Category: Connecting Dots

 

Forgave enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Fulfilled outcome for repentance: “You will be with Me in Paradise”

Took care of mother: “Woman, behold your son!”

The Gates of Heaven are opened: “It is finished!”

A lot of ink, and, nowadays, a lot of electrons, have been used debating the use of the phrase “for many” vs. “for all” in the consecration portion of Holy Mass. No use of any long argument here for one over the other. “And the scribes and the Pharisees, seeing that he ate with publicans and sinners, said to his disciples: Why doth your master eat and drink with publicans and sinners? [17] Jesus hearing this, saith to them: They that are well have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. For I came not to call the just, but sinners.” (St. Mark, 2:16, Douay-Rheims).

One can speculate endlessly about what might have been going through St. Peter’s mind after the Crucifixion. What seems certain is that he decided that the only sensible thing for him to do now was to return to his career – “I’m going fishing”. Little did he know the irony of his statement for very shortly thereafter the Lord would set him “fishing” for the souls of men.

There were no humans in heaven prior to the death of Jesus Christ which was necessary to atone for the sin of the first parents and all of mankind’s sins till the end of time. With Jesus’ death, the great redemptive force was unleashed (” and He descended into Hell” – there is a quite thorough explanation of this mystery at https://catholicexchange.com/meaning-behind-descended-hell ). Imagine the joy of Heaven when the many who waited, without pain of any kind, for the great moment when they would populate Heaven.

And speaking about humans in heaven, it is often said we don’t know if anyone is in Heaven. That is largely true but today’s gospel certainly lets us know of a few that are (now) in Heaven:

“And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the kingdom of God… “Luke 13:22-3

For those who will wail something about misogyny miss the point that Israel routinely mistreated her prophets and that this is a pointed comment from Jesus making clear that false prophets and those who igorned God’s word through the prophets are not likely heavenly residents.

Yesterday (June 16, 2019) was both Trinity Sunday and Father’s Day! There are a number of ways that the revealed truth of the Trinity, Three Persons in One, has been shown. I’ve my own favorite and here it is. This proof comes in two parts. Part I: “Do you not believe, that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not of myself. But the Father who abideth in me, he doth the works.” [John 14:10] and Part II: “When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” [John 20:22] (Quotes from Douay-Rheims Bible). Putting these two together clearly shows The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit are One Being having Three Persons.

There is much controversy regarding The Shroud of Turin. Is it an impression, even “photograph” of Jesus? Or is it of someone else? Whoever’s image it represents, it’s still on something material. And that material is subject to loss; witness the damage done by a fire that caused holes to be burnt in the cloth. Thus, it appears NOT to be indestructible. But does any of this matter? Assume it is an image of Jesus. Assume, as some think, it is even the moment of the beginning of His Resurrection. Will this convert anyone? Will not those who don’t believe dismiss it, find reasons why it can’t be? It’s highly improbable they would consider it an opportunity to believe. Will not those who think Jesus was a great prophet or great historical figure or great anything but God change their minds? Will not simply only the faithful be inspired, even awed? No, it doesn’t matter because what matters is the event of the Resurrection. That is the important thing and it IS indestructible!

Pray for leadership of the Democratic Party for they are being led by the Father of Lies and are misleading many.

Hollywood can hardly be called a sanctuary for honesty but it is a definite sanctuary for hypocrisy. Actually, it’s not just Hollywood but the entire film making industry that represents the quintessential embodiment of hypocrisy. Check out any discussion, history of, talk about, etc. re film making and you will find two recurring ideas: 1) YOU, filmmaker, can be an agent of change. 2) In order to be an agent of change, you must challenge “existing norms”. And therein lies the problem.

Turns out “existing norms” is a euphemism for certain existing moral norms. This, of itself, is not necessarily bad thing. However, when combined with the selectivity exercised by the film industry in what “existing norms” should be challenged, it is not only a bad thing but quintessentially hypocritical. A simple but glaring example: Dinesh D’Souza’s documentary 2016: Obama’s America received virtually no support while Michael Moore’s Capitalism: A Love Story was well promoted. (The good news is despite this, the public voted with their dollars on both these movies. The bad news is that the film making industry doesn’t care.) A single example obviously doesn’t convey the pervasiveness of the liberal bias but you already know that. The point is, film schools follow this dictum and so virtually every budding filmmaker out there is going to “change the world” according to liberal dictums. Any other change is, well, a non event. The film making industry doesn’t REALLY want counter-cultural movies unless they are the “right”, er, left counter culture.

…to consider yourself a rational person and vote Democratic. Prime example: Andrew Cuomo recently signed into “law” the “right” to kill babies moments before birth. No rational person can argue that there is only a “clump of cells” or whatever other characterization/rationalization that allows a non-baby moments before birth but a real baby because of birth. This single event is so momentous that even should the Democratic Party be “perfect” in all other respects, no rational person can vote for a party that advocates murder.