First Pro-Life Presentation Video

On Thursday I gave the first Pro-Life presentation for the teens at our parish.  Enjoy!

What of the Man on the Island?

One of the most controversial topics in the Christian world is regarding the fate of non-Christians.

Is God really going to condemn every single person who did not come to a conscious belief in the Christian faith?  

The question presents a conundrum for Christians who love God and take their faith seriously.   On the one hand you want to affirm the necessity of faith in Christ for salvation.  On the other hand, you want to affirm the unlimited mercy and love of God.  Considering the fate on non-Christians seems to drive a wedge between the two beliefs.

This is especially the case when we’re considering the fates of decent people for whom hearing the Gospel was completely impossible or for whom believing it is an unreasonable expectation.

That is what I wanted to look at today.  What principles can the Bible give us when considering this problem?  And how is this reflected in the teaching of the Catholic Church?

Podcasts for 2016

Looking for a way to expand your understanding of the faith?  Here are some of the podcasts I frequently have playing when I drive, work out, do home improvement, etc.

The Nativity in Revelation

The Gospels contain two accounts of the Nativity - the birth of Jesus.  The first is in Matthew and the second is in Luke.  Today I wanted to look at a third one, which is found in a most unlikely place...

... the book of Revelation.

CE vs AD - What is the Fulcrum of Human History?

Ever seen something and thought, “This is so dumb.  It will never catch on.”  Only to have the thing catch on?  That is how I felt when I first saw the CE/BCE dating system.

Regarding Violence in the Name of the Pro-Life Cause...

Perhaps you have heard the story.  A somewhat deranged, middle-aged white man becomes obsessed with a massive human rights violation being perpetrated in America.  After an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement – resulting in the death of several people – he is finally captured.  His actions, in the end, did far more to discredit the cause he purportedly fought for.

I am, of course, referring to John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859.  John Brown was an abolitionist who sought to eliminate the scourge of slavery through violence.  His actions helped contribute to the tensions which gave rise to the Civil War.

Hanukkah, Christmas, and You

Right now we are in the midst of the Jewish season of Hanukkah.  When I was in school my understanding of Hanukkah could be summarized as, “That thing with the candles when the Jewish kids get presents for eight days.”

It was only much later that I’d learn the history of the thing.

In the second century before Christ, the Jewish people in Israel came under intense persecution by the kings of the Seleucid kingdom.  In the year 165 BC, the Hebrew forces – led by Judas Maccabeus – retook the Temple in Jerusalem for the sons of Jacob.

By this time the Temple was littered with garbage and had been desecrated in every way imaginable.  So Judas led his men in rebuilding the interior of the structure and re-consecrating it to God.  Then they all celebrated for eight days.

Today I wanted to look at three questions.  One, where is Hanukkah mention in the Bible?  Two, why don’t Christians celebrate it today?  Three, what does it have to do with you?