reduced the stigma attached to seeking help for mental illnesses.  Just knowing that others experience these feelings, and understanding the causes can bring some comfort.  By all means, anyone whose daily life is constricted by anxiety and panic should be encouraged to seek treatment.

That being said, we should be comforted by the words of Paul in his letter to the Philippians.  If we place our complete trust in God by prayer and petition, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will bring us comfort in Christ Jesus.  Ask God for help.  That help may come in the form of increased faith and self-confidence, or by obtaining the strength and courage needed to face those fears, seeking professional help when necessary. Don’t be afraid!

Who's Waldo?

I have become a skeptic.  Between politicians, social media and fake news, I have come to believe that every bit of information I encounter must be viewed with a critical eye regardless of its significance.  Where at one time I wondered whether the person passing the information had an agenda, I now assume everyone has an agenda, and therefore exhibits a bias.  Sometimes that bias is evident, and other times not easily seen, but it’s always there.  From trivial banter to dire warning, from neighborhood gossip to official decree, the person passing the information is compelled to do so for a reason of significant importance to person himself.  Words and wording may be intended to inform, impress, mislead, offend, deflate, or evoke any number of responses from the intended target.

Nowhere is this bias more apparent than in the news media.  Pick a major story and see how it is reported by the various pundits.  I sometimes wonder if they all witnessed the same event.  I am especially suspicious of reports of a new study.  Who paid for the study?  What is their background?  How do they benefit from the results?  What prompted them to conduct the study in the first place?  The same criticism can be applied to polls also.  Were the questions worded in such a way to solicit a certain response?  How were the respondents selected?  Since we are often not privy to the answers, I tend to write most of them off as meaningless.

In fairness to being a true skeptic, I need to be aware of my own bias.  Am I always fair in my assessment of the opinions of others?  I may try to see the other person’s point of view, but that can be difficult.  We all think our own point of view is superior to that of others. 

I have never been a good student of history.  I’m not proud of that.  My brain doesn’t seem to work that way very well.  I was more of a math and science guy with a short attention span.   History and literature were difficult subjects for me to retain when I was young.  Now that I am older and more introspective, my skepticism tends to interfere with my study.  I wonder how the bias of the historian affects the way we see the past. 

Last week I was listening to a local Protestant preacher on the radio while on my way to Eucharistic Adoration.  He was lauding the accomplishments of Peter Waldo who started the Waldensian movement in the Middle ages.  I wasn’t familiar with Waldo, but this preacher held him in high esteem for translating the bible from Latin into the vernacular despite being suppressed by the Catholic Church.  I immediately assumed there were two sides to this story and wanted to learn more. I know enough to realize when the Church strongly opposes someone or a particular movement, it is because some heresy needs to be squashed. 

Doing a google search, I found that most information on Waldo came from Protestant sources that painted him in a favorable light.  I did find one article in the Catholic Encyclopedia on the Waldenses (the movement attributed to Waldo) that supported my suspicion that their teaching strayed into heresy.  When confronted with conflicting portraits like this, I naturally tend to favor the Catholic view.  In all fairness, however, I need to be able to justify my reason for doing so.  After all, if I am going to be true to my skeptical self, I should view all sources with a critical eye. 

In this particular case, the biographical information is similar in the few sources I checked, but the events and ramifications come from two different points of view.  The Protestant sources highlight Waldo’s belief in voluntary poverty and religious simplicity while his problems with the Church are attributed to his strict biblical teaching that upset the Church hierarchy.  To a Protestant, he might be viewed as a hero.  Looking from a Catholic perspective, the problem was not his biblical teaching, but that he was teaching error.  If the Church is to be the pillar and bulwark of truth as the bible says, she must be able to enforce her authority to protect people from heretical teaching.  In effect, the Waldenses were early Protestants.

Today when history is written and rewritten by sources often unknown, we do need to keep a critical eye open.  The old saying don’t believe everything you read has never been more relevant than today.  Also, don’t react to everything you read on social media.  Step back.  Take a breath.  What are they saying?  Who is saying it?  Why are they saying it?  Should they be saying it?  Are they qualified to say it?  Is it constructive or destructive?  If you can’t find the answers, it is probably best to ignore.

While a certain amount of skepticism is prudent in today’s world, we must be careful not to let it affect us spiritually.  While the truth may be difficult to uncover at times, God’s truth is immutable and must be protected.  We cannot allow questionable sources to lead us into questioning our faith.  Despite dubious information casting doubts on our sensibilities, the tendency to question even God’s absolute truth as protected by the Church must be avoided. 

Something to think about

My son called me from his home in Kansas excited to tell about an encounter he had with three non-denominational Christians who rang his doorbell Saturday afternoon.  King James Bible in hand, they used scripture quotes to explain how he needed to be saved.  This began a thirty-minute conversation on the front porch.  One of them was a former Catholic who my son engaged in some charitable Catholic apologetics. 

He asked them how they knew what they read in their bible was correct.  He asked them who assembled the early writings into one volume, and how they account for the disagreement of interpretation among various denominations.  He talked about the sacraments, the necessity of confession, and gift of the Holy Eucharist, hoping to connect with the woman who had left the Catholic Church.  In short, he gave them a short history lesson, hoping to inspire them to investigate further.

They need to realize that their Christian ancestors were likely Catholic at one time, and at some point, one or more of them decided to abandoned the mothership.  Maybe they didn’t like the captain, or somebody said something to offend them.  In any case, they hopped into a lifeboat to seek a different route.   Some eventually didn’t like what was happening in the lifeboat and departed in a dingy.  Others left the dingy for a raft or canoe.  Some are now bobbing around on water wings.  That’s not to say they won’t eventually navigate to their destination, but they are sure to encounter some stormy seas. 

Those ancestors who left the Church must bear some responsibility for their descendants who may now live with invincible ignorance.  That is, they no longer know the true Church through no fault of their own.  As for the former Catholic on the doorstep who left the Church on her own accord, she should consider the plight of her own descendants who may never learn the truth of the Catholic Church.  Her own ignorance may be vincible if she was formed in the faith, and yet chose another path.  If this seems a little confusing, allow me to cite Jimmy Akin's explanation of the terms:

"Ignorance is invincible if it a person could not remove it by applying reasonable diligence in determining the answer. Ignorance is vincible if a person could remove it by applying reasonable diligence. Reasonable diligence, in turn, is that diligence that a conscientious person would display in seeking the correct answer to a question given (a) the gravity of the question and (b) his particular resources."

Determining where one will spend eternity is a serious question.  So, if a person was raised in a practicing Catholic family, and leaves the faith without applying due diligence to grow in the faith, that person may be responsible for his or her own ignorance, and therefore, could be putting salvation in jeopardy.  Of course, only God can judge the person’s soul, but out of love, we charitably try to share the faith, and draw the person closer to the Church Our Lord established. 

Reaching out to a former Catholic is not easy.  Think of it as tossing out a life preserver to someone who has jumped ship. The polarization in our society today makes it difficult to get our message across without resistance or backlash.  Many people do not want to hear about religion or morality.  Our only recourse may be prayer and leading by example.  Or, do as my son did when the opportunity arises, and calmly ask them questions that will make them rethink their faith.

That being said, I completely understand how some people better connect with the non-denominational Christian life.  Understanding Catholicism takes some effort, indoctrination one might say, to know what actually takes place in the Mass.  To the casual observer, the Mass may seem strange or incomprehensible.  Conversely, first-timers at a protestant service might have a very emotional experience.  I recently came across the story singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson told of his encounter that led to him to Jesus.  (Go here to see the video.)

You can’t discount the personal experience some protestants have.  They may never know the sacraments as we Catholics do, but that void comes through no fault of their own.  A merciful God will not hold them responsible for something to which they were never exposed. And I wonder sometimes, if they won’t be in heaven long before we are. 

Minimizing aggression for maximum results

I get frequent (seems like daily) emails from pro-life activist Randall Terry.  The latest shared a link to a video where he shows many of the pro-life ads that have run during various political campaigns over the years, including some that aired during Super Bowls in several cities.  Most of the ads displayed graphic photos of aborted babies.  They are shocking and meant to be so.  Several targeted Barrack Obama during his presidential run, calling him a baby murderer and accusing all those who voted for him of having blood on their hands.  He doesn’t mince words.  The language is direct and the images graphic.

Most recently, Terry was in the news for protesting at a rally for a current presidential candidate who happens to be homosexual.  Terry himself had a strained relationship with an adopted homosexual son who was killed in a car accident several years ago.  While I respect him for his convictions, I question effectiveness of his methods.

Of the political pro-life ads I watched, I don’t believe any of the candidates were victorious.  I know Obama still won the presidential election, and the other candidates were not familiar to me.  While the horrors of abortion cannot be downplayed, I wonder if these in your face approaches may only serve to anger and embolden those on the other side.  The same goes for disruptive protests at campaign rallies.  The best time to reason with people is not when they are emotionally charged. 

So, what is the answer?  We can’t remain silent, of course.  We Catholics could stop legal abortion if we all voted in accordance with our faith.  There is nothing wrong with Randall Terry’s message per se, just the manner in which it is perceived.  The reproductive rights crowd will write him off as an anti-woman adversary.  While a few may be shocked to their senses, most will not be swayed by bloody photos and harsh rhetoric.

Women themselves hold the key to ending abortion.  The pro-life message can be a tough sell coming from a man, especially when the man is loud and confrontational.  Instead, we must try to understand the predicament a woman or young girl finds herself in with an unplanned pregnancy.  At the same time, she needs to understand that a new life has been created and deserves protection.

Catholic Answers Live radio often does shows where the listeners are asked, “Why are you pro-choice?”  Trent Horn is usually the guest who very charitably and calmly presents the Catholic pro-life point of view.  He has written several books on the topic including “Persuasive Pro-Life.” Rather than attacking the pro-choice callers, he challenges them by asking questions that cause them to rethink their position. 

Often the calls revolve around when human life actually begins or at what stage of development does the embryo become a human being.  Trent always presents a good philosophical argument for the callers, but there is one scientific argument that has always been convincing to me.  I read it in a 1999 article titled “When do human beings (normally) begin” by Dianne N. Irving.  I won’t go into detail here, but rather link to the article so you can read it yourself.  Basically, Dr. Irving explains what takes place in the characteristic number of chromosomes at fertilization that defines a human being. If you don’t think that little embryo is a human being, please give the article a read!

Summer Potpourri

We are now in those lazy, hazy days of summer.  Time to sit back, relax by the pool and see what thoughts may cross the mind.  Our festival days were a bit rainy over Father’s Day weekend, making our evangelization efforts somewhat limited outside on the church lawn.  We made a couple of contacts and had a few conversations.  The parish did have a float in the parade this year, so we were at least visible. 

Saw a story in USA today about a woman who was jailed in Florida for disturbing a turtle’s nest.  She didn’t damage any eggs, but tampering with certain nests is still a crime.  I always think of legalized abortion when I see such stories.  I totally understand why endangered species need to be protected, but the contrast in logic baffles me.  The pro-abortion people will say the fertilized embryo or fetus is not a human person, and therefore has no right to life.  Yet, a turtle egg must be protected because it could develop into a turtle.  The inconsistency makes no sense.

Another recent story about a local dairy farm whose employees were supposedly maltreating animals caused several large retailers to quit carrying their products.  This particular farm was always open to the public for tours and took pride in the care they provided for their livestock.  I saw the undercover video footage of the abuse.  While it involved only a few workers, it should not be tolerated, and was addressed by management even before the release of the video.  The whistleblower also rebuked the farm for separating young calves from their mothers.  Why is there more outrage when a baby animal is involved than when a human baby is not only separated from its mother but killed in the process?

While some Republican states are passing laws to limit or even eliminate abortion, our neighboring state of Illinois just signed into law the Reproductive Health Act.  The Illinois law essentially says pregnant women have the fundamental right to have an abortion, and a baby in the womb has no independent rights.  In response, Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, publicly declared that all Illinois Catholic lawmakers who voted for the state’s new Reproductive Health Act, or for an earlier 2017 bill that legalized taxpayer funding of abortions, should not present themselves to receive Holy Communion in the Diocese of Springfield “without first being reconciled to Christ and the Church.”  I applaud Bishop Paprocki for taking a firm stand.  Maybe this will make these lawmakers understand the gravity of their actions.

In Mark 10:18, Jesus says, “No one is good but God alone.”  I remember Mother Angelica referring to that passage saying that the further we separate ourselves from God, the further we separate ourselves from goodness.  Illinois legislators are among those who have eliminated God from their leadership, and that leads to no good.  

Our Bishop, Donald Hying, is leaving us this week to become the Bishop of Madison, Wisconsin.  We were blessed to have him lead the Gary Diocese for the past few years.  I remember thinking early on that he would eventually move up the ladder.  Madison will likely not be his last stop either. I would not be surprised for His Excellency to be Cardinal Hying some day. 

Another Road Trip

My wife and I made the 500 mile drive to attend our oldest granddaughter’s First Communion the last weekend of April. She was among 123 second graders in their little suits and white dresses, receiving Our Lord, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity for the first time.  The class was so large, they had to divide them in half with one Mass in the late morning and the other in the early afternoon.  Otherwise, the church could not hold all the parents, friends and relatives who wished to attend.  This is in a church that holds almost a thousand people, and was nearly full for each Mass. 

We had one entire pew reserved for our group which included siblings, aunts and uncles, godparents, their children, us grandparents, and Mom.  Dad was the organist and choir director for both Masses.  Some of the children did the readings and petitions.  They were obviously well-rehearsed as all spoke clearly with sufficient volume to be heard throughout the church. 

The following week, we were back home where our parish traditionally holds First Communion the first Sunday in May.  To prepare the music, I contacted the CCD instructor to see how many would be receiving their First Communion here.  To my chagrin, she said none.  I believe this is the first year in the nearly 140 years of our parish, that we had no one receiving First Holy Communion.  Our numbers have shrunk so drastically that our parish appears to be on life support.  I have addressed the reasons for this in previous posts.  Our town has no industry to keep young people of child-bearing age here.  We have lost parishioners to other nearby parishes where they feel more comfortable.  And families just aren’t having as many children as they did years ago.  Combine this with Catholics who no longer attend Mass for a variety of excuses, and you have many empty pews. 

Our wonderful bishop of the past five years has recently been transferred to another diocese.  With the shortage of priests and the uncertainty of what our next bishop will decide, we may not have a resident priest here much longer.  In fact, I sometimes wonder if we will have a new bishop.  Once upon a time, we were part of a neighboring diocese.  Our diocese was created some 60 years ago when this area had a thriving commerce with railroads, steel mills, and productive farmland.  The farmland remains, but the family farms are gone.  Many railroads have been abandoned, and much of steel is imported.  Times have changed and rural areas have suffered.

Are we doomed?  I hope not.  Oh, the Church will go on, if not in our home parish, somewhere else.  All we can do is look to the Holy Spirit for direction and guidance.  It’s all a part of God’s plan.  Thy will be done.