The Set-Up

This morning's homilist gave a different take on the woman in Luke 7: 36-50.  This is the story where the woman comes into Simon's house and weeps and weeps, washing Jesus' feet and drying them with her hair.

Where did she come from?
Simon seemed to know her.
Did Simon invite her, hoping to tempt Jesus?
Since Simon didn't offer the usual niceties that a host gives to a guest, then this dinner was a setup.

Simon invited Jesus and the woman, thinking the woman would try to entice Jesus.  Instead, Simon was given a lesson in etiquette and religion.  Simon's response isn't given.

P. C.

The funniest thing that happened at tonight's meeting was how the initials, "P." "C." had a different conceptual image in each group's minds."

To the Dominican friars, "P." "C." meant Providence College.

To the Lay Dominicans, "P." "C." meant Provincial Council.

To my "cloistered brothers," "P." "C." meant "protected custody."

Word War, World War

Word War, World War: To capitulate on pronouns is not an act of charity. It is rather the total surrender of the world, in a word.

What this article in Public Discourse is talking about is how words change the meaning of ideas, little by little.  "A slippery slope, if you will.  So it's not acceptable to kill a child but it is acceptable to eliminate a fetus.  Please click on the link to learn more.  Article written by Alan McLaughlin.

A Never-ending Meditation

I can't stop meditating on this poem by Christina Rossetti.  It's the end of summer.  It's the end of life.  It's the end.

                   Summer is Ended

To think that this meaningless thing was ever a rose,
Scentless, colourless, this!
Will it ever be thus (who knows?)
Thus with our bless,
If we wait till the close?

Though we care not to wait for the end, there comes the end
Sooner, later, at last,
Which nothing can mar, nothing mend:
An end locked fast,
Bent we cannot re-bend.

Cardinal O'Malley Speaks Out on Immigration Crisis

Migrant families seeking asylum walk from a bus depot to a Catholic Charities humanitarian respite center just after being released from federal detention in McAllen, Texas, July 31. CNS photo/Loren Elliott, Reuters

Cardinal O'Malley speaks out on immigration crisis: BOSTON (CNS) -- In an op-ed published in The Boston Globe Sept. 9, Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley called for spirit of "civility and charity" in resolving the question of immigration and said that the country's deep division on the issue has "produced severe human consequences."   Yes, remember this situation involves human lives.  Click on the link to read the rest of this article.

Joe's Story

I'm using my friend, Joe's story as a guest blog post.  I'm hoping it will help a young man I know.

Serving My Country
by
Joe Ewald

When I was in my last year of high school, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do after I graduated. My grades weren’t good enough to go to college so that option was out the door.  So when I went to the local book store, in passing I noticed a sign at a navy recruiting center.  It was enticing  you to join. I went inside to check it out. I talked to the recruiter and between his convincing me with his pitch and me falling in love with the idea, I joined.  At the time, I was only 17, but because it was at the end of the Vietnam War I received a waiver to join at 17 because they needed every man they could get.  Everybody was becoming disenchanted with the supposedly police action.

The day after graduation from high school, I found myself in Great Lakes, Illinois. I caught a flight with two other guys that were going to Boot Camp. Believe it or not, they got me high in the bathroom with smoking a joint.  So when the bus picked me up, I was as high as a kite.  That’s how I started Boot Camp. 

When the buzz started to come down, reality set in.  I was missing my mother big time and I thought I had made a horrible mistake.  I was thinking of a way to get out of basic training like starting a fight or faking an illness but I decided not to do those things as I convinced myself to give it a try. To my surprise, things got better as I went along.  We were allowed to write letters home and receive them back.  This is one of the things that got me through to graduation.

One of the happiest moments I have ever experienced in this life was flying back home on American Airlines United jet.  I had received a two week leave before I had to go to dental technician school, in San Diego.  After my leave, I flew again on a plane to start my training.  School was pretty tough and I was lucky to get A.C. because my grades were average.  After I graduated they assigned me to the Marine Corps for four weeks.  It was like a four week Boot Camp with the so call Grunts. It was definitely tougher than the navy boot camp.  But I somehow made it through.

Most of the training was run, run, run… Besides being tall and skinny, I was able to do that part pretty good. I ran three miles in 21 minutes when all you had to do was 28 minutes.  The obese men had a tough time and were picked on by the drill instructor.  I felt sorry for them because they were crying.  But that is par course for Boot Camp. I myself had found a way to get through Boot Camp due to my ability to run.

After that, I got another two-week leave and it just happened to be Christmas.  Needless to say, it made my heart feel good to just be with my family. After the holidays were over, my duty assignment was to fly to Okinawa, Japan, to start my next journey with the US Marine Corps as a combination dental tech and field corpsman “A Doc,” the nickname the Grunts gave us.

I was at Camp Hanse for 13 months.  The only reason I completed that duty at Camp Hanse was the guys I served with.  They were great. I made a lot of good friends. 

Afterward, I flew home on another leave for a month and an assignment to serve the rest of my active time obligation to the Navy, at Oceanside, California. I was at Camp Pendleton for two years.

San Diego is great. They have one of the best zoos in the world, which everybody already knows. Also, they have a version of Boston Common—Balboa Park. In many ways, my fellow shipmates were awesome all the way through the rest of my active service time. My inactive service was to serve 6 years reserve at the old Weymouth Navy Air Station.

One of the most flattering moments in my life was to receive a wedding invitation from my best friend in San Diego. One of the best memories of my life was what I had serving my three years, then my six years reserves. In hindsight, I would highly recommend to young people that have a hard time deciding what to do after high school is to join the service. It gets you out of your parent’s house. It teaches you discipline and organization. Plus you make friends to have for the rest of your life.

Go Navy!

Reinforcement

There's been a lot  of talk lately about the fact that the majority of Catholics who don't believe in the True Presence in the Eucharist.  The conclusion seems to be the fault lies with poor catechesis.  I disagree.  Nobody  lies to people.  The catechists teach the truth.  I think the fault lies in the fact that that truth is not reinforced.  Do you remember what you learned in school?  I bet the only things you remember were reinforced again and again.

I can't diagram a sentence.  I can't speak Lithuanian.  I don't remember how to play Canasta.  IOW, I was taught these things for one or two years and then gave any of them a thought.  So it is with faith formation, especially when religion isn't reinforced at home.

Actually, I don't even see it being taught in church.  I remember the Mass celebrant telling us to bow our heads during the creed, ONCE.  99% of the people don't.  Ministers of the Eucharist don't bow or reverence the altar in any way when crossing in front of it. 

And the talking before and after Mass!!!!!  And the worst offenders are some priests!!! 

Small gestures to reverence the Eucharist would remind people Who is there.  This would keep God in their thoughts certainly more than He is now.