Saint Magnus the Great

Picture of the statue of Saint Magnus the Great in the church of the same name London, UK (Church of England-High Church/Anglo-Catholic would be my guess). Taken on the last day of my recent visit 10/9/2012. I have no words......

This church has no future

by Jose Maria Castillo The recent writings of h. Küng and l. Boff, on this subject, and these days are circulating on the network, make us reflect. The Church weakens day after day, loses credibility and the vast majority of people don't care anymore. Be sure that this church has no future?When I speak of the Church here, I'm not referring to the enormous amount of people, each as may, are interested in Jesus of Nazareth and the one who teaches (or taught) the Gospel. I am not speaking of people of faith, a very personal issue that everyone runs as God gives him to understand.In saying that this church has no future, what I mean (as does Küng) is that the papacy and the Vatican curia, as they are organized and work, not only do not go anywhere, but also – and especially – are very damaging to the Church itself and, even more so, so many people of goodwill who loses even the interest in religion when he sees the sad spectacle that is giving the so-called "Roman system".Why do I say these things? The Church, which has concentrated all his power and his authority in the Pope and the Vatican curia and that works so that you and only you-do you think to have the full truth and unquestionable power to impose this truth, to decide what is good and what is bad and what people should or should not do; a Church does not have any arguments to prove that everything has to be so, nor enjoys the credibility essential to convince that things should go as well.For this, because the "Roman system" lacks credibility and arguments to persuade us that possesses the powers that says he has, for this reason, the papacy and the curia in conscience think that it is better to hide things that, if you knew, would dismiss more people. And scandals would be multiplied, contradictions, half-truths and many obscure business which the Vatican City State attempts to cover unsuccessfully in many cases.From this, the incessant contradictions of the already mentioned "Roman system".In theory, praises and defends human rights, but, to date, does not respect these rights in its legislation and in its form of Government, nor has signed international treaties on this fundamental issue.In theory, praises and preaches the Gospel, but, in practice, any person who enters the Vatican it is difficult to see what resembles the simplicity of the Gospel and to the proximity of Jesus with the most unfortunate people of this world.In theory, the Pope and the curia complain and denounce the economic corruption, sex scandals, lying as a system of Government .... but the fact is that the Vatican Bank gave serious grounds for scandal and, what is worse, it is known that the Vatican policy is an important element (for what it says and for what is silent) in the legitimacy of Governments and rulers who are because of the economic crisis and they sink into misery many creatures innocent.In these conditions you can preach the Gospel? And if the so-called "Roman system" is not needed for this, as you can keep it standing for a long time? We're not just talking about a problem of bad or good morality. The problem is much more serious. What is at stake is the ' to be or not to be ' of the Church that you let manage the Roman system ".Why, throughout the Bible and in the Christian tradition, the "being" is determined by – it depends – «happen». We are not faced with a problem of metaphysics, but a problem of historical development. And when that happens you away so much from its origin and its raison d'etre, the most reasonable thing is to think that a church as well, i.e., "this church" has no future. Translated with Bing Translator

Wisdom for those who would lead in this election year

"...whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:43b-45

A word of advice.....

Remember that after you loose electrical power for any significant period of time to throw out all of your condiments as well as dairy products. I forgot and used a small amount of horseradish sauce on a sandwich two days ago. Since that time, I've not been able to eat anything solid and oh you have no way to know the amount of SICK one body can experience.......just sayin'

As it should be........

A life spent......

......kicking at the moon is exhausting and the burden of the years is keenly felt. Another year gone and I feel very tired; and yet I know no other way to live. Peace and rest are the only gifts I seek.

Ricky....

The first time we made love was also the last. Oh we'd had sex quite a few times over the eleven years we'd known one another. Lots of times it was just you getting off because your "partner" was frigid, or perhaps more correctly, zoned out on whatever drug he could get his hands on. Sometimes, I'd come just to make things look more like the stories said they should. That last time was different.....I was inside you and talking dirty and you lifted your head and tenderly kissed me.......I still continued talking "dirty", but you had changed the equation and I wanted-needed to focus on giving you pleasure........and I did....and you DID. We both knew I was moving out of state and that we might never see one another again. We never did....even four years later when I'd moved back to Baltimore.......and then some thug put three bullets in your head. Even today, nine years later......I would give my last possession to taste that kiss once....or a thousand times......again.

Been a while.....

.....out of my own words, so I thought I'd share these.......

Each day.....

.....we rise as if all is new and endless possibility is our gift. New life is born each day if we but claim it as our own. Just think what we can be and do if two or three of us combine this possibility and do something remarkable.....why not tomorrow?

Just because.........

..........Jesus said "the poor will always be with you" doesn't mean this is acceptable in a modern democracy! Every citizen should think on this seriously and vote for those who promise greater justice for ALL Americans

What a wonderful world it would be.........

Trinity Sunday

'The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ John 3:8..... And don't we wind up in some very odd places?! Is it any wonder many of us choose not to congregate when killing LGBT people is mentioned in evangelical sermons and the Vatican seems to blame all the ills of society on LGBT insistence on equality? Some churches do make equality for all a very tenant of their faith, but sadly they are in the extreme minority. Personally, I find my faith affirmed in the everyday world by people of good will who are of many faiths and none. In this experience, the entire world has become "The Church" and No one can exclude Anyone, PERIOD! Blow then sacred wind, Spirit of the living God for no matter where we land, we are home.

Penetcost

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth John 15:13a

Do we want to be guided into "all the truth"? Sometimes I think we prefer to be blissfully in the dark and left alone to lead our everyday lives. The "truth" might prove uncomfortable and require us to make changes in the way we see and live our lives. We might begin to speak a new language that others might hear and understand. We take the risk of being accused of being drunk on new wine. We must be willing to care less about our sober reputations and fearlessly "speak all the truth". The religious leaders and those vested in the status quo will be against us, but one fruit of such fidelity is the absence of fear. Come Holy Spirit!

Beautiful sentiment this Pentecost Sunday!

Truth?

"and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" John 8:32 If we but surrender our need to be "right", we can experience the freedom found in "truth". A life of faith isn't a competition; God can sort out our misunderstandings, shortcomings and misconceptions. We then become free to simply "be" in the presence of Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Christ has worked everything out without us (imagine that!) and we are able to coexist without judgement, competition or the need to be right. Oh the beauty we see in people when we free them from the need (expectation) to be like us!

....another reason I love her......

Happy Mother's Day!

nuff said.......

...if we love one another, God lives in us..... 1 John 4:12

Loving you doesn't mean I must agree with you, live like you, vote like you or love romantically like you. We sometimes get confused in our thinking and believe we must be the same; that is more about needing to think ourselves "right". Loving has nothing to do with being right or judging others right, that's more like politics. God created us (yes ALL of us, none excluded) in all of our wonderful diversity. Perhaps a first step in loving one another is to learn to appreciate our God given diversity.

How I became intoxicated with religion

Sometime in the years before I started school, there was a particular Sunday when something special was going on that afternoon at our home parish of Saint Clement (pope and martyr). Seated at the dinner table, I remember my sister Toni expressing an interest in attending this event. Hearing this I quickly said I too wanted to go. As was often the case, my mother dismissed the idea immediately, but my sister offered that she would be willing to take me and keep an eye on my behavior ( In my family, we were expected to be the soul of good behavior in public-despite what was going on at home, but that is a matter for other posts). Off we went, and I must have been very young because I remember little of the service except communion time. At that time, Catholics approached the altar rail and knelt to receive the sacrament (host only in those day-wine was for the priest alone). So, off we went my sister and I. I knelt beside Toni knowing I was too young to partake of the holy meal. Then, for an instant either as the person to my right or as my sister was given the host on her tongue, the priest whisked by and for a moment I was enveloped in his chasuble (a yoke like vestment). I was captivated! What my young mind and imagination perceived in that moment was pure MYSTERY. I was intoxicated and knew that I wanted more. I was not to be disappointed!

On "Good Shepherd" Sunday.....

.....let us pray for all those in positions of authority and power. May they, like the Good Shepherd care for the whole flock; casting none aside, demonizing no one, using no one or group of people for political or selfish gain. The Good Shepherd laid down His life for ALL, may those given responsibility for the care of others do the same. This is the task of all leaders; political, business and religious. May all who lead or seek the mantle of leadership never forget a true leader is ultimately the "servant" of ALL! * While I found other images of the Good Shepherd I liked better, this was the only pic where the sheep being carried was black. How wonderful the love of God embraces those of us who others might see as "black sheep". Fellow black sheep, let's enjoy the ride!

lest we forget......

Another view from the swing....

Ours was a two swing set and while I was usually blissfully alone while swinging, from time to time I had company. On one occasion, my sister Mary was swinging with me and we were kicking pretty high despite it being too early to "kick at the moon". As we kicked even higher, since there was an element of competition in the air we sang songs we had learned in the parish (RC) school. The only song I remember singing was "Immaculate Mary". Now let me assure you, this is a perfect song to sing while swinging, especially the refrain: Ave (kick), Ave (kick), Ave Maria (kick)......you get the jest of the exercise. During our revelry, our neighbor Mrs. Turnavich (sp?) was sitting in her back yard reading the paper. After we had finished several songs she called over and asked us to sing "Ave Maria" again. Sweet! This was the best of the kicking songs and we had an appreciative audience. We most graciously complied with her request. I'm presently estranged from my sister Mary and I confess I have no idea how to rectify the situation. Too bad we no longer have a swing.....

My middle name is Thomas.......

John 20:19-31

......well, not really and I'll tell you a story about my real middle name one day. Today, my middle name is Thomas because my faith so often requires visual, physical proof. I need to put my finger into the openings caused by the nails of the crucifixion, put my hand into the wound in his side if I am to believe. When the Risen Christ heard Thomas' confession of faith "My Lord and My God!" after Thomas had seen and had physical proof the the resurrection, he responded "Blessed are they who have not seen yet believe". Spiritual maturity may be thus defined and indeed blessed are they! I want to be a part of that great "they" more regularly. Not as a denial of empirical evidence, but as a confirmation of what I see and experience of the love of God and the transcendence of Truth. This Easter season is a perfect time to try.........

We recognised Him in the breaking of the bread...

Luke 24:13-49

We can be so consumed by the events of yesterday as to be blind to the reality of this New Dawn. They could not be open to the Impossible in their midst, the New Creation all around them. They walked with their heads down, their eyes glued to the ground failing to look up and see that Redemption shared that road to Emmaus. Then as now, our eyes are opened to the reality of the Risen Christ in the breaking of the bread.

Christ Is Risen!
Alleluia!