Scripture and the Sanctity of Life

by Chris Findley, Editor, H2R

In December 1979, a police officer suffered complications from being shot three times. He suffered severe brain damage. Months went by and the officer did not respond to stimuli. The attending physician said there was no hope of him ever regaining consciousness. The agonizing decision was made to turn the respirator off. But to the surprise of everyone, the officer began to breathe on his own. After being placed in a nursing home, two years after the shooting, a physician noticed that when he asked the man to, “Breathe deeply,” he did! The doctor also noticed the policeman would open and shut his eyes. Six years after the shooting, and after much rehabilitation, the officer had recovered 95% of his preinjury intellectual ability. 1

In the spring of 2001 a young college student found out that she was pregnant. She was devastated. The idea of facing her parents and her church was almost overwhelming. This was definitely unplanned and was definitely going to disrupt and perhaps derail her life. A friend of hers offered to pay for her to have an abortion. “No one needs to find out,” they said. “It could all be a memory in a few days.” She considered it and decided firmly against it. It was a courageous and difficult decision. But by that decision she was able to place her child for adoption. She was able to be a part of creating a family for a couple who could not have biological children of their own. Because she saw the sanctity of life, her child had life, and God brought a family together.

As we approach the Jan 22nd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, it is a good time to consider how we approach the very real questions of life and death, particularly abortion. Though this is often debated in the realm of politics, as Catholics the starting point of our contemplation should be our faith. How does our faith impact and direct our moral choices? Catholics are often champions for the unborn and have a strong moral theology of life. And yet many American Christians, Catholic and non-Catholic, do not view life issues as having a primary importance in our society. Sadly, many people have a laissez-faire approach to these important issues. Why then does the Church resist and remain so committed to life? What is the Biblical and traditional foundation for such a passionate conviction?

One of the earliest Christian resources of instruction outside of the Bible is an instructional manual called the Didache. It dates from before 150AD. Its teaching to Christians is clear, “You shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill the one who has been born.”2 In fact one of the most common practices among the pagans in the first century was abortion or abandoning unwanted infants to die by the side of the road. The Christians of that era strongly stood out because they rejected that practice. In the early church Letter to Diognetus the difference is reported this way, “They [The Christians] bear children but they do not destroy their offspring.”3

Of course, sanctity of life covers much more than the issue of abortion. In the case of prematurely ending the life of the elderly, mentally incapacitated, or the infirm the church has always been equally opposed.

The Concept of Life
Defining the terms is crucial in this work. According to the Oxford American Dictionary the word “sanctity” means “the state or quality of being holy, sacred or saintly,” and “being of ultimate importance and inviolability” In short, our investigation of this must begin from the conviction that life itself is holy. Where do we get such a claim?

Life is sacred chiefly because of its source. Acts 17:24-25 says, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth… he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” 4 There are numerous scriptural references to this idea. From cover to cover the Bible and Catholic tradition clearly shows us that life is sacred because God is the one that gives it.

God is the power behind the beginning of life. The psalms tell us that, “Children are a gift from the Lord.”5 Life is a gift from God. You and I are given the great privilege of participating with God in the creation of new life. But sexual relationships alone cannot create a soul. At conception the Lord places an eternal soul into the tiny of body that is developing. Life, and its value comes from the conviction that you and I are more than animals, more than flesh and bone. We are created in the image and likeness of God. We did not give or create life and we have no right to take it away.

More and more, I’m afraid that life is viewed as valuable only if we can assign or discern its value. In our culture, the lives of young and old, are being judged by their utilitarian value. Consider what then Colorado governor Richard D. Lamm said in an 1984 address to the Colorado Health Lawyers Association. He said, “Elderly people who are terminally ill have a duty to die and get out of the way” 6 This is shocking and abhorrent and patently un-Christian. Life is God’s gift.

Advent 4: Mary’s Decision and Ours

by Chris Findley, Editor, H2R

The waiting is almost over. One-half of a very busy week is all that separates us from Christmas day. Only a few more days of morning commutes, perhaps one last trip to the mall and then we can celebrate! This week will be a week of decisions. This week many of us will decide on that final gift, or that final schedule for the holidays. Final decisions will be made (if they haven’t already) about when, where, and what we will eat and when gifts will be opened. We will make many decisions this week about Christmas. But have you ever stopped to think just how many decisions you make in a day or a month? Some of them are big, some are small, but part of living our lives means making decisions. And one of the things we must remember is that our decisions matter.

One observant writer noted, “It may be true that there are two sides to every question, but it is also true that there are two sides to a sheet of flypaper, and it makes a big difference to the fly which side he chooses.” 1

The Advent season has been attempting to draw us in, help us search, to prepare us for the coming of Christ. This time of preparation has had a purpose. We want to be awake and prepared so that we can decide. The word “Advent” means “arrival” and with Jesus’ arrival there always comes decision. With his arrival there comes invitation, an invitation to recognize, an invitation to believe, an invitation to follow. Advent’s goal is for us to be ready to decide how we will respond when Jesus our Lord arrives. The Gospel lesson for this 4th Sunday of Advent centers on Mary’s response to the invitation of God. There is perhaps no better example than Mary to help us move from the anticipation of Advent to the celebration of Christmas.

Mary

Before converting to Catholicism I didn’t pay much attention to the Blessed Virgin. Unfortunately many people don’t have a clue about Mary and don’t quite know what to do with her. Many people think Catholics overemphasize her, so many (especially Protestants) ignore her. Since becoming Catholic, I have come to deeply revere her. I see why the Church holds her up as the model of discipleship for she is the one who said “yes” to God before anyone else. She had a unique role in Salvation History and a role from which we can learn what it looks like to be prepared for Christ’s coming. What should we be pondering as we make our final preparations for Christmas?

Just Plain Stupid….

Today you can read some of what’s happening in England with regards to the celebration of Christmas.  Take note.  Much of the attitude you see there, you see or soon will see here.  Europe is usually a couple of years ahead of the US in adopting the liberal, secularist mindset.  But we’re running close behind them…

So what’s happening?  First, In the Church of England (Anglican) some Christmas Carols have been deemed “oppressive” or “intolerant” and they are being rewritten.    This is the lunacy I’m talking about: “O come let us adore Him” – has been changed in one church to “O come in adoration”, both changes apparently made for fear the original was sexist.”   Oh, please.  Jesus was a baby BOY.

Secondly, it seems that Westminster Abbey can’t decide what religion it should be during the Christmas season, so it is puting up decorations for all of them.  (I can’t make this junk up!)   The Abbey staff has added “Hindu snowmen, a Chinese dragon and a Jewish temple to the lawn where the traditional scene of a baby Jesus, angels, and the three wise men used to be displayed alone.”

It’s Christmas.  That’s CHRIST-MASS.  The celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth.

I’m wondering if the synagogue or the Hindu temple feels compelled to put up a manger scene?

Probably not.  Only Christians seem to be willing to dumb-down and deny their faith on the altar of political correctness.

Merry Whateveryouwannacallit!

I’ll still call it Christmas.  Read the full stories below.

On the changing of the Carols >>>

On Westminster Abbey’s “Nativity Scene” >>>

“Sentire cum Ecclesia” (Thinking with the Church)

Great article from our local Diocesan paper.  Enjoy!

Chris, Editor, H2R

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Bringing your mind into union with the mind of the Church

by Karen Pagan

from The Tennessee Register

Joe, Linda, Bill and Dave are participating in a Why Catholic? faith sharing session. Joe is the small community leader. They are about to discuss the Sharing our Faith questions in their text. Let’s listen in to their conversation.

Joe: The first question we are asked to consider is: “Share your understanding of the mystery of the Trinity. How do I relate to God the Father, to Jesus the Son, or to the Holy Spirit?” (The Profession of Faith – What We Believe, p. 22)

Linda: I don’t relate to the masculine language in that description of the Trinity. I prefer to understand God as Mother, and Jesus as the One who is Sent or the One who Saves. I think that masculine language about God marginalizes women, so I prefer inclusive language and feminine imagery. That’s my understanding of the mystery of the Trinity.

Bill: I don’t relate to God as Trinity. I can’t because it’s a mystery. We as humans can’t understand God. How can we say things about God like, “‘Father’ refers to a person and not simply to modality”? (The Profession of Faith – W hat We Believe, p. 21) How can our limited language and ideas describe an infinite God? Your question, Joe, is: How do I understand the mystery of the Trinity? My answer is: I don’t!

Dave: I relate to Jesus as man rather than to Jesus as God. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but I don’t think he knew it all the time he was on earth. I believe that Jesus had an authentic human experience of life. And Jesus couldn’t have had a genuine experience of the human condition if he was always consciously aware of himself as Almighty God, if his entire life was spent in perfect knowledge of God. Jesus had to have faith in God, like we have, because Jesus was human, like we are. That’s my understanding of the mystery of the Trinity.

Joe: Wow! Wait a minute. You all have expressed three totally different views about the Trinity. According to Linda, we shouldn’t talk about God as a man, according to Dave, we should talk about God as a man, and according to Bill, we really can’t talk about God at all. How can we arrive at any understanding of the Trinity?

Linda: Why should we arrive at a single understanding of the Trinity, Joe? If Dave sees God as masculine, if he relates better to Jesus as a man, I have no quarrel with that. That’s his reality. It’s just not my reality.

Dave: That’s right. And, Joe, if Bill wants to opt out of the whole discussion, he may do that, too. That’s his choice. Bill’s view is true for him, and Linda’s view is true for her. There is no single correct view. All views are equal.

Joe: What! That’s Relativism.

Linda: What’s wrong with that?

Joe: Let me explain. Each of you has stated his or her mind on this question of the Trinity. These three statements are opposed to each other but, you say, none of these three accounts is to be preferred as true over the other two accounts. You all can just agree to disagree, and each may have his or her own view. Do I understand you correctly?

Linda, Bill, and Dave: Yes.

Joe: But we must consider something else. What is the mind of the Church?

Continue Reading >>>

Advent 3: Downsize!

by Chris Findley, Editor, H2R

The other day I went to McDonald’s with my boys. Since we all were hungry I ordered a meal for them and one for me. Then came the question that we all have grown so used to hearing— “Would you like to supersize that?” Not just “Would you like a large order?” Not even “Would you like an extra-large order?” but would you like a “Super-Sized” order? I figured that enough supersized fries would result in a supersized me, so I declined. But it got me to thinking, “What are some other ways that I do ‘supersize’ me?” While I passed on the fries, I realized that there are many ways that I sometimes try to make a larger “me” than I should. I don’t think I’m alone in this temptation either.

In C.S. Lewis’ popular work, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, two characters, Lucy and Edmund, are described as very different people. Lucy is honest, patient, compassionate, and selfless. Edmund is presented, almost from the first page of the book, as spiteful, mean, and very self-centered. Edmund is deceived and tempted by the White Witch to betray his brother and sisters in an old and very simple way. The White Witch offers to supersize his ego. She says:

“I want a nice boy I could bring up as a Prince and who would be King of Narnia when I am gone. While he was Prince he would wear a hold crown and eat Turkish Delight all day long; and you are much the cleverest and handsomest young man I have ever met. I think I would like to make you the Prince- someday when you bring the others to me.”1

She appeals to his ego. She flatters him and pulls all the right strings- strings that trip him up and lead to a major crisis in the book. In some ways Edmund is a type –sort of an example of what trips up almost everyone in one way or another. The temptations that we all face, as varied as they are, are almost always a temptation to place ourselves at the center of the universe. The temptation is to crown ourselves Prince or Princess.

Today, which marks the beginning of the third week of Advent, continues in the vein of weeks one and two by calling us to prepare for the coming of Christ –after all, that was the expressed task of John the Baptist.

John’s Goal is Preparation
The first thing I think we can see is that John’s goal is preparation. When the Priests and Levites come to question John in today’s gospel lesson they say, “What do you have to say for yourself?”  And John the Baptist replies, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord.’” His role is to prepare the way!

Our goal is preparation also isn’t it? Many of us begin preparing our homes for Christmas before the Thanksgiving dinner is cleaned up! Think of all the ways that we prepare for Christmas. We save money to buy presents, we make lists of who to send our Christmas cards to, we shop around for our Christmas tree, we take time to pull out the ornaments and decorate the house. We may hang lights on the porch, buy plane tickets, or plan our trip to see relatives.

Many people put out nativity scenes in their home to represent the birth of Christ. But St. Liguori writing in the 18th century once noted that, “there are few who think of preparing their hearts so that the infant Jesus may be born in them.”2 This is put very well in the lyric of a song by my friend Jennifer Martin:

“Baby born in Bethlehem, Come be born in me again
Since You don’t mind dirty stables, Here’s my heart not fit or able
To receive such majesty, Still You humbly come to me”3

The question that John places before us is “Are we ready for the Christ to come and be born?” Are we preparing our hearts as well as we prepare our homes?

Was Jesus Nice? by Steve Ray

I’ve always enjoyed the witty and thought-provoking work of Steve Ray.  His book Crossing the Tiber was a great help to me in my own conversion.  I use his “In the Footprints of God” videos regularly in my high-school theology classes.  The following article touches on something that could warrant an even larger discussion, the “niceness” of Jesus and Christianity.  The theology of “nice” is only superficially helpful and ultimately harmful.  It’s akin to me allowing my kids to play in traffic, because I value being “nice” over being a loving Father whose chief concern is the welfare of my kids.  Christianity in America is, in large part, obsessed with “nice” and not being truthful.    This not a call in anyway to be a jerk or to be a pig-headed fundametalist unable to garner compassion, spewing insults at those who disagree.  But I think it is a call to be honest, perhaps directly honest when needed and risk the discomfort that my bring.  The late Mike Yaconelli had a great quote along these lines.  He said that the challenge of Christianity today is not so much the issues we see, but the type of Christianity we embrace,  “Christianity is no longer life-changing, it is life-enhancing. Jesus doesn’t change people into wild-eyed radicals anymore; He changes them into nice people.”

Well, here’s to it.  Maybe we need a few more “wild eyed radicals”…Jesus certainly was.

Here’s Steve Ray’s piece on the matter.  Enjoy! (The pic is from his article…lovin it!)

Chris, Editor, H2R

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Was Jesus Nice?

by Steve Ray, from Defenders of the Catholic Faith

I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has said to me. “That was not very Christ-like.” This response usually comes after being honest to the point of making someone upset. The implication is that Jesus was a cuddly little nice guy who was always smiling, always accepting with kind words – in short NICE.

In America we tend to be pretty nice, except maybe if you live in New York City. But in contrast to the rest of the world we tend to be very polite, genteel, gracious and nice. Tour guides in other countries say that Americans are the nicest people. We transpose our niceness onto Jesus and think he was a lot like us.

But does LOVE = NICE?

Of course Jesus was loving. He is God after all and God is love (1 John 4:8). We also know that love does not always equate to NICE. God allowed Paul to have a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble (2 Cor 12:7). Three times Paul prayed for it to be removed. God said NO. God was not acting very American. He certainly wasn’t very nice about it.

Nice is defined primarily as “pleasant or commendable, kind or friendly” (Collins English Dictionary). It originally comes from the Latin meaning “simple, silly or ignorant.”

There is such a thing as “tough love.” It is the kind of love that cares enough to be honest, to confront, to discipline, to cause temporary pain to bring about eternal glory. On the surface “tough love” does not always appear to be nice. How often has a child, sent to the corner blurt out “You are not very nice!”

Was Jesus nice?

Like Aslan the Lion in C. S. Lewis’ Narnia series, Jesus is approachable and loving, but don’t ever consider him “tame” or too cuddly. Jesus is God as well as man. He expressed the wrath and anger of God as well as the mercy and love of God.

Imagine coming to the Temple in Jerusalem one day to pray. You hear a great commotion and run over to see an angry man throwing over tables, grabbing the money from the merchants and throwing the money on the ground.

But worse, you see him make a scourge of cords – a whip – and striking people with it. You are shocked that anyone would be so rude and destructive, so inconsiderate and mean to lash people with a whip. People ran in fear! Everyone was upset. Jesus was red in the face and scowling. It certainly wasn’t very “Christ-like.” How nice was that?

Jesus was always loving, but he was not always nice, as we Americans count niceness. Here is just one example. Jesus spoke very harshly to his fellow Jews.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. . . . You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? (Matthew 23:27, 28, 33).

Ouch! Doesn’t sound very kind and courteous: not very thoughtful or nice!

So, maybe there is more to WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) than we’ve been led to believe. Maybe we shouldn’t worry so much about being nice, being liked, acting like genteel Americans. Maybe we ought to be more honest and forthright about the things that really matter. Maybe we should be more willing to hurt some feelings, step on some toes, show tough love to those in sin.

Maybe we should be more Christ-like.

Advent 2: Prepare!

by Chris Findley, Editor, H2R

A story is told that, several centuries ago, a Japanese emperor commissioned an artist to paint a bird. A number of months passed, then several years, and still no painting was brought to the palace. Finally the emperor became so exasperated that he went to the artist’s home to demand an explanation. Instead of making excuses, the artist placed a blank canvas on the easel. In less than an hour, he completed a painting that was to become a brilliant masterpiece. When the emperor asked the reason for the delay, the artist showed him armloads of drawings of feathers, wings, heads, and feet. Then he explained that all of this research and study had been necessary before he could complete the painting.¹

Our responsibility in Advent is a lot like that. On Christmas the painting is revealed. In Advent, we do all we can to be ready for the picture God wants to paint in and for us. Today’s Mass reading from 2 Peter can be a great help in learning what kind of preparation we should be aiming for this Advent.

“Without spot or blemish, and at peace.” (vs 14)

Both 1 Peter and 2 Peter are concerned with not only what to believe, but how we should live. This passage is near the end of Peter’s second letter which was written near the end of his life. It has a very pastoral focus and concern. Peter encourages the Christians to keep an Advent mindset by waiting and watching. As they do this, he instructs them (and us) to strive to keep obedience to God at the forefront of their lives. Look at verse 14, “Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” (ESV)

You see, as we wait, Peter says to strive or “be diligent” for what? To be without spot or blemish.

Motivated by the Lord’s promise to come to us, we are called to prepare by cleaning house in our souls. Peter is making a reference here to the Old Testament. Any sacrifice to the Lord was required to be without spot or blemish. It was to be perfect. In the end, only Jesus fulfills that command perfectly. But an often overlooked point is that you and I, by virtue of our Baptism are dedicated to the Lord as well. So, Peter reminds us that, while we are in this in-between time in this life, we are to strive for the perfection God requires. To the best of our ability, the deepest of our prayers, should be to truly do what God wants and asks of us. One of the most distressing things for me is to here Catholics who know what to do, flatly refuse to obey. When I hear people say, “I know what the Bible says…I know what the Church teaches but I’m going to do what I want to do.” I shudder. It’s like hearing an echo of Eden. It is exactly what Adam and Eve did and it did not work out so well for them! Peter calls for obedience and discipline. He challenges us to quit playing at following Jesus and follow him radically and without reserve. We are to strive to the best of our ability for the perfection we are called to. And do you see what is tied to that? Peace! Obedience is not a path to a kill-joy life. It is not an aimless road into Victorian restraint. Obedience to our Lord leads to peace…the peace that passes understanding. If your soul feels tossed about and uneasy and full of dis-ease, then heed Peter’s call: “be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish”

Practical Evangelism Part II: Live it!

By Chris Findley

Any discussion of evangelism usually comes to the question of action: “What should I do?” Quite often these discussions center on how to move a conversation to spiritual things or how to tactfully bring someone to Mass or how to pass out material in a non-threatening way. These actions, when done in the right way, are certainly helpful. But they are secondary. The opportunity to have spiritual conversations, or to invite someone to Mass, or pass along a relevant book will come seldom, if at all, if we are not living our faith ourselves. But this does not mean that we have to wait until we arrive at some level of holiness before we have the ability to act. If so, I wouldn’t be writing and none of us would ever do anything! No, to live our faith to the best of our ability is a pre-requisite because we simply cannot share what we do not have. If our relationship with our Lord is strained or broken, our Mass attendance and devotion weak, or our conviction about truth of the Church diminished, then our attempts at evangelization will be stunted and our effectiveness hampered.

On the other hand, when you are actively engaged in your faith, regular in prayer and Mass attendance, and intentional about diving into spiritual reading, you are laying the foundation for much more effective evangelization. Why? Because you truly know who it is you are talking about when you speak and act on your faith. This gives you credibility through authenticity. So live it!

Evangelism techniques have come and gone through the years. Many of them worked well at certain points in history. But techniques and presentations are constantly changing to suit the changing demands culture. Most of these methods are based in modern rationalism and seek to explain the faith in the ways that people are thinking. Our Protestant neighbors have often excelled in actively seeking to engage the culture.

But there is something, one thing, that has been effective since the days of the first apostles right down to the present. It is the power of example. It is the power of a devoted Catholic Christian unflinchingly living out their faith right in the midst of daily life. They say their prayers, pray their rosary and read their Bibles. They faithfully live out the church’s teaching, difficult or not. They make progress and stumble. The fall down and get back up. They simply live their faith and those around them notice.

Fr. Edward Garesche noted, “There is an argument stronger than any logic –a way of preaching that is open to everyone and to which no living soul can choose but listen: the argument of a steadfast good example, of a consistent living up to our Catholic principles and our Catholic beliefs.”1

You may not feel gifted in persuasion in one-on-one evangelism, in making direct invitations or passing books out, but you can be a witness with your life. You can, by your life, speak more persuasively than any argument could.

The principle is this: A Catholic Christian lifestyle is contagious when lived authentically.