Discipleship
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The Perils of Complacency
The readings this week are a call against complacency. The readings of the last weeks in the church year are all pointing to the reality that there will be a day of judgment and we will not get advance notice of that day. We have been warned in multiple ways. Last week we had the Continue reading
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Peter and Paul
We celebrate today the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul rather than the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Why are they so important that their feast, which is always on June 29th, overwhelms the regular Sunday cycle? Each Saint is important to the Church, and each has had another feast day in the Church calendar Continue reading
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Exodus and Repentance
The readings this Sunday focus on baptism, Exodus, and repentance. The Exodus of the Old Testament is the story of Moses leading the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt through the waters of the Red Sea. Christians see in that passage through the Red Sea a prefiguring of the waters of baptism. It Continue reading
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God Has a Plan and It’s a Good Plan
Father Neil preached last week on suffering and gratitude, and I would like to continue to look at those today. Both suffering and gratitude are at the heart of the crucifix. We call it a crucifix because it is a cross with the body of Jesus attached to it. The crucifix is supposed to be Continue reading
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Love and Obey
All God really demands of us is to love him and obey him. Those words are hard words. They are hard to understand and they are hard to swallow. What is love? That might have been Pilate’s real question. Why do I have to obey might be the other question. We are told in the Continue reading
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The Four Temperaments
The pattern of inclinations and reactions that proceed from the physiological constitution of the individual. Something permanent that admits of only secondary modification. (OUR WIRING.) Sanguine Temperament Reacts quickly and strongly to almost any stimulation or impression Reaction is usually of short duration Remembrance of past experiences does not easily arouse a new response. Usually Continue reading
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Vainglory
The desire for glory when glory is due to God alone, hence vain (empty) glory. St. Thomas’ three ways glory can be vain the things for which one seeks glory are vain or petty – WRONG THINGS the persons from whom one seeks glory are uncertain or lacking in judgment – WRONG PEOPLE the end Continue reading
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Melancholy/Sloth
Sloth seeks undue rest in so far as it spurns the Divine good Sloth is not an aversion of the mind from any spiritual good, but from the Divine good, to which the mind is obliged to adhere. He is sorry to have to do something for God’s sake. Evil in itself (sadness in reaction Continue reading
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Anger/Wrath
Unreasoned anger, willing injury or damage to the object of one’s anger, unreasoned either due to the object of the anger or the mode of the anger. Scriptural/Doctoral “Let all indignation and anger be put away from you.” Ephesians 4:31 St. Gregory: “zealous anger troubles the eye of reason, whereas sinful anger blinds it.” Daughters Continue reading
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Envy
Sorrow for another person’s good. (Looking at things the wrong way.) A spirit of competitiveness rather than brotherly love. The object of both charity and envy is our neighbor’s good, but by contrary movements, since charity rejoices in our neighbor’s good, while envy grieves over it. Scriptural/Doctoral “self-inflicted pain wounds the pining spirit, which is Continue reading
Bound in Love 