It’s a paradox. A paradox is a concept that we humans, especially we humans shaped and formed by post-Enlightenment secularism, have a hard time grasping. Paradox makes us uncomfortable. It feels like a “problem” to be “solved.” That’s why we humans stumble over paradox. You know what I mean, don’t you? It’s like what Jesus said when…
“I wish I were older!” Those were my words to my mother when I was a teenager and longed for the “freedom” of being an adult! If I only knew then what I know now! Bills, taxes, responsibilities, ugh! Can I take it back and go back to being a teenager again, please?!?
Well, of…
St. John Chrysostom declares "Be ashamed when you sin, not when you repent." I can't tell you how many times I've had people confide in me that they don't go to confession because they are ashamed. What a brilliant trick of the evil one! The very medicine that would cure your heart sickness is the…
Waiting has never been my strength. I'm the kind of person who would ask the Lord for patience and then add "and please give it to me right now!" Yep, that's me, alright!
But there is great wisdom in learning to wait. In fact, one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is to…
It seems we humans never tire of talking about Freedom. But what is freedom? During a dark time in human history slavery of one form or another was the norm in human societies. Our own nation, The United States, fought a war with ourselves over this blight on human history. We even now have "Black…
In 1972 America was experiencing an amazing movement among young people called “The Jesus Movement.” Jesus was the “hero” of a lot of the youth of the day! And I was right there in the middle of it. At 12 years old and about to step into my teenage years, I was a big participant…
Thank you so much for being a part of our Faith Encouraged Media outreach!
Our ministry website has gone through a redesign to focus on what we are doing now - written daily devotionals AND weekly videos of our homilies at our parish.
Check out the new website and share it with your friends!
FaithEncouraged.Org
An ongoing joke among church families is how long it takes to get ready for church on Sunday mornings! Of course, this isn't true of going to work or going to school, or going to a game, or a dance or most other social and work-related events. But, when it comes to church services, well,…
Emotionally, I'm done. Mentally, I'm drained. Spiritually, I feel dead. Physically, I smile! Ever been there? Yeah, me too. So what drives us to wait till it's almost too late to ask for help? Pride? Fear?
Probably both, and then some other realities like not knowing ourselves well enough to realize when we're getting into the…
