Modern western culture has a permissive attitude towards living out sexual desire between adults: if you are an adult who wants to have sex, and one’s adult partner is willing, then western society generally says you can, and even should,…
Jesus and Sexual Desire
A Gold Medal in Blasphemy
A few days ago, the 2024 Summer Olympics began in Paris, France. To the shock and disgust of Christians around the world, it began with a recreation of The Last Supper. But this time Christ was replaced by a woman…
The Eucharist: Adventures in Space and Time
Allow me to offer a small reflection on the Eucharist. Often when I receive Communion, I reflect on the connection that this creates between all Catholics in the world. When I was a child, my pastor explained the Eucharist in…
New Evangelizers Post: Jesus and the Rich Man Part 3
Peter then states that, “We have given up everything and followed you.” (Mk 10: 28) In Matthew’s Gospel, this statement is followed up with, “What shall we have, therefore?”(Mt 19:21) This question appears to be implied from this statement of…
Meaning
Life in the modern world can be difficult. While reality is what it is, that doesn’t mean it is always easy. Sometimes our difficulties living in the world seem insurmountable, so much so that we sometimes find that we simply…
Jesus and the Rich Man Part 2
“At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.” (Mk 10:22) This story is a foil to the discipleship calls found earlier in the Gospel. In Mark 1, Peter, Andrew, James, and John…
Jesus and the Rich Man Part 1
Mark 10:17-31 tells the story of the Rich Man and Christ’s teaching on wealth. The story begins with the transitional phrase, “As He was setting out on a journey…” (Mk 10:17). This acts as a separating phrase that distinguishes this…
Belief and Mercy
The Gospels speak often of how belief in Jesus is needed for a person to be saved. For example, consider John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should…
Theology and the Magisterium
A little while ago, the CDF released a document, Donum Veritatis, which addresses primarily theologians and the magisterium and how the two interact. The magisterum is the teaching authority of the Church, which is given to the pope and the…
Mercy
We are not really OK, and we know it. Even the great apostle Paul writes, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”[Romans 7:15] Is…