The Arrow's Path

Today, the Gospel reading confronts the hearers today with a profound image of Jesus performing an act that seems out of character for Jesus. The act might seem excessive, or even violent. Did Jesus, in fact, act out of violence in today’s reading? This is a depiction of Jesus that would seem to be at odds with the more peaceful images of Jesus as the Good Shepherd or of the loving Son of the Father who dies for the world for the forgiveness of sins. To give a little background to the Gospel passage, the first reading is from the Book of Exodus (20: 1-17) . The story tells of the giving of the Ten Commandments, which form the foundation of God's covenant with His people. Among these commandments is the injunction, "You shall not kill." This commandment reminds us of the sacredness of human life and the inherent dignity of every person. It calls us to reject violence in all its forms and to strive for peace and reconciliation in our relationships. The Psalmist ( Psalm 19...

As I posted a few weeks ago, I follow politics and I vote (or at least try to). Being a leftover Jeffersonian agrarian, there is not much left on the Federal level that much enthuses me any more. We have a sham Federal election every 2 years, but the two headed uni-party has been in control of the American system for so long that they have rigged the entire system to virtually ensure one or the other of the so-called political parties always has power. These so called parties try really hard to spin the tale of the idea that we really have a choice as the American voters, but it is not really a choice. They try to spin is as Liberal versus Conservative, but there really are not any true Jeffersonian Conservatives any more on the Federal level. Republicans try to pretend to be Conservative, but they are really still the party of Lincoln. Lincoln was by far the farthest to the Left of all the candidates who ran for President in 1860. Most modern Republicans, despite howls to the contrary...

 

 

      The season of Lent is often described as a journey. All of us are required to repent of our sins. Some of the ways we are asked to join in the journey of Lent includes various penitential acts like fasting and abstaining from certain foods as a visible way we manifest repentance and a change of mind and heart in our Lenten journeys. The Mass readings today tell us of various ways some of the people in the Bible went on various journeys because of their faith.      The 22nd chapter from Genesis tells the poignant story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, as a test of his faith and obedience to God. This narrative challenges those of us on our Lenten journey to consider the depth of our own trust in God's providence, even in the face of daunting trials. Like Abraham, we are called to surrender our will to God's and to trust that He will provide for us, even when the path ahead seems uncertain.      In the Lett...

People ask me what my political leanings are, usually trying to pigeon hole me on whether I am a Republican or a Democrat. I have, at various times, been registered as a Democrat, Republican, Independent, and Libertarian. I am really do not fit cleaning into any of those 21st Century political categories. I will say I am currently registered as a member of one of the major parties, but only so as I can vote in the primary in my state. My state has such a late primary (not the very last, but close to it), there really is not much point to it on the Federal level as Federal candidates have usually pretty much already coalesced by the time my state's primary comes around, but I can at least have a say in state and local election primaries, which is really about the only thing I care about anyway. So, to the original topic of "what am I?" I am a leftover Jeffersonian agrarian. I believe in Jefferson's idea of republican democracy. I believe in Federalism in the true sens...

Why is American chocolate always such garbage? You get used to it, but then have some real European chocolate, and it's like you have a religious experience. I blame the soy lecithin that American chocolate makers use as a preservative, but I have no idea really. Asking for a friend... 😂

First off, an update on myself. I am still chuffing along. I am in discernment about the permanent diaconate in the Catholic church, so that is where I am at currently. After a long hiatus of 10 years, I am finally back in formation, and I want to get back to writing blogs on occasion. I know I have promised that in the past, but I do want to make a discipline of blogging, though blogging is dreadfully out of fashion anymore, but I still enjoy it.  This coming Sunday is the last Sunday of Ordinary time before Lent. There is an interesting set of readings on leprosy , of all things. I have been writing reflections in my parish bulletin weekly for a while now, and wrote one that I would pass along: If asked to imagine what life was like in Medieval Europe, many people today might well picture in their minds the image of the people in those times afflicted with leprosy. Most modern movies set in the Middle Ages with likely at some point have a scene in the film of a leper in rags be...