Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Finding Gratitude

Readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
October 13, 2013

The setting for today's story about Naaman the Syrian takes place between the borders of Galilee and Samaria and is really a fitting location and involving the Jews and Samaritans. For you see the land itself is very much a part of this biblical drama.

You may well remember the story of Naaman not recorded this morning but is covered in earlier passages of the same book of Kings where we learn he was a commander in the Army of the king of Aram.

This Naaman had leprosy and if you remember that in that day leprosy was really an opportunity to anticipate your own death for there was no cure. A little girl captured from the land of Israel encouraged her master to seek healing in the land of Israel.

From there we pick up the story in today's readings from the second book of Kings, he is told by an aid of the prophet to plunge into the Jordan seven times and his flesh would be healed. Upset at the lack of attention, I guess, he said are not the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than all of the waters of Israel, could not I wash in them and be cleansed? As the story goes, he leaves angry.

But once again encouraged by his own people he does what the prophet has commanded and washes in the Jordan and is cleansed. In much gratitude now, he returns to the prophet Elisha to offer a gift. Even after some insistence Elisha turns down the gift. But here's a little twist in the story that needs a little investigating to understand. For he asks for two mule-loads of earth.

Why? As they believed in those days, gods were not transferable from one nation to another or one people to another. Naaman asks for these two mule loads of earth that he could take back to his own country so as build on it an altar upon which to offer holocausts or sacrifice to no other God than to the God of Elisa. A story of gratitude.

We look now to the story of the 10 lepers found in our Gospel reading for today. Leprosy in that day was so horrible a disease that people who had leprosy were ousted from the community they could not come within say 8 to 10 feet, even of family members. And in the case of a windy day even required even to stay further away, so afraid where they of catching this, so horrible disease of leprosy.

As the story is recorded for us today we hear the 10 lepers petitioning Christ, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" Jesus tells them that they must go to the priest and show themselves because until they do they really cannot enter back into society. Nine, did as they were told but one, we are told, was a Samaritan. So! you may wonder, why is that such a big deal. Will first of all, the Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans, but in this story Jesus is telling them and us that the Samaritans, too, are to receive God's mercy. The key to this story is the gratitude of the one and the ingratitude of the nine.

I want to pose a question for you today and that is concerning your gratitude to Almighty God for what he has given you and is still giving you every day of your life? Maybe I should even clarify that question by asking you point-blank why are you here today? Why do you come back every week and celebrate the Mass with our priest, how would you answer that? Would you say that you come regular because the church obliges you to? Or is it the command to keep Holy the Sabbath? Some may respond that they want to offer a good example to their children. Others may say well it's become a habit.

Still others look upon their weekly worship as an expression of faith, a spiritual oasis if you will, a place to fuel up for the week ahead. For many of us, the words of Vatican II come quickly to mind: "The liturgy is the summit toward which the activities of the Church is directed and the font from which all its power flows. The goal of apostolic endeavor is that all who are made Suns and Daughters of God by faith and baptism should come together to praise God in the midst of the church, to take part in the sacrifice and eat the Lord's supper."

If in much gratitude to Almighty God for all that he has given us, including life, should we not spend at least one hour per week in giving thanks. We have the opportunity in every Eucharistic encounter to be transformed by God and by grace. We are chosen not just to pray, pray and obey, but to be so in love with Jesus and so passionate about the Gospel that we cannot help but Glorify God, fall at Jesus' feet and thank him. Is not this what keeps bringing us back to the One who never stops giving: loving, is compassionate, forgiving, and each time we returned Jesus, will assure us," stand up and go, your faith has saved you." Gratitude, is the key, do you really understand what God has done for you? If you are really, steeped in much gratitude to Almighty God for all that is done for you how can you stay away?

You will note: that for the most part I am back with you. I had a rough go of eight days in the hospital and many more days in recovery and I'm still not sure about the recovery part but may be being almost 80 years old has something do with that as well, don't you suppose. Being as how our theme for this homily is gratitude I wish to express my gratitude to all of you for your prayers and your concerns and especially those doctors and nurses who cared for me those eight days and on going, because without their tender loving care I probably wouldn't be here today. And I want to say a special thank you to the lady who cleaned my bedroom after a night doing battle with my inability to stand which turned out to be the beginning of this whole episode. God bless you all and thank you I promise to keep you in my prayers.

Be good, be Holy, Preach the Gospel always and if necessary use words.
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Still Coming to America

Spiritual and political ambulance chasers oozed out the woodwork after the Boston Marathon bombing.

Over the last two weeks I've seen 'prophecies' about the Marathon attack, and drearily familiar warnings that America must 'keep those foreigners out.'

Objections to foreigners being allowed into America are almost funny, since they usually come from folks who are as blatantly European-American as I am.

'Prophecy"R"Us' Long-Term Prospects: Bleak

Wannabe 'prophets' may be sincere, but I know better than to either believe them or try that racket myself. I think it's fairly safe to see Jeremiah 28:15-17 as a strong indication that waiting until God says 'go' is prudent. Then there's Acts 13:5-11.

As for divination and other efforts to make deals with spiritual agents: that isn't prophecy, it's a really bad idea. The spirits and powers we'd contact aren't working for God, and are not safe to be around. What the Church says about that sort of thing is, basically, 'don't.' (Catechism, 2115-2117)

America, Land of People Like Me?

I'm related by marriage to folks in the Lakota nation. Even without that personal connection, I'd have been very relieved when America's national government started paying attention to a long backlog of broken treaties: and that's almost another topic.

By now only about 1.15 percent of the 316,000,000 or so folks we call "Americans" are 'ethnic Americans.'1 The rest of us are descendants of immigrants from just about everywhere: with more coming each month. I like it that way, and would be very concerned if folks stopped coming to America.

My ancestors are mostly Norwegian and Irish, so I 'look Anglo.' Being melanin-deficient helped us fit in, although some of my more recent ancestors were appalled when a young Irishman married their daughter. (November 13, 2008)

Family history and growing up in the '60s helped me embrace Catholic teachings about neighbors. Enlightened self-interest helped, too. (December 8, 2010; Another War-on-Terror Blog (December 11, 2009))

Prosperity and Obligations

Even when we're not enjoying economic good times, Americans have it pretty good. I'm not upset about that, but prosperity comes with obligations:
"The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.

"Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2241)
Welcoming 'the foreigner' can't, or shouldn't, involve giving newcomers enough to keep them alive, but keeping them out of the social and economic mainstream of a nation.
"Access to employment and to professions must be open to all without unjust discrimination: men and women, healthy and disabled, natives and immigrants.219 For its part society should, according to circumstances, help citizens find work and employment.220"
(Catechism, 2433)
Psalms 146:9, Proverbs 3:5, and Matthew 25:35 Make it fairly obvious that treating strangers right is a good idea.

Expectations and Reality

As a 'religious person,' I've been pegged as a conservative, and sometimes as intolerant. That's understandable. Folks who scream hate and Bible verses, or seem to assume that God follows their political beliefs, have made a regrettable impression.

I'm a Catholic, a convert, and take my faith very seriously. Among other things, that means that I must not expect everyone to be just like me. I'm not allowed to merge into the crowd, either: and that's another topic.

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1 "United States," World Factbook, CIA (page last updated April 18, 2013)
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Sunday, December 2, 2012

Gratitude, Authority, and Duty

I wrote about gratitude, emotions, and reason last Sunday; also imaginary turkeys:
Like I said then: "gratitude" can be something I feel, an emotion; or it can be a reasoned decision. There's nothing wrong with emotions, by themselves, and that's another topic. (December 18, 2011)

Another Angle on Gratitude, and Authority

By the time I finished writing last Sunday's 'being Catholic' post, I'd gone off on a tangent - nothing new there.

Oddly enough, the tangent had nothing to do with geometry or pianos, and that's yet another topic.

I deleted the 'extra' text after copying and saving it. Later I decided that there was enough there to make another post: after a bit of editing.

Authority: Legitimate and Otherwise

There's a connection between gratitude and authority. That doesn't mean that people who aren't the boss should behave like Uriah Heep's unctuous brother. And it certainly doesn't mean that anybody who sits behind a big desk or wears a suit is always right.

I used to think I didn't like authority. Then my wife pointed out that I was quite comfortable with authority: it was pompous nitwits who claimed authority that bothered me. She was right, of course. (March 30, 2011)

Sadly, authority can be misused. Sometimes folks with authority hurt those who they're supposed to help. Yes, I know about the pedophile priests.

But authority, and sensible respect for authority, is important. It starts in the family: or should.

Families: Society at the Cellular Level

The family is the "original cell of social life." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2207) It's where we're supposed to learn about taking care of each other. (Catechism, 2208)

I was blessed with good parents. They made mistakes, sometimes major mistakes, but I never doubted that they loved me. Sadly, not everyone has that experience.

Too many parents apparently demand respect from their children, without earning it. I think some attacks on 'traditional values' trace back to parents who abused their authority. I've been over this before:

Duties for Everyone

Parents are supposed to lead a family, which doesn't mean that kids 'have no rights:'
  • Families are important
    (Catechism, 2210)
  • Family members have duties
Children are supposed to respect their parents. That respect is supposed to come from a sense of gratitude. Bear in mind that this is the way families are supposed to work: not what happens when broken parents fail their children.
"Respect for parents (filial piety) derives from gratitude toward those who, by the gift of life, their love and their work, have brought their children into the world and enabled them to grow in stature, wisdom, and grace. 'With all your heart honor your father, and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother. Remember that through your parents you were born; what can you give back to them that equals their gift to you?'19"
(Catechism, 2215)
Not all parents make it easy for their children "to grow in stature, wisdom, and grace:" but that's the way it's supposed to work.

Nations

It's a big jump, going from from families to nations: but there's still a need for authority, respect, and (usually) obedience.
"The duty of obedience requires all to give due honor to authority and to treat those who are charged to exercise it with respect, and, insofar as it is deserved, with gratitude and good-will.
"Pope St. Clement of Rome provides the Church's most ancient prayer for political authorities:18 'Grant to them, Lord, health, peace, concord, and stability, so that they may exercise without offense the sovereignty that you have given them. Master, heavenly King of the ages, you give glory, honor, and power over the things of earth to the sons of men. Direct, Lord, their counsel, following what is pleasing and acceptable in your sight, so that by exercising with devotion and in peace and gentleness the power that you have given to them, they may find favor with you.'19"
(Catechism, 1900)
"It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community."
(Catechism, 2239)
I've run into folks who apparently thought that 'good' citizens should submit to national authorities.

That's not what the last paragraph said:
"...Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community."
(Catechism, 2239) [emphasis mine]
Here's where it gets interesting.

Moral Legitimacy

Obedience and respect for authority are important. I can't disregard leadership that I don't like, and claim virtue.

But that doesn't mean everything a leader says is right:
"Authority does not derive its moral legitimacy from itself. It must not behave in a despotic manner, but must act for the common good as a 'moral force based on freedom and a sense of responsibility':21
"A human law has the character of law to the extent that it accords with right reason, and thus derives from the eternal law. Insofar as it falls short of right reason it is said to be an unjust law, and thus has not so much the nature of law as of a kind of violence.22
"Authority is exercised legitimately only when it seeks the common good of the group concerned and if it employs morally licit means to attain it. If rulers were to enact unjust laws or take measures contrary to the moral order, such arrangements would not be binding in conscience. In such a case, 'authority breaks down completely and results in shameful abuse.'23"
(Catechism, 1902, 1903)
"The eternal law" is natural law, the set of ethical laws woven into the universe. They're as real as the physical laws.

Consequences of ignoring physical laws can be as obvious as a brick dropped on one's foot. Consequences of ignoring ethical laws are real, too: but can take longer to become obvious. My opinion. I've discussed natural law before. (July 4, 2012)

'I was Only Following Orders'

Folks who had helped Germany's 1933-1945 leadership had some explaining to do when the 'Thousand Year Reich' failed to perform as advertised.

It wasn't the first time folks said they 'were only following orders,' it wasn't the last. Sometimes claiming that being ordered to do something nasty worked as a defense, sometimes it didn't. (Superior orders, Wikipedia)

My opinion is that Thomas More and John Fisher were right, and that my long-term plans are best served by doing what's right: not what's easy or expedient.

Will I follow through on that brave sentiment? Ask me after the Last Judgment, and that's still another topic.

"...Contrary to the Demands of the Moral Order..."

Unthinking obedience is not a good idea. Not if I take what the Catholic Church says seriously:
"The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel. Refusing obedience to civil authorities, when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience, finds its justification in the distinction between serving God and serving the political community. 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'48 'We must obey God rather than men':49
"When citizens are under the oppression of a public authority which oversteps its competence, they should still not refuse to give or to do what is objectively demanded of them by the common good; but it is legitimate for them to defend their own rights and those of their fellow citizens against the abuse of this authority within the limits of the natural law and the Law of the Gospel.50
"Armed resistance to oppression by political authority is not legitimate, unless all the following conditions are met: 1) there is certain, grave, and prolonged violation of fundamental rights; 2) all other means of redress have been exhausted; 3) such resistance will not provoke worse disorders; 4) there is well-founded hope of success; and 5) it is impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution."
(Catechism, 2242, 2243)
Note: the Church doesn't say that armed resistance to oppression by political authority is never legitimate. On the other hand, Catechism, 2243, says that using force to resist a rogue ruler is acceptable only if:
  1. Violation of fundamental rights is
    • Certain
    • Grave
    • Prolonged
  2. All other means of redress have been exhausted
  3. Such resistance will not provoke worse disorders
  4. There is well-founded hope of success
  5. It is impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution

Faith, Government, and Conscience

America's national government still allows citizens to follow our faith: inside a church. For that, I'm grateful.

The other 167 hours a week, though, the government expects us to follow government orders: even if doing so violates basic ethical principles.

Looking at today's America and item #2 in that five-point list, I believe that we still have quite a few options.

We're stuck with the current chief executive for another four years, but there's a midterm election coming. It will be an opportunity to swap out some members of Congress.

Finally: As a Catholic, I wouldn't be allowed to force another person to believe what I do, even if I had that sort of power. We're told that:
  • Religious freedom is vital
    (Catechism, 2104-2109)
    • For everybody
      (Catechism, 2106)
  • Some actions are always wrong
    (Catechism, 1789)
    • Even if the President says it's okay
      (Catechism, 2242)
  • Human life
    • Is sacred
      (Catechism, 2258)
    • Begins at conception
      • (Catechism, 2270, 2274)
  • Murder is wrong
    (Catechism, 2259-2262, 2268-2269)
By the way, another blogger posted an excellent list of reasons for celebrating. I agree with her, even though I agree that recent American election results were disappointing:
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Sunday, November 25, 2012

Thanksgiving: Cartoons and Gratitude

Thanksgiving Day weekend is an American holiday. It's our version of the harvest celebration that I suspect most or all cultures developed: probably not long after shifting to agriculture as a source of food.

The American holiday, according to a Wikipedia article, "...has its historical roots in religious traditions, but today is celebrated in a more secular manner...."

I wouldn't mind if the religious aspects of Thanksgiving got a little more attention, but I also don't mind the secular angle: particularly since I can have fun with it.


(From Apathetic Lemming of the North (2012))


(From Apathetic Lemming of the North (2010))

Something I didn't see in the Wikipedia article was the American habit of visiting family during the four-day weekend. My wife and I are at the point where the kids come to see us, and that's another topic.

Theological Implications of a Spaghetti Hat

The poster featured a profoundly unhappy baby wearing a bowl of spaghetti. The slogan was something like 'thank God anyway.' Or maybe it was 'praise God anyway.'

It was cute, and made a sensible point.

Being thankful for good health, or an above-average income, is fairly easy.

Being thankful after coming down with the flu, or being fired? That takes effort.

Readings for November 22, 2012, Thanksgiving Day in America, included this:
"2 And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters men's growth from their mother's womb, and fashions them according to his will!"
(Sirach 50:22)
Being alive could be near the top of a list of 'reasons for being thankful:' particularly when one considers the alternative.

- - - Aside from That, Pretty Good

I was used as a lab rat as an infant, without my parent's knowledge. (February 3, 2009)

I slogged through decades of undiagnosed major depression and ADHD-inattentive, or maybe Asperger's; lost a dear friend to suicide; and nearly lost my wife when one of our children died during childbirth. (June 3, 2012)

But aside from that, I've had a pretty good life:
"...I've been blessed with good parents, and a mind that's thirsty for knowledge. My wife stood by me through some very rough times. Four of our six children survived birth, and are as wonderfully varied a new generation as I could have hoped for...."
(June 3, 2012)

Emotions, Reason, and All That

I'm not one of those permanently-cheerful folks.

Even with pharmaceuticals that make thinking easier than it's been since my preteens, I'm all too capable of seeing life's serious side. Which doesn't make me a 'sour faced saint,' and that's yet another topic. (September 13, 2011)

I don't have anything against emotions: they're part of being human. But I try to avoid making decisions based on feelings.

If it sounds odd for a 'religious' person to say that: bear in mind that I'm a Catholic. We're told that:
  • Reason
    • Isn't opposed to faith
      (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 35)
    • Is a critical part of
      • Conscience
        (Catechism, 1778)
      • Human law
        (Catechism, 1902)
      • Natural law
        (Catechism, 1954-1960)
    • As intellect, an attribute of God
      (Catechism, 271)
    • An ability which makes human beings like God
      (Catechism, 1730)
  • Emotions
    • Are "natural components of the human psyche"(Catechism, 1764)
      • Aren't "good" or "bad" by themselves
        (Catechism, 1762-1770)
    • Should be governed by reason
      (Catechism, 1767)
    (December 18, 2011)
I've felt grateful: an emotion. I've also decided that I was grateful: a reasoned decision. There are times when I have to think a lot before deciding to be grateful.

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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Recovering From Sandy: Breezy Point, Queens; Santiago, Cuba

Quite a few folks are helping others sort out the mess left by Hurricane Sandy, including organizations like these:
If you don't see a tight focus on the recent Atlantic storm on those websites: don't be surprised. Sandy is a major storm: but it's not the only reason that folks need help.

On the other hand, cleaning up after Sandy is a big job: and it's very much in the news.

Floods, Fires, and Sturdy Masonry


(Associated Press, via New York Daily News, used w/o permission)
"The storm sparked a fire that took down dozens of homes in Breezy Point, Queens."

"Hurricane Sandy: Fire in Breezy Point burns down more than 80 homes, residents devastated"
Lisa L. Colangelo , Mark Morales, Tracy Connor, New York Daily News (October 30, 2012)

"Superstorm sparked a blaze that engulfed dozens of homes in Queens community, including that of Rep. Bob Turner, who praised first responders and vowed Breezy Point would be rebuilt.

"The tight-knit Queens enclave of Breezy Point was a scene of horrific devastation Tuesday -- row after row of homes engulfed by by an inferno that raged on streets flooded by superstorm Sandy....

"...Those who lost homes include Rep. Bob Turner, who praised first responders, vowed that the devastated community would be rebuilt, and said he was grateful he and his family were safe...."
I can't tell whether that statue started out inside a building, whether it was outside before the fire. Either way, I'm glad to see that folks in Breezy Point have at least one reminder of stability.

Here's where I could indulge in some conventional philosophizing. Depending on which audience I was playing to, I could write about:
  1. The 'miraculous' survival of a masonry structure
  2. How religion is stupid
    • Because the statue didn't protect Breezy Point
  3. The hate-filled Catholic Church
    • Wasting money on statues
    • Not supporting
      • Gay marriage
      • Eugenics
      • Whatever
That's not going to happen. I take my faith, and my Lord, seriously. I also realize that I've got my particular judgment coming, and don't need any more trouble than I've already got. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1013, 1021)

Here's what I think about those 'devout,' 'intelligent,' and otherwise, ideas:

1. Miracles and masonry

Maybe that statue's survival really was a miracle: but I've noticed that objects and structures made out of brick, mortar, and stone, tend to be more fire-resistant than wooden ones.

I acknowledge that miracles happen. In a sense, the continued existence of the universe is a miracle: and that's another topic.

2. Statues and Good Luck Charms

Some Catholics are superstitious. For that matter, some Catholics are mass murderers. (December 26, 2008) That doesn't, I think, mean that the Catholic Church should change the rules because some of us don't follow them - yet more topics. By the way, as a Catholic, I'm not allowed to commit murder.1 (Catechism, 2258-2262, 2268-2269)

I'm also not allowed to be superstitious. It's a very bad idea. (Catechism, 2110, 2111)

3. Hate and the Catholic Church

Maybe you know a Catholic who hates people. That's an individual, not the Catholic Church. I'm not allowed to hate people. It's "contrary to charity:" and is another very bad idea. (Catechism, 2303)

As for the 'hateful' things the Catholic Church stands for? I think Futon Sheen was right:
"There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church — which is, of course, quite a different thing."
(Bishop Fulton Sheen, Foreword to Radio Replies Vol. 1, page ix (1938), via Wikiquote)

Meanwhile, in Cuba - - -

"Cuban recovery from Hurricane Sandy will take years, agency reports"
CNA/EWTN News (October 31, 2012)

"The secretary general of Caritas Cuba said it will take years for the eastern section of the country to recover from Hurricane Sandy but that the local Church is bringing relief to thousands of victims.

"Maritza Sanchez told CNA on Oct. 29 that the situation in Cuba 'remains very difficult, especially in the city of Santiago, because the damage has been so severe.'...

"...While the Cuban government plays the key role in providing assistance, she continued, the Church is helping wherever possible and is seeking 'to officially collaborate with the structures of the State in order to broaden our efforts.'

"She said priests in hardest hit areas are identifying the families that have been most affected and are helping to distribute the food and water provided by Caritas. In some areas make-shift soup kitchens have been set up to help those whose needs are critical...."
I see what Caritas Cuba and the Catholic Church is doing in Cuba as another example of how we work with folks: where they live, as they are. On a local level, often as not, we are the 'natives,' the folks who live in an area.

"Subsidiarity" is fancy word for making decisions - and acting - as close to the local level as possible. I've shown how this principle works before. (April 28, 2011)

Ancient Church, Recent Events

Cuba has a communist government. Catholic institutions operate in Cuba. This doesn't mean that the Catholic Church is a commie plot.

The Catholic Church is also not a subversive puppet of Western capitalistic imperialism.

We were around nearly two millennia before the east-west, communism-capitalism conflict started: and I strongly suspect we'll be around when Whigs, Tories, Democrats, and Republicans are as ancient as Optimates and Populares are today:
Moving along.

"...Every Parish is Making an Analysis..."

"Cuban bishops bring relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy"
CNA/EWTN News (October 30, 2012)

"The bishops of eastern Cuba toured the provinces of Santiago, Holguin and Guantanamo to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, and bring pastoral and material aid to thousands of victims.

"An official from the Diocese of Holguin told CNA on Oct. 26 that local Bishop Emilio Aranguren 'personally went to all of the affected parishes,' and later went to Santiago to meet with Archbishop Dionisio Garcia, who also toured the affected areas...."

"...Manolo Martinez of Caritas Holguin said emergency teams are fanning out across the affected regions of the province and that 'every parish is making an analysis of its surroundings so that we can do our best to help the greatest number of people possible.'..."
I mentioned subsidiarity, getting the job done as far away from 'headquarters' as possible, before.

I think one reason the Catholic Church is so effective at charity work is that most of the time, we're already 'there.' Our organization is global, but we're also neighbors in the narrow sense of the word: folks who live down the street, across the valley, whatever.

Preparing For Sandy

"Catholic community helps East Coast prepare for Hurricane Sandy"
Michelle Bauman, CNA/EWTN News (October 29, 2012)

" As much of the East Coast braces for Hurricane Sandy, the Church is helping local people prepare for the storm, reaching out to offer shelter to the homeless and organizing disaster response efforts.

" 'Since Hurricane Katrina, we have focused on being prepared for future disasters,' Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, said in an Oct. 27 statement.

" 'Not only are we early responders, but our presence in the community also puts us in a position to be able to quickly assess and provide support in the long-term,' he added...."
I've said this before. The Catholic Church doesn't insist, or expect, that 'the natives' will stop being who we are. The Church has worked with worked with barbarian warlords, kings, dictators, and the American Congress.

That's not the same as saying that the Church approves of whatever the local shaman or Senator does: and that's yet another topic. Topics.

Related posts:
1 The Catholic Church says that human life is sacred. (Catechism, 2258) This belief results in awkward rules about killing people. Basically, as a Catholic I'm not allowed to kill an innocent person; even if:
  • It's legal
    (Catechism, 2270-2275)
  • 'In the victim's best interests'
    (Catechism, 2276-2279)
  • Part of an experiment
    (Catechism, 2292-2295)
  • I'm 'just following orders'
    (Catechism, 2313)
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Sunday, June 3, 2012

Fasting, Penance: and Infinite Depths of Joy

I follow the Man:
  • Who said
    • "...take courage, I have conquered the world."
      (John 16:33)
    • "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM."
      (John 8:58)
    • And made it stick
  • Who was killed
  • Who gave his followers orders
    • Which we are still carrying out
      • Two millennia later
I hope for an unending life of joy and peace with my Lord. Following Jesus isn't always fun: but even now there's an echo of the "glorious joy" that, God willing, is ahead.

Despondency isn't a Virtue?

I've heard "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" sung as if it's a funeral dirge; and met folks whose theme seems to be "oh woe, all ye faithful."

There seems to be a confusion of despondency with virtue in some American subcultures. I think it's partly connected with this country's cultural history. Some of the folks who set the spiritual tone for America managed to present Christianity as a rather grim affair:
"Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy."
H. L. Mencken, The Quotations Page
Long before Mencken, Puritans, and the Mayflower, some folks got the idea that tangible, physical, things are evil. The idea caught on, and has been repackaged quite a few times over the centuries. Millennia, actually.

Knowing Stuff; Being 'Spiritual;' and Icky, Sticky, Physical Things

I can see an appeal to believing that knowing stuff, and being really 'spiritual,' is good - not like icky, sticky, physical things. I like knowing stuff, and learning more.

But believing that what can be seen, touched, tasted, are bad because they're physical? That would force me to assume that God is a klutz, and doesn't know good from bad:
"Then God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light.

"God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness."
(Genesis 1:3-4)
"God called the dry land 'the earth,' and the basin of the water he called 'the sea.' God saw how good it was. "
(Genesis 1:10)
I think the idea that there are two eternal, balanced, equally-matched, principles locked in an unending struggle between Good and Evil, could make a really good story. But I don't think it's true.

More to the point, the Church says that's not how it works.
"...Still others have affirmed the existence of two eternal principles, Good and Evil, Light and Darkness, locked in permanent conflict (Dualism, Manichaeism). According to some of these conceptions, the world (at least the physical world) is evil, the product of a fall, and is thus to be rejected or left behind (Gnosticism)...."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 285)

"The truth about creation is so important for all of human life that God in his tenderness wanted to reveal to his People everything that is salutary to know on the subject. Beyond the natural knowledge that every man can have of the Creator,124 God progressively revealed to Israel the mystery of creation. He who chose the patriarchs, who brought Israel out of Egypt, and who by choosing Israel created and formed it, this same God reveals himself as the One to whom belong all the peoples of the earth, and the whole earth itself; he is the One who alone 'made heaven and earth.' 125"
(Catechism, 287)

Genesis and Getting a Grip

America's cultural assumptions about Genesis, the Bible, science, and psychiatric disorders being what they are, I'd better explain that I'm a practicing Catholic.

I don't have to hate science, or believe that the Bible was written by Americans: Or by folks who were as poetically-challenged and literalistic as some of my fellow-citizens.

I take the Bible, Sacred Scripture, very seriously. But I don't refer to the Bible when trouble-shooting my computer, and it's not a science textbook:

Emotions, Faith, and Something Indescribable

Fasting, Confession, penance, and other serious matters, are part of being a Catholic. So is joy. I don't mean a sort of Giggle Gospel, encouraging folks to 'get high on Jesus.'

Not that emotions are bad: but I can't and won't rely on a 'feel-good faith,' and that's another topic. (March 3, 2009)

"Joy" can be a noun or a verb:
  • Noun
    • The emotion of great happiness
    • Something or someone that provides a source of happiness
  • Verb
    • Feel happiness or joy
    • Make glad or happy
    (Princeton's WordNet)
"Joy" is "the emotion of great happiness:" so if I stop feeling "great happiness," I've lost my faith? No, I really don't think so. I've posted about the "dark night of the soul" before. (April 22, 2010)

If this "joy" thing that Christians are supposed to experience isn't just an emotional buzz, how would I describe it? Part of the answer is in the first chapter of Peter:
"Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,

"as you attain the goal of (your) faith, the salvation of your souls."
(Peter 1:8-9)
Knowing that it's "an indescribable and glorious joy" doesn't give me the sort of definite answer I might want: but I've gotten used to the idea that God's God, and I'm not. I don't expect to have all the answers. Not now, anyway.

Joy and Jesus

I converted to Catholicism because it made sense: but there's more to it than that.

I've followed Jesus for as long as I can remember. After I found out who held the authority that my Lord gave Peter, I only had one viable option. (Matthew 16:13-19, John 6:68)

For two millennia, the Catholic Church has been telling folks about Jesus:
"The transmission of the Christian faith consists primarily in proclaiming Jesus Christ in order to lead others to faith in him. From the beginning, the first disciples burned with the desire to proclaim Christ: 'We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.'11 And they invite people of every era to enter into the joy of their communion with Christ:
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing this that our joy may be complete.12"
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 425)

What About All Those Rules?

There's something to the stereotype that the Catholic Church has lots of rules. The Vatican's "Secret Archives," a sort of office library for the Holy See, has about 85 kilometers of shelving now.

The basic principles are simple: Love God, love your neighbor; everybody's your neighbor. (Matthew 5:43-44; Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:29-31; Luke 10:25-27, 29-37; and Catechism of the Catholic Church 1822, 1825)

I think the proliferation of rules and explanations is partly the result of two millennia of folks trying to weasel out of the basic principles, simply stated. (September 26, 2011)

There's an attractive notion that all a person has to do is 'really believe' in Jesus. Yes, belief is important. But so is doing something about it. (James 2:18-20) I never could see the point in believing something: and not acting as if that belief mattered.

This gets me to morality - which sounds an awful lot like what those grim 'oh woe, all ye faithful' folks are so grimly sanctimonious about.

Like I've said before, "morality" isn't just about "morality." Ethical behavior includes what we do about our sexuality: but there's a lot more to being human than sex.

Where was I? Joy, Jesus, rules: right.

"Sing for Joy to the Living God"

By cherry picking in the Catechism, and elsewhere, I could find 'proof' that the Catholic Church only accepts perfect people. We're supposed to work at perfection: but it's a goal, not an entrance requirement.

There's a sort of 'payoff' to being perfect, apparently:
"Moral perfection consists in man's being moved to the good not by his will alone, but also by his sensitive appetite, as in the words of the psalm: 'My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.' 46"
(Catechism, 1770)
Somehow, I don't think I'll find out what that sort of "moral perfection" feels like this week. Or this month, or year - but it's still a good goal.

Meanwhile, I can work at developing virtues: human and otherwise.
"Human virtues are firm attitudes, stable dispositions, habitual perfections of intellect and will that govern our actions, order our passions, and guide our conduct according to reason and faith. They make possible ease, self-mastery, and joy in leading a morally good life. The virtuous man is he who freely practices the good.

"The moral virtues are acquired by human effort. They are the fruit and seed of morally good acts; they dispose all the powers of the human being for communion with divine love."
(Catechism, 1804)
The human virtues are rooted in the theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. (Catechism, 1812-1829)

Joy: Short-Term and Long-Term

My long-term goal is the joy of Heaven. In the short term, I realize that there's no guarantee that I'll have a worry-free life. I follow Jesus: and my Lord went through some rough terrain:
"1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us 2 and persevere in running the race that lies before us

"while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God."
(Hebrews 12:1-2)
I'd just as soon not be tortured and executed for my faith: and don't think it's likely that I will face that.

God, Rain, and Me

On the other hand, I don't expect following Jesus to result in fame, fortune, and a rollicking good time. Although my life has been pretty good.

I've been blessed with good parents, and a mind that's thirsty for knowledge. My wife stood by me through some very rough times. Four of our six children survived birth, and are as wonderfully varied a new generation as I could have hoped for.

Some of what I've experienced isn't obviously good news. I've:
  • Been used as a sort of lab rat
    • Without my parents' knowledge
  • Lived for decades with
    • Undiagnosed
      • Major depression
      • ADHD-inattentive or
        • Asperger syndrome
        • Something else
    • Pain in my hip joints
      • Until getting them swapped out
        • In my '50s
  • Lost a dear friend to suicide
  • Lost two of six children
    • Nearly lost my wife when the second died
I think God's given me lots of opportunities to practice patience and other virtues. Which is just as well, since I'm not a very patient man. Actually, I need improvement in all the virtues.

As nearly as I can tell, God loves all of us. He showers blessings on everyone, pouring sunshine and rain "on the just and the unjust." (Matthew 5:45)

Joy: "At the Heart of the Christian Experience"

Earlier this year, Pope Benedict XVI discussed joy, and reasons for rejoicing:
"...Joy is at the heart of Christian experience. At each World Youth Day we experience immense joy, the joy of communion, the joy of being Christian, the joy of faith. This is one of the marks of these gatherings. We can see the great attraction that joy exercises. In a world of sorrow and anxiety, joy is an important witness to the beauty and reliability of the Christian faith...."

"...A yearning for joy lurks within the heart of every man and woman. Far more than immediate and fleeting feelings of satisfaction, our hearts seek a perfect, full and lasting joy capable of giving 'flavour' to our existence...."
("Message for the 27th World Youth Day," Pope Benedict XVI (March 15, 2012))
There's quite a bit more: I strongly recommend following that link and reading the rest.

Jesus, Joy, and Standing Orders

Here's why my Lord endured torture and death:
"1 2 When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, 'Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,
...
"But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.

"I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.
...
"Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.

"As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.
...
"I made known to them your name and I will make it known, 8 that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.' "
(John 17:1, 13-14, 17-18, 26)
Later, after Jesus stopped being dead, my Lord gave His disciples the standing orders that we're still carrying out:
"11 Then Jesus approached and said to them, 'All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

"Go, therefore, 12 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,

"teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 13 And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.' "
(Matthew 28:18-20)

"Infinite Joy"

I've had a few unpleasant experiences: a stubbed toe; the death of a baby; hurting one way when I moved, and another when I didn't.

But I'm convinced that it is all overwhelmed, lost in an infinite ocean of joy: if I keep my wits about me, remember to look at the 'big picture,' and accept the love of God.

One more excerpt, and I'm done:
"...Whatever brings us true joy, whether the small joys of each day or the greatest joys in life, has its source in God, even if this does not seem immediately obvious. This is because God is a communion of eternal love, he is infinite joy that does not remain closed in on itself, but expands to embrace all whom God loves and who love him...."
("Message for the 27th World Youth Day," Pope Benedict XVI (March 15, 2012))
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Sunday, May 27, 2012

Being Catholic on Memorial Day Weekend


Remember.

It's Memorial Day Weekend here in America. Among other things, this is the unofficial start of the summer vacation season; a time for remembrance, and a patriotic holiday.

Patriotism, Citizenship

According to a dictionary, "patriotic" means "inspired by love for your country." (Princeton's WordNet) I think it's possible to have a rational love of country, one that recognizes the faults and virtues of someone's homeland.

Another sort of 'patriotism,' one that involves hatred of folks who are different, has given the term a bad reputation in some circles. That sort of 'patriotism' is, I think, anything but rational. It's also contrary to what the Catholic Church says.

As a practicing Catholic, I'm not allowed to hate people: any people. It's simply not an option. (December 9, 2010)

On a more positive note, the Catholic Church says that I have to be a good citizen.
"It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2239)
That "submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good" does not mean that Catholics are supposed to blindly follow whatever daft order the nearest leader gives. We've got brains, and are expected to use them. (March 12, 2012)

The '60s, War, and Memorial Day

I spent my teens in the '60s, when quite a few Americans had gotten extremely upset about what was happening in Indochina. A few decades later, magazines for managers and executives used Washington's blunders in Vietnam as an example of why micromanagement is a really bad idea: and that's another topic.

Memorial Day started as a day to remember soldiers who died during the War Between the States/Civil War. The purpose and nature of the holiday has shifted since then, but the military roots remain.

When 'Being Nice' Doesn't Work

It would be nice if war never happened. Sadly, there are some folks who are very not-nice: and sometimes they decide to hurt other people on a grand scale. When that happens, the Church has guidelines for how to respond:
"The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:
  • "the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
  • "all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
  • "there must be serious prospects of success;
  • "the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.
"These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the 'just war' doctrine.

"The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2309)

Building a Better World

Maybe someday there will be a an "international authority with the necessary competence and power" to keep people who want to start wars from acting on that desire. (Catechism, 2308) We don't have that now, so national leaders are responsible for keeping their subjects safe.

Building a world where wars don't happen is going to take a lot of work, but I think it's worth the effort. I plan to be back tomorrow, with another post about making the world better.

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Sunday, June 5, 2011

Compassion, Apathy, and This Catholic

Words like "compassion" and "apathy" took a beating in the America I grew up in. Not literally, of course. As far as I know, nobody took a baseball bat and clobbered a dictionary. The abuse, in my opinion, was in the way they were used.

'Apathy' and Getting a Grip

I spent my teens in the '60s. My nonconformity was more about pocket protectors and white socks than the usual long hair and jeans. On the other hand, I was one of 'those crazy kids' in the sense that I thought that the culture I lived in wasn't perfect. And could be improved. I still do.

Since I didn't conform to the conventional nonconformity of the day, though: I was "apathetic:"
"...Apathy, of course, was anathema to the anguished campus activists of the sixties and seventies. The cultural pressure to care - deeply, passionately, hysterically - led to the slogan 'Apathy is Rampant, But Who Cares?' I still treasure the sight of those words, emblazoned on a bumper sticker. Or maybe it was in a magazine...."
("About the Lemming," Apathetic Lemming of the North)

Screwball Compassion

I think post-WWII America had issues that were long-overdue for attention. As I've said before, I don't want to go back to the 'good old days.'

Two sorts of "compassion" simply didn't make sense to me as a teen, and still don't.

Forced Charity

One sort of warped compassion is a sort of wasteful, arguably destructive, charity. Which apparently made a lot more sense to America's 'serious thinkers' than it did to me.

I've been on both sides of almsgiving, and I have no reason to think that the Catholic Church has the wrong idea. (May 28, 2011, March 30, 2011) (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1434-1439, 1969, 2447)

Helping folks who are in need of material things is a good thing to do. Setting up a system that rewards indolence - not so much, in my opinion. Which isn't the same as thinking that everybody on welfare is a lazy bum and should be kicked down the street.1 (February 18, 2011)

Strange Justice

Then there was the sort of "compassion" that felt sorry for kids who stole a car: and angry at the heartless motorist who 'made' them steal it, by leaving keys in the ignition.

Those are over-simplified examples, but not by all that much.

A Heartless Bleeding-Heart Conservative Liberal??

By some standards, my 'apathy' and lack of 'compassion' brand me as a conservative. And a heartless, hidebound one at that. Which is odd, since by slightly different standards, I'm a liberal of the bleeding-heart variety.

I'm not "moderate," either. I've been over this before:

Apathy, Compassion, and Reality

Let's see what a dictionary says "apathy" and "compassion" mean:
  • Apathy
    • An absence of emotion or enthusiasm
    • The trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally
    (Princeton's WordNet)
  • Compassion
    • A deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
    • The humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it
    (Princeton's WordNet)
One of the synonyms for apathy listed by WordNet is "indifference." I'll get back to that.

Emotions, by the way, aren't good or bad by themselves. I've discussed feelings before.(March 17, 2011, August 5, 2010, February 19, 2009) Much more to the point, the Catechism of the Catholic Church discusses emotions. (Catechism, 1676, 1767, 1768, 1776-1794, 2708)

(Real) Apathy? Not a Good Idea

I haven't found the word "apathy" in the Catechism, but indifference isn't a good idea - it's in a list of things we should avoid:
"One can sin against God's love in various ways:
  • "indifference neglects or refuses to reflect on divine charity; it fails to consider its prevenient goodness and denies its power.
  • "ingratitude fails or refuses to acknowledge divine charity and to return him love for love.
  • "lukewarmness is hesitation or negligence in responding to divine love; it can imply refusal to give oneself over to the prompting of charity.
  • "acedia or spiritual sloth goes so far as to refuse the joy that comes from God and to be repelled by divine goodness.
"hatred of God comes from pride. It is contrary to love of God, whose goodness it denies, and whom it presumes to curse as the one who forbids sins and inflicts punishments."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2094)
("prevenient?!" that means "in anticipation." (Princeton's WordNet))

Granted, that's indifference toward God's love.

We're expected to do what we can to help folks who need help. (Catechism, 2402-2406, for starters)

I'm not covered in shame and remorse about naming that other blog of mine Apathetic Lemming of the North. I've explained the sort of daft "apathy" I had in mind when I named it - and I don't see a problem with not getting swept up by every fashionable crisis that comes along.

(Real) Compassion: Required

Compassion - real compassion, not forcing somebody else to foot the bill for your pet projects - isn't optional for me. I'm Catholic, and there are rules about it. (Catechism, 2843, for one)

As for what justice, Catholic style, involves, here's a place to start reading:
"Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor. Justice toward God is called the 'virtue of religion.' Justice toward men disposes one to respect the rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good. The just man, often mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures, is distinguished by habitual right thinking and the uprightness of his conduct toward his neighbor. 'You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.'68 'Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.'69"
(Catechism, 1807)
That reference to slavery may be shocking. it's from Collossians 4:1: and tells people how to act in a culture that existed about two thousand years ago.

Slavery is a bad idea, by the way, and we shouldn't do it. (Catechism, 2424)2 And that's another topic.

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1 I think I understand the appeal of
  • Forcing someone else to give money to
    • Bureaucrats, who in turn pay
      • Administrators to run
        • Programs that provide
          • Services
          • A marginal income
        • For a select class of folks
          • Based on their
            • Ancestry
            • Economic status
That doesn't mean that I approve.

2 Why didn't Jesus start a Spartacus-style revolution and keep going until blood of the oppressors ran in the street? Questions of morality aside, I think there are practical reasons.

Life isn't the movies. (May 3, 2011) The real Spartacus didn't end well, with the status quo pretty much intact and thousands of his followers dead.

Slavery didn't fall out of favor until almost two millennia later - and is still practiced, sadly.

Today, the Church isn't trying to impose 39th-century ethical and economic systems on the world. We're doing what we've been doing for the last two thousand years - teaching folks to love God and love neighbors. (Matthew 22:36-40)
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Marian Apparition: Champion, Wisconsin

Background:Posts in this blog: In the news:

What's That Doing in a Nice Catholic Blog?

From time to time, a service that I use will display links to - odd - services and retailers.

I block a few of the more obvious dubious advertisers.

For example: psychic anything, numerology, mediums, and related practices are on the no-no list for Catholics. It has to do with the Church's stand on divination. I try to block those ads.

Sometime regrettable advertisements get through, anyway.

Bottom line? What that service displays reflects the local culture's norms, - not Catholic teaching.