Category: The Average Catholic
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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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Are you ready for the Thief in the night?
The bible is filled with metaphors and parables, but the one that resonates me is being prepared for the thief in the night. First, I’ve been a victim of theft and the parable’s warning is all too easy to imagine. Second, being prepared requires a healthy long term view. We need to recognize that our…
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9 tips for Evangelization
You are a sinner on a pilgrimage for heaven. It is utmost important that our Faith, our knowledge, our lifestyle is ultimately a gift from God. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. We worship Him not out of fear of punishment, but an intense gratitude towards the gift He gave us.…
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Original Sin in Two Bible Quotes
Ah yes, Sin! It is tempting to believe we talk about sin too much. Perhaps, there is truth to that. But the reason I wish to talk about sin is to speak all the more clearly about the mercy and generosity of God. A simple definition of sin is “Not God” or more specifically our…
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Nothing says family like limited resources
I pray to the Lord Almighty to combat perhaps the greatest cause of terror in the world: running out of resources. Too often, I hear people mention running out of “this” or not enough of “that.” We don’t have the “blank” for it. That could be money, time, energy, patience, care, votes, room, jobs, and…
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