The Arrow's Path

I have always been a big fan of the Chronicles of Narnia . In fact, I would argue the person whose writings (both fiction and non-fiction) that have had the most profound effect upon my life is probably CS "Jack" Lewis. It started with Narnia and then the Space Trilogy and then his serious non-fiction writings and satires of all kinds. I've even read through his academic journals papers from way back. If ever there was a poster child for the profound and lasting impact a non-ordained Christian can have on the whole Church, even across denominational lines, it would be old Jack Lewis. I have heard homilies and sermons on CS Lewis in Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Evangelical churches. Even atheists have felt the need to write their own alternative fiction stories to counter the allegories of Narnia Chronicles . I can think of no other Christian writer in the 20th century onwards who has had such a profound effect on theology and culture. I remain convinced people will s...

I had a question posed to be that asked if getting a blood transfusion could ever be a mortal sin.  This falls into the category of Catholic moral ethics that discerns the difference between ordinary means and extraordinary means in terms of medical care. Generally as a Catholic you have the obligation to pursue ordinary means of medical care both for yourself and for others, particularly those you have a specific fiduciary duty to care for, namely children, etc.   This is where ethics comes in because with the huge advancements in medical care in the last 50 years, the goal post has shifted in the medical profession as to procedures that are now generally considered ordinary means which at one point would have been in the extraordinary means category. So, there is a lot of grey area within the medical profession and even among Catholic theologians in terms of what is ordinary means and what is extraordinary means.   Part of the problem with medical ethics an...

 (walking into a kitchen with the lights off because you hear someone banging on a pipe under a sink): "Who's in here?" The plumber under the sink: "King Saul and the Witch of Endor!" "Well, when your done with your seance, please stop by the office."

       As we journey through Lent, the theme of "I AM WHO AM" resonates profoundly, particularly in light of this coming Sunday’s Mass readings. This phrase, revealed to Moses at the burning bush, encapsulates the essence of God’s eternal presence and unchanging nature, inviting us to reflect on our identity in relation to the Divine, and the transformative call to holiness.      Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15 recounts the moment when Moses encounters God on Mount Horeb. The burning bush, aflame yet not consumed, symbolizes the holiness of God and His desire to engage with humanity. When God reveals His name, “I AM WHO AM,” He establishes Himself as the ultimate source of existence and reality. This declaration serves as a profound reminder that God is not defined by human limitations or circumstances; rather, He is the ground of all being, ever-present and ever-faithful. As we reflect on this passage during Lent, we are called to recognize our own identity in ...

I know the title of this game sounds ghastly, and I suppose the theme of this little pocket game from Button Shy Games is a bit on the macabre side. In my defense, it's more macabre in the Day of the Dead kind of way. The official description of the game is this: "Sedlec Ossuary, 16th Century AD. The Black Plague and Hussite Wars have overcrowded the graveyard. Help the Bone Collector, a half-blind monk, by exhuming graves and arranging the skulls inside the crypt. You are novice monks, competing to create the best arrangement of skulls. Dig up graves from the graveyard to reveal cards, take cards into your hand to collect skulls, and arrange the cards from your hand into a stack. Whoever better honors the deceased’s last wishes will score more points. The Bone Collector will then declare one player's stack as the most exceptional." For those who have never heard of this gaming company, Button Shy Games specializes in these clever little pocket games. By po...

 A friend shared with me this following clip, which is indeed quite beautiful in its own right: As I listened, this got me to thinking. (I know, dangerous, right?) The theory of music as a philosophical concept is something well grounded in Natural Law. Natural Law being that idea that God left in the heart of every created person a basic knowledge of right and wrong and the gift of the intellect to be able to a certain logical way come to rationally understand the idea that God exists. Part of that primordial consciousness left by the Creator on His created is the power and understanding of beauty. While some notions of beauty can change due to cultural tastes like fashion or proportions of the human body, the concept and appreciation of beauty itself is transcendent and can't logically explained by sheer philosophical determinism or reduction-ism. If the universe is just randomly created from random chaos, how does extrinsic beauty exist and why do humans intrinsical...

 I had an interesting question posed to me that I would like to respond to. The question is: Can you help me understand the line between superstition and faith? Is it just humility and sincerity? Background: I share a home with my sister’s family...A friend suggested consecrating our home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for their conversion. I have read what that entails and all of what we would commit to is already true….it just seems a little manipulative and superstitious to go through a ceremony promising our devotion to Christ when I am otherwise living a devoted life to Him. I mean, I would love little more than my sister converting but could doing this have more power than my fasting and prayer? My reply: This is a really good question. I will say in full disclosure this is something that I did struggle with a bit when I was thinking about converting, and to a certain extent I still do and probably always will on some level with some things. I was a former Anglican priest, s...

     Lent is often referred to as a journey. This coming Sunday’s readings explore themes of covenant, transformation, and the call to live as faithful disciples. Each passage offers a unique perspective that can deepen our understanding of our relationship with God and our commitment to following Christ during this spiritual journey of the season of Lent.      Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 introduces us to God's covenant with Abram. Here, God takes Abram outside and invites him to look at the stars, promising that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky. This promise is monumental, as it signifies not only the assurance of a future lineage but also the unwavering faithfulness of God. Abram’s belief in God’s promise is pivotal; it is counted to him as righteousness. This passage challenges us to reflect on our own faith. In the midst of uncertainty, do we trust in God’s promises? Lent is a time for us to step outside our own limitations and fea...

I had a question submitted that I would like to respond to: How would you respond to the claim that Catholics aren't Christians? It seems like a ridiculous accusation to make, but I continually hear it from friends and family. I interestingly ran into this question in my Anglican days as well, because I knew people who were convinced Anglicans were not Christian then either. I always get really antsy when Christians start pointing fingers at others and saying "Well, they aren't Christian!" There are times when you have to go there cause this or that church or denomination has clearly removed itself from any formulation that would be in any orbit of being considered Christian belief or practice. I am talking about clearly denying the Resurrection of Christ and completely opening rejecting Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. There is a lot of grey area, but there are clear black and white lines that do exist. I mean, if you reject the Trinity or the Nicene Creed or the...

     The phrase "a wandering Aramean" from this coming Sunday’s reading from Deuteronomy serves as a unique image for the beginning of Lent. Today’s readings concern the themes of identity, belonging, and faith that are very crucial when we find ourselves in the middle of life’s wilderness . That curious turn of phrase shapes our understanding of God’s promises, the universality of salvation, and the human experience of temptation.     In Deuteronom y 26:4-10, the Israelites are instructed to bring their first fruits to the priest, and to declare their heritage,         beginning with the acknowledgment of their ancestor, Jacob, who is referred to as "a wandering Aramean." This phrase encapsulates a narrative of displacement and journey, reminding the Israelites of their origins in a foreign land and their eventual deliverance into the Promised Land. The act of recalling their history serves multiple purposes: it fosters ...