Articles Archives - Page 16 of 26

Why I Don’t Want to Go to the Rose Parade this Year, But Will Anyway

Since I moved to California five years ago with my wife, we have been to the Rose Parade every year. It's a great experience and I can't deny that it is fun. This year, and every year, I hoped would be my last time going, but it seems every year when the time comes around for the parade my wife "convinces" me that we're going. I make it clear that I don't want to go, but I go anyway.

Articles

Finding Faith, Hope, and Love in the Face of Doubt, Hate, and Despair

The times we live in can be rightly described as dark and difficult. Amidst the recent events of these past few weeks, there is no doubt that we face many struggles. But I believe that there is always hope. We must not fall into despair. For Jesus Christ brought light into the world and that light can never be extinguished.

Articles

How the Prayers of a Homeless Man Changed Me Forever

Last week I made one of what seem like daily trips to the dollar store to pick up something we needed at home and on my way in I heard a homeless man—one who I had encountered before—with his scraggly beard, yet surprisingly friendly disposition ask a passerby if they would buy him something, anything to eat as they made their way inside. I didn't hear how or if they responded, but I felt deep within my soul a call, the Spirit moving me to act. Sadly, I haven't been one to show much compassion for the homeless.

Articles

Staying in Touch with God Amidst a Busy Work Day

Work is is not only essential for survival, but it's important for the dignity of the human person. Unfortunately, we can often become absorbed in our work and think that it is our primary purpose in life. Prayer—that intimate union with God—is what keeps you fully alive. God must always come first and if your work is keeping you from God, then something has to be done. You don't have to quit your job, that would be counter intuitive. What you do need to do is to make room for God in your busy day.

Articles

The Power of Sharing Your Story

We all have a story. Some good and some not so good. Some of them are painful to hear and emotionally powerful. Others are transformative and inspirational. Many people don't realize the power of sharing their story.

Articles

What is Keeping You from an Intimate Relationship with God

Every person is called to an intimate relationship with God. God is love and wants to share His love. He never stops drawing us to Himself, to deeper union with Him. The problem that many of us face is that we put other things in the way of our relationship with God. We prevent ourselves from receiving that love, from that intimacy. What is keeping you from that intimate relationship with God? And how can this Advent season help you to reclaim it?

Articles

Five Ways to Prepare Yourself for Sunday Mass

The Mass is a big deal for Catholics, in fact, it's central to our practice of the faith. So it becomes an issue when many Catholics say that they don't get anything out of the Mass or that Mass is boring. I would venture to say that the reason these people don't get anything out of the Mass is that they are going to Mass unprepared. Here's my list of five things you can do to prepare yourself for Sunday Mass.

Articles

How Will this Advent Help You to Become a Saint?

Sounds like a silly question that pokes fun at you more than it causes you to reflect, but the idea isn't so far fetched. The purpose of the Advent season is to recommit, renew, and reconnect with Jesus who comes into our hearts in a more profound way on Christmas. So as you journey through these next three weeks of Advent how will you grow in holiness, personal sanctity, and become a saint?

Articles

The Problem with Pointing Fingers at the Church

The Catholic Church is—and has been in almost every age—a victim of attacks on spiritual, theological, philosophical, political, and moral fronts. Often it is it's own members who are critics, and even though they mean well—hoping for positive growth and aspirations on it's behalf—they bring her down when they could and should be the ones to build her up. Interestingly enough the Church is still around after nearly 2000 years which is proof to me that she's not going anywhere. Let me tell you why I think it's a bad idea to point fingers at the Church.

Articles

How the Next Four Years Will Benefit the Church

The outcome of the presidential election has left some Catholics with despair, the end of the world as they know it. Those who fear the attack on religious freedom, the promotion of same-sex marriage, and the aggressive efforts of the Obama administration to provide abortion, sterilization, and birth control for free to all, even minors, is a cause for mourning, but in this difficult time I also see the light of hope. Let me explain how I believe these next four years will benefit the Church.

Articles

Taking Your Baptism for Granted

Baptism is more than a meaningless ritual and many Catholics who were baptized as infants take for granted that which they have received through their baptism. This weekend God provided me an opportunity to revisit, reflect on, and renew the vows that I made at my baptism and I want to share a brief reflection on these vows with you.

Articles

How to Pray with the Bible Using Lectio Divina

In order to nourish our Faith so that it is strong for the issues that we face in life, it is necessary that we incorporate or truly make our own the practice of prayer, study, and suffering. The last piece that I offered was entitled: The Year of Faith – Reflections on the Second Vatican Council. The piece considered the Council document on Revelation. In the final paragraph of that article, I mentioned a favorite prayer form of mine known as Lectio Divina, which I will explain further here.