A Catholic Christian Husband’s Fumbling Toward Grace
In the ancient Levant, the queen of the nation was not usually the wife of the king, but the king's mother. Most of the kings had multiple wives, so the position of honor went to the king's mother. The people that Saint John was writing to understood this when reading his Revelation written in A.D. 99 and would have accepted the queenship of Mary implicitly.
In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" - Matthew 3:1-2 The time is accomplished, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel. - Mark 1:15Rudolf Yelin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons For three millennia,… Continue reading The Proclamation of the Kingdom
In writing these Rosary Reflections, I often seek Jesus. But I do so in a cold, "gotta get this done" kind of way. That is precisely when it doesn't get done.
Jesus Christ, fully man and fully God, told his mother it wasn't time for him to begin working miracles, yet. What does this tell us about Jesus? What does this tell us about Mary?
"Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of… Continue reading The Assumption of Mary
Physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted, Our Lord was forced to carry his own instrument of execution through the dusty Jerusalem streets. Beaten down repeatedly, crying in front of his Holy Mother, abandoned by his friends, turned over by the very people that shouted him into the the city. Forced to get help from a stranger.
I'm so impatient. Sometimes, I'm like, "Look, Lord...I've changed. I mean, hey, I don't have to tell you that, though. Miright? Anyhow, I've changed. But I'm still waiting. Give me my mission. Oh, yeah, I know there's that same old mission, but I want my mission. The one that means I'm special. I'll wait. But I really think I've been waiting patiently for a long time now."
Huddled once more, the apostles hid in the Upper Room. The Lord had returned for 40 days, but now was gone again. His mother, whom he told would be their mother, tried to calm them, to reassure them, but their fear was great and their faith small.
And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people.Luke 2:10 Fidelis Schabet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons We are wretched. Floundering in our sin and hubris. God sent angels, floods, plagues, prophets, judges, kings, more prophets, and finally St. John… Continue reading The Nativity of Christ
Even though they spat on him; laughed at him; beat him; mocked him; drove a crown of thorns into his brow; he died for them. Even though my gaze has fallen too long on women that are not my wife; even though I have stolen, lied, killed; even though I am a sinner among sinners; he died for me. And you.
Blessed To Be Ben 