16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Submitted by frlarry on Thu, 07/26/2018 - 10:26
Topics
History
Issues
Reflections

Jeremiah was a prophet of the Kingdom of Judah, prior to, during and after the conquest by the Babylonians. He was, so to speak, a "gadfly on the wall" as great tragic events swirled around him, events that were inevitable as the people, especially their leaders, abandoned faith in the Living God. Instead, they sought refuge in all the wrong places. Their leaders even fled to Egypt to escape the Chaldeans (whose capital was Babylon)… Yet, their alliance with Egypt proved fruitless.

What is Fascism, really, and why is it regarded as "right wing"?

Submitted by frlarry on Thu, 07/05/2018 - 09:44
Topics
History
Issues
Reflections
I find it puzzling that serious intellectuals can find it so difficult to recognize that fascism has nothing to do with either conservatism or liberalism. Indeed, calling it extreme right-wing shows a fundamental ignorance of the fact that political ideology is inherently a multi-dimensional phenomenon. A more accurate assessment would be that fascism is not even on the same multi-dimensional axis as liberalism vs. conservatism. Indeed, fascism is a form of idolatry, it worships the power of the state, and finds that power to be the highest good.

"Sleepers, awake!"

Submitted by frlarry on Sun, 04/01/2018 - 11:31

On Holy Thursday night, when Christ instituted the Eucharist and gave his disciples a profound example of servant leadership, he shared with them the definitive message of hope…

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

What is gossip, really?

Submitted by frlarry on Fri, 03/23/2018 - 06:01
Topics
Reflections

I've been looking for the word "gossip" in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I can't find it there, even though I've used an advanced Google search technique (i.e., I used "site:")! I suspect it isn't used there because it's too imprecise and doesn't get specifically at an issue.

Pope Francis, has used the term a number of times in his homilies, however, and even used the expression "the terrorism of gossip".

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

Submitted by frlarry on Mon, 02/19/2018 - 10:32
Topics
Issues
Reflections

God taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Do we really understand what this entails?

Let's start with today's first reading, from Leviticus, chapter 19 (verses 1-2, 11-18). Here we find the injunction…

The LORD said to Moses,
"Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them:
Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

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