Catholic Church – Page 40 – deacon rudy's notes

February 12, 2020February 6, 2020

ATC 4 What’s in a Name

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You are not to take the name of the Lord your God in vain. For the Lord your God will not aquit those who take his name in vain, (Exodus 20:7), (British spelling).

You’re listening to All Things Catholic.

I’d like to thank you for joining me today. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal and I’m so glad you found us! Together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic. Today we’re going to discuss taking the Lord’s name in vain – why does this happen, why it is wrong and what you can do about it.

I’m just coming off a pilgrimage to Lourdes with a fine group of people living in Switzerland and in the UK. I want you to know that I remembered all the prayer intentions I received, and I also prayed for you – each and every listener of All Things Catholic and the weekend edition of deacon rudy’s notes. Hey, that sounds catchy, doesn’t it?

Look, Scripture tells is it’s wrong – period. But that hasn’t seemed to stop people or our culture from doing it. We see people taking the Lord’s name in vain in movies and TV/online streaming programs. I would suggest that it’s almost mainstream. Full confession – I’ve done it myself. So, what’s going on here? What really is the problem with it?

I think we need to consider what conversion is all about. Nothing external to us can cause us to convert – at least not in an authentic way. We can be exposed to the Truth and hopefully that resonates with something within us – the seeds of God’s law written on our hearts, (see Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:15, Hebrews 10:16). But God will never force himself on us. Yes, there is a lot at stake, but our conversion has to be a free response to the unmerited, undeserved love of God.

Jesus says as much in the Gospel. In the daily readings for last Thursday from Mark, Jesus sent the twelve out two by two and he told them, “Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them,” (Mark 6:11). Jesus doesn’t tell them to force them to listen.

When people take the Lord’s name in vain, nothing seems to happen, right? Lightning doesn’t strike where they stand. Locusts don’t descend upon them. There are not visible or immediate consequences, so, taking the Lord’s name in vain might seem harmless. But here’s the problem, it erodes our relationship with God. It eats away at the fruits of our conversion. It affects our mindset and slowly, God and the church become less and less important in our lives.

Don’t believe me?

There a lot of advice out there about ways to positively affect our mind to yield some desired outcome. Heck, that’s at the heart of the current mindfulness fad, isn’t it?

If you walk around thinking angry thoughts or thinking stressful things, then you will feel angry or stressed. If you dress professionally you will feel more confident. If you visualize yourself as thinner or wealthier or more successful, then you are more apt to realize weight loss, wealth and success. I’m sure you can think of many more examples. It’s important then to safeguard the way we think about God.

But our relationship can also suffer in other ways. It’s like when you’re married or in a committed relationship of some kind. If your spouse or significant other unknowingly says or does something that belittles you or takes you for granted, it can bother you regardless whether they mean to hurt you or not. For example, if someone sneezes, and your spouse always says, “God bless you,” maybe they go out of their way to tell total strangers that, but when you sneeze – silence.

It’s a small thing, but it can make you feel invisible. And if it makes you feel invisible and you do nothing about it, then it will affect the way you look at them. Gradually, the relationship gets colder until one day perhaps far in the future, the relationship ends.

Taking the Lord’s name in vain is very much like this. Slowly, it can erode our relationship with God. And that may be what’s taking place in someone else who takes the Lord’s name in vain. They could be slowly distancing themselves from God, through ignorance, unintentionally or intentionally because of some deep-seated wound. What should we do about it? How should we handle it?

I would suggest the first thing we can do is silently pray to ourselves. Sr. Mary of St. Peter had a vision of the Lord who told her to pray, “May the Holy Name of God be blessed. Begone Satan,” every time she heard someone take the Lord’s name in vain. That’s a simple, short and effective prayer to use in these situations. So, prayer is a good place to start.

I also think it is appropriate to share your concerns with the other person privately (never reprimand anyone in front of other people). Tell the person privately that when they use the Lord’s name in vain it truly offends us. Yes, this might draw a variety of reactions from the individual but being clear and direct can often solve a problem quickly. It also might open an opportunity for evangelization with the other person.

There are some, however, who have no desire or patience to hear what you have to say. Maybe they are angry with God for some reason or maybe they are unbelievers. But speaking with them privately might set things into motion. It might open some doors. Ultimately, we must remember that we don’t need to personally witness the other person’s conversion or repentance. Our task is to plant seeds, get out of the way and allow the Holy Spirit to nurture the seedlings of faith.

How can we repair our relationship with God if we’ve taken the Lord’s name in vain? I think it’s important to bring this to confession since it violates a commandment. This is a great opportunity for healing and inner conversion.

How can we help someone else who takes the Lord’s name in vain and won’t stop doing it? We need to pray for that person, and we need to shine the light of Christ by the way we live our lives as authentic Christian disciples. But doing nothing is not an option for the disciple. Like those sent before us, we must try.

What do you think? Post a comment on the website, www.deaconrudysnotes.org, and let’s see what everyone has to say on this topic.

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal and next time on All Things Catholic, as we prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the 5th anniversary of Laudato Si’, we’re going to talk about what it means to be a Christian living in right relation with God and his creation.

You’re listening to All Things Catholic.

This episode was produced by deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join us again on our next episode and until then, peace!

References:

The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

Catechism Links: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

The Second Commandment, 2142-2167

Resources:

The Defenders of the Holy Name of God http://www.holyfacedevotion.com/index.htm
The Holy Face https://theholyface.com/

February 5, 2020February 5, 2020

ATC 3 The Public Square

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www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

G.K. Chesterton said, “Right is Right even if nobody does it. Wrong is wrong even if everybody is wrong about it.”

You’re listening to All Things Catholic. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic. We’ve talked about authority and obedience, and now with the election season in full swing in the United States, I think we need to talk a little about the public square.

What is the public square? The public square is where all the facets of community life come together – where we exchange news, information and ideas. This is the heart of the community where we engage the full spectrum of community life from art to religion to politics and public policy. I hope that broad description helps explain what I mean by the public square.

Does the Church have a place in the pubic square? Yes, absolutely – both the institution represented by our bishops, and by each and every one of us, both clergy and lay. As Bishop Olmstead wrote, “…it is our duty to engage the culture, not run from it,” (Olmstead, #30). As disciples who are supposed to go out into the world, we have to engage culture in order to evangelize it, as Bishop Robert Barron so often talks about, (Barron, 1).

By engaging in public dialogue, we are not trying to impose our morality on anyone. Practicing what we believe in our everyday life – at home, at work, among our friends and in politics – is an example of living with integrity. It’s an example that we walk the walk.

And it’s healthy for democracy for a wide variety of ideas to be exchanged. It’s good for society when we are all, Catholics included, involved in the democratic process, (Olmstead, #12). But here’s the distinction, I think, about Catholic involvement in public policy debates or politics. Being Catholic is not a private affair. You don’t just wake up one day as an unbaptized person and announce that you are now Catholic. Your sense of church cannot be limited to enjoying a cup of coffee on your back porch and watching the sun rise. No, this isn’t about a privatized faith. Being Catholic means that we are part of a community of believers in Christ Jesus. Situated in the community of believers, we engage society.

What should the Church’s role be in this public dialogue?

Well, as the Second Vatican Council suggests, we begin with our fundamental belief that we are all created by God’s love in His image and likeness, and that we are constantly preserved by God’s love, (Gaudium et Spes, 19). Human dignity then is intrinsic to all human beings.

As Bishop Olmstead points out, “the Church intervenes by making a moral judgment about economic and social matters when the fundamental rights of the person, the common good, or the salvation of souls requires it,” (Olmstead, #11; CCC #2420; GS 76 §5). It’s really outside the Church’s per view to comment on every single thing that governments at all levels – local, regional, national, global – do. Rather, the Church will focus on key issues that infringe on or undermine human dignity or the common good.

Is the goal of the Church to change public policy? No, that is not necessarily the case. Pope Benedict wrote, “It is not the Church’s responsibility to make this teaching prevail in political life. Rather, the Church wishes to help form consciences…and to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act…” (Deus Caritas Est, 28). So, while there are undoubtedly things the Church would like to change in our society, one of its primary roles as expressed through our bishops is to teach from our understanding of our shared human dignity and common morality, and thus to evangelize the general public.

While it’s not necessary for the Church to weigh-in on all the issues that confront government, we should. For those of us citizens and taxpayers living in democracies, we have a duty and a responsibility to be educated and informed about what’s going on at all levels of government. Being a good citizen doesn’t mean simply relishing in our rights. Being a citizen means understanding that our rights have corresponding responsibilities.

Can Catholics disagree with the Church and are all issues equal?

God does not see “left” and “right”, “liberal” or “conservative”, (Gomez, Foreward). He just sees us and the world he created. God loves diversity and perhaps inherent in his design is a plethora of ideas and perspectives. This means that all issues are not equal. Catholics do not need to agree with each other (or their bishops or priests) on every point nor do we need to move in lockstep with each other.

Catholics do not need to agree on a host of issues, like education, taxation, welfare reform, or illegal immigration, etc. While we are called to strive to understand the spirit of any Church law or teaching or disciplinary action which does not lead to sin, not all Church teachings are equal, (Gaillardetz, 126). We may, for example, agree on the Church’s teaching about the preferential option for the poor, but we may all come to different understandings about the best public policy application, (Olmstead, #16).

There is one caveat – actually it’s a showstopper. The Church teaches that Catholics (really, all Christians), should never support an issue, initiative or law that is intrinsically evil, (Olmstead, #14). What does that mean? A moral act that can never result in good, no matter the circumstances is intrinsically evil. In other words, the ends cannot justify the means.

Look, if the ends justify the means, then we’d all see Thanos as the hero in the Marvel movies Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. In the movies, Thanos believes that a balanced world order is a good thing – a moral imperative. Murdering 50% of the population to accomplish that goal doesn’t matter to him.

As Catholics – as Christians – we are called to resist the temptation to believe that the ends justify the means. That means that we can never support or promote any government policy or law that attacks human life. So, abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment are non-negotiables for Catholics.

Whew, all of this can be a bit overwhelming, right? I know that life is hectic and when we’re done for the day, we just want to relax. But being a good citizen requires some effort on our part. Emotionally, we need to participate in the love God has for the world. Intellectually, we should constantly form and inform our consciences as we strive to understand what the Church teaches about life in Christ in the light of Scripture and Tradition. Practically, as Christians and as citizens, we need to resist the hedonistic and mediocre culture in which we find ourselves and do our part to make this world a better place. John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country,” (Kennedy, Inaugural Speech).

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal and next time on All Things Catholic we’re going to talk about the Lord’s name – what does it mean to take the Lord’s name in vain, what’s really going on and what you can do about it.

You’re listening to All Things Catholic.

References:

Barron, Robert. “Welcome Letter.” Evangelization & Culture, Autumn 2019.
Benedict, Deus Caritas Est. 25 December 2005. Libreria Editrice Vaticana, http://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est.html.
Gaillardetz, Richard R. By What Authority? A Primer on Scripture, the Magisterium, and the Sense of the Faithful. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2003.
Gomez, José H. Foreword to Catholics in the Public Square, rev. 4th Edition, by Thomas J. Olmstead. Charlotte, NC: Saint Benedict Press, 2016.
Kenney, John F. “Inaugural Address.” 20 January 1961. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/historic-speeches/inaugural-address.
Olmstead, Thomas J. Catholics in the Public Square. Revised, 4th Edition. Charlotte, NC: Saint Benedict Press, 2016.
Second Vatican Council. Gaudium et Spes. 7 December 1965. Vatican Archive, http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html.

Catechism Links: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Social doctrine of the Church, 2419-2425

February 2, 2020February 2, 2020

Presentation of the Lord

drawing of a baby being held in two hands

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Mass Readings

First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Responsorial: Psalm 24:7-10
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020220.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Today we celebrate the presentation of the Lord. There are so many interesting things about today’s readings as a whole. Truly the interconnectedness among Malachi, the Psalm, Hebrews and Luke is fascinating. Even taken individually, each of the readings has so much meaning. And today’s Gospel has greatly influenced the life of the Church. For example, Luke’s description of Jesus as the light for the nations has inspired candlelight processions before mass, what we call Candlemas. And Simeon’s song of praise in the Gospel that begins, “Lord, now you let your servant go in peace …” that song of praise is prayed by the Church in Night Prayer every night, “…so that like Simeon, the faithful may end their days and their lives in God’s peace.” <1> Night Prayer is part of the Liturgy of the Hours or the Daily Office.

Ok, so my point is that there’s a lot of ground for you to explore on you own. But for today’s reflection, I would like us to focus on Simeon and Anna just for a bit. Luke describes them both as elderly, and they’re both waiting. Simeon was told by the Holy Spirit that he would live to see the Messiah. And Anna, Luke gives us a rather detailed introduction for her. We know she has spent the vast majority of her life praying and fasting at the Temple. We don’t know if she was also told to wait, nonetheless she has maintained this constant vigil almost for her entire life.

Now I suggest to you that to wait for so long is a sign of great faith. They believed in God and accepted God’s plan for their lives and they waited. What amazing faith!

Ok, here is one of the dangers of reading or listening to Scripture. We might come to the readings at mass passively – just going with the flow – and we might think to ourselves, “Well that was a nice story.” And when we do that, we miss out on the ways that the Holy Spirit is trying to guide us.

You see, so often in our Western culture, and perhaps more specifically in the United States I think, we want what we want when we want it. Right? If I want a double pumpkin spice latte with a dash of cinnamon and dash of nutmeg, then that’s what I want – and oh by the way, I want it now! I mean, that’s just an example. You get my point, right?

But it’s not about our latte. Oh no, before our latte even hits the counter, we’re on to the next thing. Maybe it’s a text message we’re responding to or maybe we’re scrolling through social media, or maybe we’re posting a status update. “Looking forward to the best cup of coffee ever! Heart emoji, thumbs up emoji, smiley face emoji.” But even in that update, we’re not in the present – we’re looking forward to the future. We can’t sit still and just be right here, right now.

Today’s Gospel suggests that what you want – what you believe you are being called to do or to see or to experience – will happen in God’s time, not your time. And that means you might need to wait an awful long time – maybe years and years. What do you think about that idea? I suspect that many of my over-achieving type AAA personality friends cringe when they hear me say that. Wait! For years! For what I want?!? Are you kidding me?!?

My brothers and sisters, today’s Gospel invites us to be open to the possibility that we might need to slow down before we can speed up – that if we are indeed the people of faith we say we are, then we might need to wait or to at least slow down for things to unfold in God’s time.

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and by the Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following two questions this week.

When was the last time I sat down quietly and prayed to Jesus – and I mean just sit and speak to Jesus as I would any friend?
What am I waiting for God to do? What are my sources of hope?

I think doing our homework will help us as disciples to slow down in order to speed up. Do you got it? Do you get it? Then go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Citations:
<1> Pablo T. Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018), 71.

References:

Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018.
Healy, Mary. Hebrews. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2016.
Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Jesus’ circumcision, 527
Presentation of Jesus, 529
Consolation of Israel, 711
Sign of contradiction, 575, 587
Jesus and the temple, 583
Mary’s ordeal, 149
Satan’s power, 407
Jesus’ love for us, 609
Jesus’ atoning death, 615, 1992

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Lectionary: 524
Mass Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020220.cfm
First Reading
Malachi 3:1-4
Thus says the Lord GOD:
Lo, I am sending my messenger
to prepare the way before me;
And suddenly there will come to the temple
the LORD whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.
Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
But who will endure the day of his coming?
And who can stand when he appears?
For he is like the refiner’s fire,
or like the fuller’s lye.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver
that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.
Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem
will please the LORD,
as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

Responsorial
Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10
R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Second Reading
Hebrews 2:14-18
Since the children share in blood and flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels
but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters
in every way,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.

Alleluia
Luke 2:32
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Luke 2:22-40 OR 2:22-32
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
–and you yourself a sword will pierce–
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”

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