This web log is a place to conduct a conversation on the elusive nature or features of listening to and following God’s will. That is, it is concerned with the “how and why” of seeing with Eyes of Faith. Besides the “how and why” it is also about the “what.” What does one see in the world through Eyes of Faith? This component of the weblog is, alas, likely to be the preponderant content for some time. There are fundamental axioms that I propose here for what it means to “see with eyes of faith.” Seeing with eyes of faith is ultimately about viewing the world as a creature of a personal God.

 

 

Dead body, living spirit? [Romans 8:8-17]

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 09:02 — frlarry

The readings for Pentecost Sunday include selections from St. Paul's
Letter to the Romans, chapter 8. For example, we read in
verse 10, "But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because
of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness."

Is the canon of scripture closed?

Thu, 05/16/2013 - 16:18 — frlarry

The question is raised by John Turner at First Things on the Square in " How Does God Still Speak?". I comment as follows:.

It seems to me the question posed here is not as difficult to address as it may seem at first blush.

Topics: 
Issues
Reviews

Mary Eberstadt - "How the West Really Lost God"

Tue, 05/14/2013 - 14:14 — frlarry

The Catholic Encyclopedia cites St. Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologiae II-II, Q 81) in defining the virtue of religion as "a virtue whose purpose is to render God the worship due to Him as the source of all being and the principle of all government of things." When Mary Eberstadt writes about How the West Really Lost God (ISBN-10: 1599473798), she's referring to the decline of the virtue of religion in the general population.  This is common knowledge among people who pay attention to these things.  What is not common knowledge, however, is the root cause of the problem, a root cause that Eberstadt's book brilliantly uncovers.  Immediately, on page 5, she declares:

Topics: 
Reviews

Fellow unravellers

Tue, 04/23/2013 - 10:59 — frlarry

(Please. I beg you. If you don't like puns, for God's sake and for yours, skip this post! Worse, if you love puns but your knowledge of arcane expressions does not extend backwards more than a few decades you will no doubt damage your scalp from head scratching. Don't say I didn't warn you.)

Topics: 
Tongue-in-Cheek

Common sense and the universalizability of human reason

Tue, 04/16/2013 - 21:52 — frlarry

The German Philosopher, Immanuel Kant had some clever things to say (as well as some not so clever things like his distinction between noumena and phenomena and how it relates to free will). One of his cleverer ideas was a kind of moral litmus test he referred to as the "categorical imperative" whose first formulation can be phrased as follows: "Always act according to that maxim whose universality as a law you can at the same time will."

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions for April, 2013

Mon, 04/01/2013 - 01:43 — frlarry

VATICAN CITY, 30 MARCH 2013 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for April is: "That the public, prayerful celebration of faith may give life to the faithful.".

His mission intention is: "That mission churches may be signs and instruments of hope and resurrection.".

BXVI-PRAYER INTENTIONS/VIS 20130330 (70)
Published by VISarchive - , March 30, 2013

 

You can find more information at:  www.vatican.va - www.vis.pcn.net
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Copyright © VIS - Vatican Information Service

In accordance with international regulations on Intellectual Property and Author’s Rights, VIS authorises reproduction of news items issued by the Vatican Information Service, partially or in their entirety, on condition that the source (VIS – Vatican Information Service) is quoted.

  
Topics: 
News

Pope Francis' inaugural homily

Fri, 03/22/2013 - 11:34 — frlarry

At the Pope's inaugural Mass (his first Mass for the public — his actual first Mass as Pope was in the Sistine Chapel with the Cardinals of the conclave) he delivered an important homily on the Solemnity of St. Joseph. See

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-homily-for-inaugural-mass-of-petrine-ministry

Topics: 
Reviews

Vatican matters

Thu, 03/07/2013 - 09:14 — frlarry

Since Pope Benedict's retirement, his official title became Pope Emeritus. We may still refer to him as His Holiness, Benedict XVI.

He still wears a white cassock, but without the papal cape.

Topics: 
News
Orientation
Reflections

What is Modernism, really, and why is it a problem?

Fri, 03/01/2013 - 15:41 — frlarry

It was Blessed Pope Pius IX who first condemned modernism (although, evidently, not by that name, per se) in his "Syllabus of Errors." In ¶ 80, he condemned the proposition that "The Roman Pontiff can, and ought to, reconcile himself, and come to terms with progress, liberalism and modern civilization." Among the ideas the Church was expected to reconcile itself with at the time was the Communism of Karl Marx. By the time of Pius X, the Church was expected to reconcile itself with the Eugenics of Sir Francis Galton.

Topics: 
History
Issues
Reflections

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"What did you go out to the desert to see--a reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine garments? Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously are found in royal palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom scripture says: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.' I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
Jesus, commenting on John the Baptist — Luke 7:24b-28, NAB
If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Jesus commenting on the perennial project of evil to co-opt the good — Matthew 24:23-28, KJV

Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
[Isaiah 1:18-20]

He who has ears to hear, let him hear. But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their playmates, "We piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn." For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He has a demon"; the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.
Jesus comparing how people received him, John the Baptist (and the prophets) — Matt 11:15-19, RSV

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
[Romans 15:1-7]

A good hermeneutic cannot mechanically apply the criteria of inspiration, or absolute truth, in the extrapolation of a sentence or expression. The level on which it is possible to perceive Sacred Scriptures as the Word of God is that of the unity of God's history, a totality in which single elements are reciprocally illuminated and open themselves to understanding.
Pope Benedict XVI message to Cardinal William J. Levada, president of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and the members of that commission. The message was issued on the occasion of the commission's annual plenary assembly, which focused on the theme of "Inspiration and Truth of the Bible," and made public on May 5, 2011.

If I ever do wind up in hell, I suspect my punishment will be to teach math to politicians and journalists. Then again, it might be, instead, locating and fixing all of the grammatical and spelling errors in everything I've ever written. (Myth of Sisyphus, anyone?)
Fr. Larry

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The postings on this Blog are © 2005-2012, Fr. Larry Gearhart. Individual comments are the property of the contributors.

The views expressed on this website are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.

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