Category: The Average Catholic
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From your Uncle Screwtape (1/2)
Along with many people, I am a fan of C.S. Lewis “Screwtape Letters.” C.S. Lewis was a Christian author who challenged himself to write as a demon giving advice to a younger demon on how to tempt man into damnation. It offers a scathing self-reflection that can humble any Christian. The book was published many…
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Catholics vs Protestants on works for salvation
One of the perennial issues between Catholics and Protestants is works and salvation. Works and salvation is the belief that if you perform x, y, z, then you can enter heaven. It can be proclamations, acts of service, verbal prayers, or whatever else. The point is that salvation is able to be earned from an…
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42 Blue … 42 Blue … hup hup … LOVE!
Football has millions of people going to games every year. There is training, pre-season, post-season, and the actual season. Billions of dollars are spent in marketing, sponsors, merchandise, and so on. Fans religiously attending games even if it conflicts with other obligations. It is all too easy to believe someone sneaking a peak at a…
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Are we afraid of our “I” becoming a “we”?
I love a good paradox. One paradox in the Roman Catholic church is “diversity in unity.” The church is, for better or for worse, famous for its rigid acts of worship. The church goers strictly obey the directives on what to say at mass, when to say it, and how to say it. The sea…
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How your whine and complaints become God’s Instruction.
Has anyone whined and complained before? Probably. I have had multiple periods of frustration and impatience where I felt I was stuck. I was so focused on what was missing in my life. It is a dark place when we are fixated on what could be or what I imagined would be a better life.…
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The Widow’s Coin: a Commissioned Painting
I had an idea for a painting and I finally made it come alive. Thank you to @marialouisarose.art for giving my idea life. You can find more of her work at the link: https://www.instagram.com/marialouisarose.art/ The painting I wanted to do was inspired by the Widow’s coin found in Mark 12:41-44. The passage goes, “Jesus sat…
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Should Insults be Insulting to an Average Catholic?
It is an important self-reflection; what is insulting about insults? Of course, all humans are made in the image and likeness of God. Of course, insults should not be an everyday occurrence and is not acceptable in polite society. Of course, there are better ways to convey your point or express your anger without insults.…
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The Devil’s Greatest Weapon: Parking Fees
The church that I attend is located in a busy down town. The parking is limited and it is impossible to find free parking. Fortunately, my parish has a deal with a local parking garage that allows parishioners free parking for services. It is a generous offer and we are grateful for their charity. However,…
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The Beauty of Red Lights
Call me Crazy, but I love me a good red light. Driving has its demands. Your attention is on the road, other drivers, and whatever may be happening inside the car. Your thoughts can vary from focusing on your destination, future plans, the song on the speakers, or even quiet meditation. A nice red light…
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The Beauty of Sociopaths
Jesus told many stories in the bible about a Samaritan. The cultural context is often loss on us Americans in the 21st century. However, painting Samaritans in a positive light was scandalous for Jesus’s Jewish disciples. The story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) was supposed to shock the disciples into realizing our actions towards…
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