Is there a reason for human suffering?

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Friar Musings

Today’s gospel raises a question that often haunts us: “Does God punish us for our sins?” We ask it in lots of different ways. It seems to arise in periods of reflection such as Lent offers.

In the verses just before our gospel passage, Jesus spoke to crowds: “You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:56) Some in the crowd quickly rose to the occasion, stating a case of unjust suffering with the implication that Jesus should interpret its meaning. They told him about some Galileans that Pontius Pilate had murdered in a ghastly event. No question is stated explicitly, but a question is surely implied. What is one to make of that? Did those Galileans deserve it? Was Pilate the instrument of divine judgment against them and consequent punishment? Continue reading →

Healthcare: A Tale of Two Worlds

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Friar Musings

….well at least two worlds. TIme Magazine published an article on the “bitter pill” that is healthcare cost. The worlds seem to be the well-insured, the insured, the under-insured, the I-thought-I-had-insurance-but-this-has-more-exceptions-than-coverage-insured, the under-65 with no insurance, and Medicare-insured. It is a long article but well worth the read. It is hard to read this article and not come away with the sense of how vulnerable we are in the time of medical emergencies.

RCIA Rite of Election

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Friar Musings

One of the great joys of Lent is to watch the RCIA catechumens and candidates begin the last leg of their journey of faith to the sacraments of Easter. The first Sunday in Lent the church celebrates the Rite of Sending in which the parish affirms the readiness of these good folks and “sends” them to the bishop. The bishop receives them in the Rite of Election (catechumens) and Call to Continuing Conversion (candidates). They are both beautiful rites. Here at Sacred Heart, our RCIA group is so great; to see them take another step in the journey is an answer to prayer.

Enjoy some of the scenes from that day:

Thomas Merton on Christian Self-Denial

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Friar Musings

This is from Fr. Dan Horan, OFM at his blog Dating God. I thought it was another take on the classic Lenten question: “So….what are you giving up for Lent?” One point of Fr. Dan’s insight is that ultimately self-denial needs to lead to new life.

“No one can really embrace the Christian asceticism mapped out in the New Testament unless he [or she] has some idea of the positive, constructive function of self-denial. The Holy Spirit never asks us to renounce anything without offering us something much higher and much more perfect in return … The function of self-denial is to lead to a positive increase of spiritual energy and life. The Christian dies, not merely in order to die but in order to live. And when he [or she] takes up his cross to follow Christ, the Christian realizes, or at least believes, that he is not going to die to anything but death. The Cross is the sign of Christ’s victory over death. The Cross is the sign of life. It is the trellis upon which grows the Mystical Vine whose life is infinite joy and whose branches we are. If we want to share the life of that Vine, we must grow on the same trellis and must suffer the same pruning.” — Thomas Merton Continue reading →