Feelings

“Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

I love this quote. We aren't called to follow our feelings, even if that's what the world would tell us. Feelings are fleeting. There will be days and weeks and maybe even months we don't feel like being a faithful servant. I feel that way pretty much every morning when I wake up, as I'm not a morning person! Yet the obligation to rise and attend to my duties remains, even if I don't feel like it.

We may not feel like being kind to others on a particular day. We may not feel like going to church. We may not feel like calling on someone who is in need. We may not feel like being respectful to our parents, our spouse, our children, or ourselves. We may not feel like wanting what God wants all the time. But faith is more than just a feeling and obedience doesn't have to feel perfect. Love is perfect even when we are not.

Let's live how we say we believe today, even if we don't feel like it.

Tribulations

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

There's apparently this thing called the prosperity gospel. I'm completely unfamiliar with it as it isn't taught in my church, but the basic idea is if we love God we'll have health and wealth. Nothing is further from the truth. In this life we will have trials and tribulations, there will be crosses to bear, and we will suffer. Jesus did not come to eliminate those problems, though of course we have peace through Him during this life. Those problems make sense and also can be useful with Jesus. But they don't go away. Jesus saves us from those problems for eternity.

Forever is longer than now

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us.

Our present sufferings and trials and problems and pains are indeed very real. There is no denying that. We have a lot going on and it is easy to get weighed down by the day to day unpleasant aspects of life. But here Paul reminds us that what we suffer now is nothing compared to the wonders of eternity.

How much happier and more effective would we be if we could remember forever in all of our moments?

Which way?

"Is this step leading me toward God or away from God? There are no neutral steps." -Father Larry Richards.

I've been listening to podcasts in the car. What a great way to learn and be encouraged during the week!

Everything we do here should be done with eternity in mind.

Bad people

Sometimes people wonder how Catholics can keep on being Catholic when some Catholic leaders aren't very good people.  I think there's some confusion as to why someone would be Catholic to begin with wrapped up in that thought.  I'm not Catholic because I like the leaders.  I don't go to Mass every Sunday because my priest is a charismatic speaker who gets and holds my attention, or is so holy I feel I need to follow him.  I'm not loyal to my bishop because I've decided he's a really smart man who could teach me a lot.  I'm Catholic because I believe this is the very church Jesus Christ Himself intended to found through Peter and the rest of the apostles.

When we base our church choice on personalities, or on the perceived moral goodness of the leader, then we set ourselves up for disappointment when those same leaders make mistakes (large or small).  If we stop believing what we believe because a leader who claimed to believe the same thing also happens to turn out to be a sinner, then we had placed our trust in that leader instead of our faith.

Is it bad that some leaders are such horrible people?  Of course.  But that's actually irrelevant to the question.  Why be Catholic?  Because I believe it is what Jesus wants.  And that's all we're supposed to care about - what Jesus wants.  Every group will have sinners because all of us are sinners.

Last month, an atheist blogger posted this piece about the Catholic Church.   Catholic-bashers have embellished the truth about abuse in Catholic institutions. It's time to put the record straight.  The world would hate God's church, and it should surprise no one that the media has had so much to say.  I've said it before: I think the media is Satan's PR department.

So as we enter into the media frenzy that will be the next Pope, try to remember A) the media is against us and B) all that matters is that God's will be done.
 
(I actually do like my priest and my bishop, by the way.)

An except from Catholicism

Funny Video (Satire)

Rules

Watching the Catholicism DVD series with Father Barron this week.  This is an outstanding DVD set if you ever have the chance to see it.  It is educational but not boring.  They go to a variety of beautiful locations around the world and explore different aspects of Catholicism over the 10 parts.

In one of the parts, he explores the idea of rules.  He discusses how we don't like rules; we feel they limit our freedom.  And he points out this is simply not the case by using language as an example.  He notes he has freedom over language and can say whatever he wants to say, but only because he follows the rules of English.  He doesn't just throw out words and do whatever he wants as that wouldn't work.

God's rules do not limit our freedom.  They allow us to live more freely for God's will.  Even if we don't understand them, when we follow them they have this effect.  They make it more possible for us to serve God, which is our ultimate goal.

Wisdom 13

The beginning of this chapter reminds me of our own society, so certain we understand the universe but refusing to acknowledge its creator.

But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God: and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was the workman: But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to be the gods that rule the world. With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than they: for the first author of beauty made all those things. Or if they admired their power, and their effects, let them understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they: For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby.
(Wis 13:1-5 DRB)

Again, we rely on our own skills and ability and neglect to see the hand of God.

Pride

If I seem kind of hung up on finding God's will of late, it is because I'm thinking of some big decisions. 

For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of God is? For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels uncertain. For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things. And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and with labour do we find the things that are before us. But the things that are in heaven, who shall search out? And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send thy holy Spirit from above: And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and men may learn the things that please thee? For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O Lord, from the beginning.
(Wis 9:13-19 DRB)

I've heard that pride can be defined as the inaccurate view of one's own abilities.  If everything comes from God, then we must recognize that nothing comes from us.  We can only use the gifts and talents God has provided to us to use.  Those still come from God though, and do not match (or even come close) to His wisdom

Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.
(Pro 16:18 DRB)

More on God's Planning Skills

The chain of command is the order of authority.  Most people are familiar with this term relative to the military.  Generals are in charge of Colonels, who out rank the Majors, who are in charge of the Captains and so on.  Sergeants are above Privates in the scheme of things.  This is how good order is attained and everyone understands what is going on.  Society expects it to work this way, and we all understand something has gone wrong if it doesn't work.

I mention this because when I first started reading the Bible, I thought the idea of a wife submitting to her husband was something random men made up.  Actually, based on what I'd heard about it, I thought women were supposed to submit to men, be they their husbands or not.  It was all very men-oriented.  And of course, very wrong.  Men and women should be equal!

Problems came when I noticed both Paul and Peter said women should submit to their husbands...

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (That's Paul, writing to the Ephesians)

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; (There's Peter in his letter) 

Hmm.

Though I am not a wife and not planning to be one in the very short term, I thought it was important to clarify what these passages meant.  I wanted to make sure I got a very conservative opinion, so I went to my super conservative friend, who I assumed A) knew all about it and B) would tell me what I already knew crazy conservatives thought in that women were less than men and should submit to them all.

Turns out that isn't the thought.  She explained it firstly as a chain of command, which I am familiar with due to the military.  The General isn't more important than the Colonel.  He isn't smarter by default.  He isn't morally superior.  He's not even always right in his decisions.  He's just in charge.  Someone has to be in charge.  This doesn't prevent the Colonel from having an opinion or being a very, very important part of the army.  But when a decision has to be made, the General gets the final "vote."

Now as I've said, I'm not married, so I need not get all the details as to how this would work in my particular family army when I get a husband.  But the explanation totally made sense.  Two people having entirely equal votes would lead to a lot of opportunities for no-win conflicts.  When we take out all of our worldly demands of equality, the system God gave us makes a lot of sense.

I realize this doesn't sound very popular in today's culture, but God didn't come up with it to be popular.  Jesus got Himself crucified, so popularity doesn't appear to be a motivation. 

My friend also pointed out that it is only to one's husband this applies.  The idea that all women should be subject to all men is false.  It only establishes this chain of command in the context of marriage.  Everywhere else, we are just subject to the chain of command of that particular situation.  So at work, I report to my boss.  She happens to be a woman.  If I was a manger, I could have men reporting to me, and that would be just fine.

This was several years ago, and I found it interesting at the time and now see it as yet another example of God's wisdom in decision making.  And also how we try to sidestep that with all of our "logical thinking."  We come up with what we think will work instead of trusting in what God wants.

One very wonderful advantage in doing what God wants instead of what I want is it is easier.  It may not seem easier (or even make sense initially as in the above example), but it is easier as we know it will work.  We don't have to reinvent the wheel every time we do something.  How wonderful is that!

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
(Pro 31:10-31)

Two Standards

I was listening to a podcast the other day about the Two Standards mediation from the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius.  Before you start thinking I'm knee deep in spiritual exercises, I feel pretty accomplished when I manage to do my reading each day and keep up with the blog.  The podcast was talking about it though and so I looked it up.  You can find the whole thing here.

The idea is that of a standard, or flag.  The standard is the flag one would follow in a battle.  The two standards refer to that of the enemy and that of our Lord.  Which standard will we follow?

We are born into, and tend toward, the army of darkness.  Without God's grace, we'd be trapped there and not have the freedom to choose another employer.  Thanks to Jesus, we can switch sides and join the forces of good.  This is an excellent thing, since we already know which side is going to win!

Of interest to me is how the meditation explains how Satan goes about keeping people in his army or recruiting them back.

The third, to consider the discourse which he makes them, and how he tells them to cast out nets and chains; that they have first to tempt with a longing for riches—as he is accustomed to do in most cases that men may more easily come to vain honor of the world, and then to vast pride. So that the first step shall be that of riches; the second, that of honor; the third, that of pride; and from these three steps he draws on to all the other vices.

This is contrasted later with the plan of Jesus.

The third, to consider the discourse which Christ our Lord makes to all His servants and friends whom He sends on this expedition, recommending them to want to help all, by bringing them first to the highest spiritual poverty, and—if His Divine Majesty would be served and would want to choose them—no less to actual poverty; the second is to be of contumely and contempt; because from these two things humility follows. So that there are to be three steps; the first, poverty against riches; the second, contumely or contempt against worldly honor; the third, humility against pride. And from these three steps let them induce to all the other virtues. 

If we look at what we most often want, what society tells us to want, it is not in the second category.  It is indeed a battle to keep our eyes on the right standard, as it is despised in our world