Blog of the Archdiocese of Washington
Today in the Divine Office we read of the tragic loss of Absalom, the Son of King David. And yet it remains true that too many of our own children today are lost, if not in death, surely in many other social ills and a lack of faith. What went wrong with Absalom and How …
Continue reading “King David – A Great King, but with a critical flaw that is all too common today.”
One of the greatest gifts of the Human person is the capacity to speak. It is also one of our greatest weaknesses. The Book of James says, We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect!, able to keep their whole body in check. When we …
On the Fourth of July, in the United States of America we celebrate freedom. In particular we celebrate freedom from tyranny, and a government that is not representative; freedom from unchecked power and unaccountable sovereigns. Distorted and faithless notions – Yet, as Christians we cannot overlook that there are ways of understanding freedom today that …
Continue reading “Those who seek to eliminate faith for the sake of freedom, get only tyranny”
GK Chesterton once observed that “When you break the big laws you do not get freedom. You do not even get anarchy. You get small laws.” (Daily News, July 29, 1905). Yes, small laws, lots of small laws. Trifling and irritating small laws that regulate every human interaction and transaction. It is death by a …
In the use of language certain sophistication is necessary that appreciates the different modes of speech that are often used. A lot of communication breaks down today because many lack the sophistication necessary to understand when various modes of speech are being employed and how they are to be interpreted. Not only does this lead …
Continue reading “Lets Show a Little More Sophistication in Understanding Modes of Speech”
One of the more misunderstood of the deadly sins is sloth. In the wider culture sloth is often equated simply with laziness. But sloth has a lot more subtleties than simple laziness. In fact, sloth can sometimes manifest as workaholism and other frantic worldly activities and busyness. This is because sloth is most fundamentally defined …
Some of God’s gifts come in strange and terrifying packages. And I was reminded of this earlier this week when I read from the book of Job in the Office of Readings the following lines: The earth, though out of it comes forth bread, is in fiery upheaval underneath. Job 28:2 It is a true …
Continue reading “Gifts in Strange and Terrifying Packages – A Meditation on a Saying from Job”
We tend to demonize the word “power” in our culture. But of itself, power is simply the capacity to act, a kind of energy to accomplish what must be done. Power in this sense can lead to magnificent and creative solutions to difficulties, wonderful breakthroughs and great progress. God gives us all a certain degree …
Continue reading “Power Gone Wrong – As seen in a Superhero Cartoon Clip”