The Perfect Gift, Re-gifted

Every year I receive a gift,

And every year, I try as hard as I can to return this gift.

I try to repackage this gift in as many ways as possible,

Photographer unknown

But still, it keeps coming back to me.

In fact, the harder I try to give this gift away,

The more and greater I receive this gift in return.

Love is this gift I receive,

And love is this gift I try so hard to return.

Re-gifting love,
The perfect gift.

by David E. Gonzales

Are you Congruent?

Are you living your life in a like manner to your beliefs? Is your life modeled in your understanding of God, Spirit, or Higher Power? Are you in turn feeling out of balance? It could very well be that your feelings, your lifestyle and your understanding of faith are out of balance.

This out of balance can be brought back into a feeling of wholeness by changing or modifying your lifestyle. This could be a lifestyle based n eating habits, e.g. going vegan, bringing you into a physical balance as well as a psychological balance, e.g. not participating in the cruelty of animals by abstaining from eating meat.

In this case, going vegan can help bring your conscience awareness and your sub-conscience awareness into harmony and creating a personal balance. This example of creating balance is a fairly simple one. Other more deeply rooted issues may take some significant soul searching to discover. It may not be possible to discover these issues without talking to someone in confidence.

Having someone to talk to, in confidence, is an incredibly important aspect of a person’s life. Being able to speak freely without any fear of public disclosure can bring about personal discoveries enabling personal growth. Personal, healthy growth will bring about personal congruency. This personal balance helps to keep life from moving so fast, it helps to keep you from being swept away in the fray.

When you have a good balance of mind, body and soul, life seems to flow increasingly

Unknown artist

smooth. While there will almost always be some rapids to negotiate, moving through these rough channels of life will undoubtedly be easier. Congruency, harmony, balance, you will find these concepts in many of the ancient and modern religions and spiritualties. It takes a lot of work, time, mediation and conversation to really find one’s center, and even more to maintain it.

As life is ever changing, so too is our understanding of ourselves and our place in this world. By remaining sensitive to our surroundings and our place in them we can identify inconsistences that maybe attempting to creep into our lives. Talking about them, and writing them out, can help to define these inconsistences and bring about long term personal peace.

Your personal peace will be a blessing to others in your life and to those you meet along the way. It will help you in your decision making process, and it will help to keep you centered on a life well lived.

May the peace and love of Christ be with you always

by David E. Gonzales

Charity, Society’s Glue

Charity is the true bond, the glue, which holds our society together. Charity brings us together personally, in community, and in Nation. It is through personal acts of charity that our lives take on meaning. It is through personal acts of charity our society thrives.

Governments do not engage in acts of charity. They are at best, exercising their bureaucratic muscles. “They” take without asking, and give discriminately, while bragging about “their” accomplishments. These are soulless attempts at assisting others while having no clear objective nor provide an end to those on such assistance. They provide no physical, emotional, psychological, or financial freedom. Just a never ending cycle of poverty and dependency. Those who make it out of such environments usually do so by breaking away from these “assistances”.

This is why independent organizations, especially the Church, are necessary for a healthy society. Charity is the command of God, the command of Christ. (*Mark, 12; 29-31) It is through acts of charity that we live in a relationship with Christ (**Matt, 25; 34-40). This is how we live as Christians. Without regard to the Faith, lifestyle, ethnic or nationality of those in need.           (***Gal. 3; 28)

It is this interaction of people, for people, by people, that brings us together as a people. It is this kind of interaction that reduces public tensions. People helping people to become independent and whole, helps to bring people into a society of helping others. As governments become increasingly engaged as a charitable entity, society as a whole suffers at an increasing rate. The poor stay poor, longer. The rich become increasingly rich, giving of one’s self becomes archaic. As the government grows, the individual, and society, becomes increasingly apathetic, perhaps even callous in nature. The attitude then becomes something like “Just go ahead and take some taxes, and leave me alone”, “I don’t want to be bothered with “those” people” “that’s what my taxes are for, I have my own life to live.” Life becomes me and mine.

The cause of this separation of the people is the result of good intentions, poorly performed. We all have our gifts in life. For some of us these gifts are artistic, for others it’s the ability to connect with others on a personal level. For others still, it may be organizational skills, or perhaps to work in a team environment. All these can and should be used to help others in the form of charity. Charity, to give without the expectation of a return. This goes against much of what we are taught in our lives.

As we grow and develop in life we are taught to work hard, save and reap the benefits of our labors, and that’s OK. Works/acts of charity are something generally learned. Whether at home or in a religious setting, how to be charitable in a responsible manner, takes time to develop, not for all of us but for many to be sure.

Regardless if you volunteer on the occasion to help in your church or community, or if you are an ardent supporter of a special cause. Engaging in acts of charity is an essential part of both the individual and the society to create and maintain healthy attitudes toward one another. To be able to understand each other as a person, as a people and grow together in a common goal of peace and unity.

            To truly become a world united in respect, we cannot force, we must offer our assistance in charity, love, community, faith, in a very real and human way. It is in this way we, all as children of God, can live and grow in the peace we all wish to achieve.

May the peace and love of Christ be with you always-

Related article: http://daedgo.blogspot.com/2014/01/1-corinthians-13-adaptation.html

All Scripture is from the NABRE

*Mark, 12; 29-31- Jesus replied, the first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

**Matt, 25; 34-40 – Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'

***Gal. 3; 28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

by David E. Gonzales

Life’s Double Standard?

It has been my observation that most people are liberal in though and conservative in action. Or to say they are publicly liberal but privately conservative. I consider this a double standard not as stated above but as this:

When a person is publicly liberal and it is discovered they live a conservative leaning life style, then they are considered down to earth, blue collar, one of people. This is then considered a good thing, and these people are praised for being themselves. If however a person projects themselves as conservative and it is then discovered they lead a liberal leaning lifestyle then they are considered as being “caught” as hypocrites for not being themselves. Public scorn usually follows.

The public scorn then turns to the demanding of an apology for not being honest in their projected image. This is considered by most, perhaps a vast majority, to be normal and just.

Even as I write this I realize I too consider this to be “OK”, to be a normal course of action. And yet I wonder why this is so. Why it’s ok to live a conservative lifestyle while projecting one’s self as liberal in thought. And yet so wrong to flip this scenario 180^o in the other direction.

Mind you, I’m not talking about the self-righteous public person who berates those different than himself, while they are in fact, living, privately, this same lifestyle. I think those examples of overt hypocrisy are self-evident. I am talking, in part, about the public person, star, politician, etc. that lets their opinion known to the general public. Why are they held to such a unique standard? Or is it just that when they are accused of such behavior the outcry is louder for them than when it’s a friend or associate whose life becomes known to us.

I refuse to point out individuals for the purpose of example. I believe most of us can think of someone, or situation, where we have been surprised with a contradictory behavior. So, I will leave it up to you to find and make a comparison of sorts. Also, this not a commentary about any one lifestyle, just some thoughts about the way the general public reacts to those lifestyles as stated.

Now I must make a confession, I have no idea what the “why” is in this equation. I do believe it’s definitely worth the time to ponder such a thought. Perhaps someone much more in tune with today’s social climate than I am. And would also be able and willing to express themselves on this matter. It would be nice to hear some varying opinions, my curiosity is certainly peaked.

Blessings all-

by David E. Gonzales

God Hates the----?

I must take exception with the all too common adage that God hates. I hear and read that God hates the sin but loves the sinner. It is my belief that God has no hate. God knows and understands hate, but God, as love in its totality, has and harbors no hate.

If we are to believe that God is love (1 John. 4; 8, 16), love in its totality, then I cannot believe God hates. I do not believe that God hates Lucifer, Satan, or whatever name you use, God loves all. Perhaps Satan is God's one true pain, pain for the one who can never be reunited in the kingdom. Then again, with God all things are possible. (Mat. 19; 26/ Mark. 10; 27)

We separate ourselves from God through sin, however, God does not separate from us. It could be said that God cries for us, extends to us his most divine mercy, but with no hatred. Perhaps this is how God can forgive us even though it is known we will sin again?

Why is this important? If we believe our God hates, or has hate, then we will emulate our God and extent this hate to others. If, however we believe our God does not hate or is without hate, and teaches us love is the answer to peace and harmony, then we will also avoid hate and extend our love to others.

If this is true, that God is without hate, then we as his children, must extend this same attitude of love to all people without exception. This is regardless of color, origin, religion, or sex, or any other designation man has devised to create classes of people.

Jesus gave us the greatest commandments, to love God and to love each other. Besides being in all four ¹Gospels it is read throughout the New Testament. To love one another is the single greatest message given to us in the whole of the Bible. Even the passion of Christ is rooted in the love God has for us. It is the common denominator from Genesis through Revelations.

God does not hate, God does not punish the innocent, God does not create pain and suffering, and God did not give us our mortality. Adam brought this into our being through original sin, and now we live to the best of our ability with the tools God has shown us. And love is the tool that trumps them all!

May the PEACE and LOVE of Christ be you now and forever!

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Scripture is from the NABRE

1 John. 4; 8, 16

8-Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.

16-We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him

Mat. 19; 26

Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible."

Mark. 10; 27

Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God."

1.     1 - Mat. 22; 37-40 / Mark. 12; 29-31/ Luke. 10; 29-27 / John. 13; 34-35

Related blog: http://daedgo.blogspot.com/2012/11/no-god-didnt-do-it_5.html 

by David E. Gonzales

Grief, A Thought About:

We are physical beings, and as physical beings we understand the touch, smell, taste, and visual world by those measures. When we lose a loved one to death we grieve these physical losses of our loved one as if we have lost a measure of ourselves.

I think grief has as much to do with accepting death as it does anything else. I think we, as mortal beings, need to learn how to accept this loss both in the physical and spiritual sense. Part of acceptance has to do with how we understand our faith and what our faith tells us. When we or our loved ones pass away we are told, in our faith, there is no pain, no crying of tears, nor suffering by our loved ones. (Rev; 7: 16-17, Rev: 21: 4a).

I think if we truly believe this teaching it can have a comforting effect on our grieving.

I think also we need to understand that there’s a difference between letting go and forgetting. When we say we are letting go it has to do with the physical presence of our loved ones. We will keep our loved ones with us by our memories and the stories we share with others. As we remember them through these stories our minds recreate the sights, smells and sounds associated with our loved ones.

If we accept the loss of our loved ones and equally accept the understanding of our faith, I believe we can lessen the pain of grief and the time it takes to go through the process of our grief. By not accepting that our loved one has indeed passed away, by holding on to the physical sights, smells and sounds associated with our loved one, we grieve all the longer and all the harder and all the more intensely. This is not to suggest that this is a simple thing to do, it is not. However, by understanding our faith we can more easily and perhaps with less pain let go of the physical presence of our loved ones. While never forgetting our memories of them and realizing their new place with God can help us in our life’s many transitions.

Related posts;

Grief, what’s so good about it? - http://daedgo.blogspot.com/2012/10/grief-whats-so-good-about-it.html 

Tears - http://daedgo.blogspot.com/2014/07/tears.html 

Scripture is from the NABRE:

Rev. 7: 16-17: They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. Thor the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Rev. 21: 4a; “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,”

by David E. Gonzales

Tears

One of the greatest gifts is the ability to cry. It may not seem like it to many, but I consider it to be a truth.

An old Jewish fable, roughly paraphrased, as Adam and Eve were leaving the Garden of Eden, God had them wait for moment. God wanted to give them a gift. The gift God gave them was a tear. The gift of a tear for Adam and Eve was to cope with the loss of their intimate relationship with God and for the arduous life that awaited them.

Artwork by David E. Gonzales

I find it amazing one gift can convey extreme emotions on opposite ends of the spectrum. The depths of grief may be brought about by the loss of a loved one; the joys may be brought about by a marriage or a birth. Tears, they help us to endure the deepest pain of grief and experience the highs of our greatest joys! Crying brings about a tremendous release in mind and body, one that is uninhibited to social scrutiny.

Tears have been said to cleanse the soul. I believe this is true. Tears help the mind release the pain of an event. No, they’re not a cure, but certainly they are an assistance to the mind and body. On the joyful side, tears help us to enjoy an event to the maximum extent. Tears are the one gift, the one emotion, which brings our humanity out. They allow us to be ourselves in an extreme manner.

Tears are not in themselves painful, they do, however, allow us to bring out an intensity of pain beyond our normal experience. Tears are not pleasure, but in much the same manner as pain, tears allow us to bring out the full intensity our of joy.

Tears, so simple, so basic, so necessary, so extraordinary!

May all your tears be brought to your eyes through joyous celebration –

by David E. Gonzales

Jealousy, Cute or Cruel?

Scary words: I can't live without you. - If I can't have you, no one can!

To some these words may show a strong committed love for them. To me, I find them scary. When do they go from being cute to dangerous? I don't believe this is a line that can be drawn. I find in these words trouble. Jealousy is not an emotion or attitude that I find attractive.

Just take a look at some of the synonyms for jealousy; envy, distrust, suspicion, covetousness, resentment. These are the kind of words that can build in the subconscious of anyone, and keep building until a release of some nature becomes necessary. This release could be verbal or physical, or a combination of the two. Rarely is it cute.

I believe for the vast majority of us jealousy is relatively harmless. But for the few it can be the fuel for an explosive fire of emotions. In today’s society, the pressure of just living is as tense as any time in history. The insecurity of tomorrow is magnified in relationships. The family structure is a necessary stabilizing force in society. When this structure is threatened, other pressures in life are magnified. Being extremely jealous can become an unbalanced emotional and physiological cry for help. Thankfully, most of us can keep jealousy in check. This is if we have a tendency toward jealousy at all.

Yes jealousy can be cute, I guess. The root of jealousy in my mind comes from distrust. And I don't believe it’s something that should be prodded. Like most things in a relationship, jealousy should be discussed honestly between those it concerns. It should never be ignored.

The Bible has much to say about jealousy, none of it is good. I think one of the most telling is Proverbs 6:34: Anger is relentless, and wrath overwhelming - but before jealousy who can stand? Indeed, who can stand? While I believe jealousy is based in a lack of trust, I also believe it goes beyond this basic emotion. It grows and becomes out of proportion with reality. And the increasingly out of balance with reality a person’s life becomes the more fragile a person becomes. This “out of balance” may force a separation on a relationship, a letting go of someone very meaningful.

            Having the ability to let go, or to not become overly attached is a virtue. This does not mean you cannot allow yourself a loving, caring and respectful relationship, it simply means you can let go if necessary. Jealousy brings with it a type of possessiveness, making it harder to let go peacefully. We are all mortal and this means we all have to let go of someone at some time in our lives. People move, others move on, saying goodbye  or so long, this is also a part of letting go.

            Letting go in a relationship is almost always a difficult intention to accomplish. Sadly, it is sometimes just plain necessary. Letting go, saying goodbye, walking away, these are not natural things to us. A great many of us were raised to never quit. We were raised to keep striving toward a goal, and to accomplish that goal. Jealousy is an impairment to reaching this goal.

When it becomes evident that that the jealousy of a loved one is no longer acceptable then self-preservation and/or the protection of our children become the greater concern. I believe the great majority of us would like to have a relationship steeped in mutual love and respect, and I believe this is why we strive with such determination to achieve this goal. We may even try to validate questionable behavior, such as jealousy, in an attempt to justify the retention of a relationship.

            Living our lives with our loved ones brings about great joy and happiness. This, with trust, adds to the fullness of our relationships. These with God bring about an elevated essence within our relationships. Don't let the ugliness of jealousy get in the way of your happiness.

May the love and peace of Christ be with you always.

Scripture is from the NABRE

By David E. Gonzales

Works and Salvation, Love is Charity

As I understand it there are two parties to the thought in this debate. On the one side it may be said that by doing good deeds, or works, one can secure, or earn, their place in salvation. On the other side of this debate it is said that we are commanded to do good deeds, or works, in order to retain our salvation, our place in heaven.

            Christ earned our salvation by the way of the cross; however it is clear by Christ’s commandments that we have a responsibility to maintain that earned salvation through “works”. These “works” are works of charity. And charity, of course, is the physical expression of helping the poor by feeding, clothing, and all acts of compassion, without any expectation of a return. This expression should also be accomplished with humility.

            ^1. “Charity, a theological virtue (along with faith and hope), the highest form of Christian love, whose origination source and ultimate end is God” The driving force behind charity is the Holy Spirit, the gift given to us by the Father through Christ. “Though its formal object and final end is God, charity reaches out to the neighbor and well, including even the enemy and the sinner, who are loved for God’s sake”. “Charity is therefore the greatest of the virtues, because it both conjoins us to God and directs all our activity toward the eternal happiness promised us”.

            This “eternal happiness promised us” is our salvation, the final triumph over sin and death. Since our Christ gave himself for salvation, our place in heaven is secure. However we can lose our place through the act of sin. Charity drives us from sin as it is the will of God to do good. The work of charity is how we love God. The work of charity is our spiritual and physical relationship with God. (^2.Mat, 25; 34-40)

            To me it is clear that works are necessary for salvation. Not that works will earn our way to God’s promise to us, but that it will guide us to maintain that which has been earned for us through the works of our Christ, the ultimate work of charity.

            Faith, Hope, and Love are the mainstays of our faith. The words “love” and “charity” are in many places of the New Testament, one and the same. Our relationship with God is through how we treat our friends, enemies, and strangers. Charity is our commandment; Charity is Love, it is how we are meant to live our lives.

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Other examples;

http://daedgo.blogspot.com/2014/01/1-corinthians-13-adaptation.html  = 1 Corinthians; 13

(An adaptation)

http://daedgo.blogspot.com/2012/09/caritas-through-church.html = Caritas through Church

^1.Encyclopedia of Catholicism; Richard P. McBrien (emphasis is mine)

Scripture is from the NABRE;

^2.Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous ¹⁶ will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Mark, 12; 29-31-

            Jesus replied, the first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

Luke, 10; 29-27

            Jesus said to him, What is written in the law? How do you read it? He said in reply, You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

John, 13; 34-35

            I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Mat, 22; 37-40

            He said to him, You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment, the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself, the whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.

* Encyclopedia Britannica (on-line edition)

Encyclopedia

Charity

In Christian thought, the highest form of love, signifying the reciprocal love between God and man that is made manifest in unselfish love of one's fellow men. St. Paul's classical description of charity is found in the New Testament(I Cor. 13). In Christian theology and ethics, charity (a translation of the Greek word agape, also meaning "love") is most eloquently shown in the life, teachings, and death of Jesus Christ. St. Augustine summarized much of Christian thought about charity when he wrote: "Charity is a virtue which, when our affections are perfectly ordered, unites us to God, for by it we love him." Using this definition and others from the Christian tradition, the medieval theologians, especially St. Thomas Aquinas, placed charity in the context of the other Christian virtues and specified its role as "the foundation or root" of them all.

by David E. Gonzales 

I apologize, (or did I?)

        a) I’m sorry if I said something to offend you.

         b) I'm sorry if you think I did or said something wrong or may have offended you.

“If” takes away the personal responsibility from the apologizer and puts the onus on the injured party. “If” also takes also shows that the offender has no empathy for the offended. After all, the offender doesn't think they did anything wrong.

The apologizer isn't convinced that they did or said anything wrong but they wish to close the gap between the hurt party and themselves. The hurt party may wish to accept this type of apology simply because of their need to heal the relationship with their friend, partner, or family member. They may also believe that this is a sincere apology because of the degree of hurt they feel.

These types of statements are used as an appeasement to the one they offended. If it works and there is some degree of healing to the relationship then so much the better, if not it is doubtful that the apologizer would go any further to heal the relationship. Although if rejected the apologizer may come to the realization that the other party is hurt and they may have some degree of fault to consider.

On a related note: a person that feels they have been wronged doesn't need or should not expect an apology to offer forgiveness. And so it goes that a person offering an apology should not expect an acceptance of their apology only that they offered it in all sincerity. I believe both of these are offerings and not demands, therefore, there should be no expectation of a return.

Just a thought on the human condition.

by David E. Gonzales

Hey Yesterday!

Hey Yesterday, I’m waiting! Where did you go, Yesterday? I woke up this morning and you were gone. Just gone! I know I’ve made nearly every bad decision a man can make, but did you really have to just disappear into the past? You left me here with all I’ve made of myself.

I heard you could be making a return, so I’m waiting for you. I’m right here, right where you left me. I haven’t moved from this spot, this place in time. I keep looking at today, but I still have my feet planted firmly with you, Yesterday. I’ll be here, in the Today, for as long as it takes for you to return. So, hurry up and get here.

You know, Yesterday… Today, this Today, I don’t feel the need for you is as strong as some of my other Todays. Your vividness is fading from color to black and white, and this to grayscale. Your allure is losing its grip; I feel you slipping into a permanent past. And yet there is something about you, Yesterday, that keeps me yearning for you.

And while I’m still looking for you Yesterday, it’s not as often as I once did. Not as intensely as in those other Todays. I have another who is competing for my attention. It calls itself Tomorrow. I’m a little afraid of this Tomorrow, there seems to be a lot of uncertainty standing by its side. Perhaps that’s the allure of it, that whole not knowing part. I see pleasure and pain in this Tomorrow. Pleasure is a natural desire and pain is natural fact and both have roots in you, Yesterday. There’s a lot certainty with you Yesterday. I know where I stand with you. You never change.

Well Yesterday, Today is coming to an end. And I am fairly certain there will be another Today, waiting for me when I arise. It may well be true that you, Yesterday, are indeed not coming back. And this, Tomorrow, may not be as certain as it claims to be. Perhaps it’s better for me to live in the Today. Perhaps it is better I keep the lessons I have learned during our time together and otherwise let you go. Perhaps it is better for me to worry about this Tomorrow when it gets here, there’s a promise in this Tomorrow. So, perhaps………… Just perhaps……….

by David E. Gonzales

Give your life for another?

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends”. John, 15; 13

Most certainly our men and women in uniform deserve all the accolades as possible for their sacrifices to all of us individually and as a Nation. This is more about a secondary meaning of “giving your life” than any attempt to disregard the traditional understanding of this thread of Holy Scripture. It is easier to give your life once in death than to keep on living to care for and to give of yourself to others. In life, Jesus gave his life to all in preaching and teaching his Father’s ways. In death, Jesus gave his life for our salvation.

This is about “charity” not so much about giving up your life to death, but is instead giving your life, in life, with service to the poor. To physically die to protect someone’s life is indeed a great sacrifice; to give your life in charity is a lifelong endeavor. To give your life to protect a life is a onetime offering; to give your life in charity is to give life throughout your life.  I believe that this is in congruence with the teachings of Christ. Jesus taught us throughout the Gospels to love one another. Charity is consistently taught to us as a personal lesson.

In the verse preceding John, 15; 13, Jesus gives his greatest commandment: “love one another as I love you”. In the following verses Jesus calls his disciples “Friends” and explains why he does so. (John 15; 15), “I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.”  In keeping chapter fifteen (15; 1-16) in context, it is clear that Jesus is commanding that we take of each other. He is teaching his disciples that love is expressed through acts of charity, and that charity is how we love each other.

In these teaching of Jesus we can extract a sense that Jesus in not teaching a collective type of charity. Jesus’ teachings were directed at Jews and the leaders of the temple in Israel. Jesus was teaching a personal sense of love/charity. At no time did he direct the government, any government, to centralize charity. Love expressed is the work of disciples and apostles of God, both individually and through the Church. Charity is the work of salvation, not salvation deserved, but instead salvation preserved.

May blessings of Love and Charity be in your heart.

All scripture is from the NABRE

by David E. Gonzales

Change and the Void Created

Whenever change happens a void is created. When it happens that something is left behind or removed from our lives then a void is created within us. A void leaves a hole, an empty space within our being and it’s a scary feeling. We crave to either regain, or replace what was lost. It is this feeling of loss; this fear of having lost this piece of ourselves that drives us back to what we lost or pushes us forward to fill this void created.

This is the reason that so many people will return to or hold on to a spouse that is abusive or other unhealthy situation. The unknown future of a lost relationship is scarier than the abuse endured by the abused. When the loss is great enough in the mind of a person, the attempt to fill this void can be through drug, alcohol or extreme behavior that lashes out at other people or society in general. We as people strive to feel complete, and in doing so we make rash decisions reaching out to grab the first possible solution to our dilemma.

In our attempt to fill this void created, we as a society so often end up in much the same situation that led to our dilemma. I have noticed that people with a solid spiritual foundation will avoid these undesirable situations more often than not. It seems that having the ability to retreat into prayer or mediation of some sort helps to ease the pain of loss that first fills the void. By first drawing back into a reflective state of mind, by accepting the past as a fact, by keeping those facts in the context of reality, the anxiety of the future is lessened.

As our anxiety is lessened or relaxed we are increasingly able to see the present in the context of reality. The essence of our existence becomes increasingly self reliant. This feeling of being self-reliant leads to a self confidence that in turn helps us make better and increasingly thoughtful decisions. This can then lead to a better quality of life. Not just in our physical state, but in our spiritual state of being as well.

As we created a better understanding of our spirituality we are better able to fill the voids created by loss with our spiritual center. Instead of reaching out into the physical world to fill these voids we have the necessary tools to step back and evaluate our lives. This ability to step back and to see and accept the how and why of our place in time can bring about peace in the void created.

“Patience is a virtue” is an old saying that gets thrown around quite haphazardly. But patience by itself isn't worth much unless you can fill it with a productive process. Developing a process that has the inclination to bring about a positive outcome in your life is essential to personal peace. Developing a strong spiritual center can go a long way in preventing negative events that may have, in the past, taken control your life. Each person has to find their way of spirituality, most find it in a combination of styles. Many in today’s society find combining traditional prayer with other kinds of meditations increasingly fulfills their needs. They have a better grasp of their spirituality and this makes it harder for them to be shaken by natural events that are bound to happen to most of us.

Life is an unexpected experience, be prepared for the uncertainty of life with a strong spiritual center. When voids are created and pain attempts to fill this void and drive your life, have the strength to step back and meet the pain head on. Have the strength to embrace and accept the events of life. For me this spirituality centers on the Holy Trinity, for you spirituality may be a whole other experience.

It is my hope that this may, even in some small way, help you to find your spiritual being and to find peace in this life.

May the peace and love of Christ be with you.

By David E. Gonzales

Married Priests?

The Church has expressed an interest in, and a calling for, opinions in regards to the Church’s current teaching on celibacy as a requirement for men to be ordained as Catholic priests. This issue is currently being deliberated by a special counsel of bishops appointed by Pope Francis. The following is a response to this calling.

It seems as though the Catholic Church has on her own behalf diluted the mandatory celibacy for priests over the years without really changing the requirement of celibacy for ordination. Let’s look first at the exceptions for married priests.

Deaconate:

Most candidates for the deaconate can be married.

The candidate must be married before he is ordained.

The candidate cannot marry after he is ordained.

If for any reason the marriage should cease before the death of the deacon he cannot remarry.

A married man who is ordained a deacon cannot be ordained a priest regardless if he was originally baptized a Catholic.

Presbyterate:

A man can be ordained as a Catholic married priest if he had been ordained as a priest in certain protestant churches before he was baptized in the Catholic Church. (Some exceptions apply)

Episcopacy:

Only men who have not been married may be ordained into the episcopacy. (There is a possibility, in the past, for married bishops)

The above is true only in the Western Church. The Eastern Church, to include the Orthodox Churches, (CCC-1580) has always ordained men who are married, and men may remarry (Orthodox) without losing their good standing in these churches under some circumstances. It would seem on the surface that being baptized into the Catholic Church is a deterrent to many who feel they are called to follow Christ through Holy Orders. A man is a man regardless of the family he is born into, and the Church makes exceptions on the state of a man’s marital status. Although it seems that the exceptions are based almost exclusively on the first baptism of the candidate for Holy Orders.

The Church uses Matthew 19:12, “Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”, as one of two primary sources for the rule of celibacy for priests. This passage has long been attributed to ordination, but there is no context in the passage to come to this conclusion. The first part of this chapter is titled “Marriage and Divorce”, and when read in this context there is no coalition between celibacy and ordination. The reference in this chapter “for the sake of the kingdom of heaven”, I believe is concerned with works of charity as is commended by Christ for all God’s children. (John 13: 34-35) “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Another validation the Church uses for celibacy is 1 Cor. 7:32, “I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.”  Again I urge you keep in context this chapter as a whole. Chapter seven is titled “Advice to the Married”, verse (32) is subtitled “Advice to Virgins and Widows”. I think it is also important to note the words used directly following this subtitle in verse 25, “Now in regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.” The point I am asking you to highlight is “my opinion”.

Further along in this chapter men and women are mentioned in very much the same manner. The equality of men and women in the sinlessness of marriage is without doubt. (1 Cor, 7:36b) But this passage is attributed to marriage not the ordination of men. I believe it is clear that chapter seven in its entirety is only about marriage and Paul’s belief that a person is tempting fate by being married so close the Parousia.

Remember these are not the words of our Christ, but the words of the disciple Paul. Paul was convinced that the Parousia would happen in his time. He felt that it was necessary to limit the temptations of sin so that all could reach salvation. Paul again reminds his audience in verse 40a, “though, in my opinion” that he is not speaking of the commandments of God, but instead he speaks of what he believes is good for the followers of the Lord in their quest for salvation.

It would seem to me that on the surface there is no real sense that Christ cared if his disciples were married or not. Christ was concerned with the matters of the heart, and matters of the heart were displayed through acts of charity. Yes, we believe that Christ lived a life of celibacy; this could simply have been for the “sake of propriety” (1 Cor, 7:35) more so than as an example of the priesthood. I can’t help but think that our Christ finds our deliberations on this issue to be most insignificant in light of the commandments he set forth for us.

I offer the above thoughts for the purpose of deliberation and meditation and they should not be considered an attack on the teachings of the Church. This is obviously just a light overview in the long tradition of celibacy in the Church.

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CCC = Catechism of the Catholic Church

Scripture is from the NABRE

By David E. Gonzales

1 Corinthians 13: An Adaptation

                        The following adaptation are thoughts regarding what I believe to be the roots and driving spirit of what it means to be a Christian. I am using this approach to express an idea and for the purpose of reflection and deliberation. At the end of this adaptation you will find a definition that I use, in part, to bring this work into a different light. There is no intention here to discredit or demean Holy Scripture.

        If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not extend my love through works of charity,

I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.

        And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;

if I have all faith so as to move mountains but I am not charitable,

I am nothing.

        If I give away everything I own,

and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but don’t achieve it with true charity,

I gain nothing.

        Charity is patient,

chairty is kind.

It is not jealous,

(charity) is not pompous,

it is not inflated,

it is not rude,

IT DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN INTERESTS,

it is not quick-tempered,

it does not brood over injury,

it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

        It bears all things,

believes all things,

hopes all things,

endures all things.

        Love brought forth through charity never fails.

        If there are prophecies,

they will be brought to nothing;

if tongues, they will cease;

if knowledge,

it will be brought to nothing.

        For we know partially and we prophesy partially,

but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

        When I was a child,

I used to talk as a child, (selfishly)

think as a child, (selfishly)

reason as a child; (selfishly)

when I became a man,

I put aside childish things.

        At present we see indistinctly, (as humans see)

as in a mirror,

but then face to face. (with God)

At present I know partially;

then I shall know fully,

as I am fully known.

        So faith, hope, and charity remain, these three;

but the greatest of these are the works of charity towards those who are in greater need than ourselves.

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- Adapted from the NABRE

- Italics are my thoughts inserted.

- Caps are mine. (IT DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN INTERESTS)

* Encyclopedia Britannica (on-line edition)

Encyclopedia

Charity

In Christian thought, the highest form of love, signifying the reciprocal love between God and man that is made manifest in unselfish love of one's fellow men. St. Paul's classical description of charity is found in the New Testament(I Cor. 13). In Christian theology and ethics, charity (a translation of the Greek word agape, also meaning "love") is most eloquently shown in the life, teachings, and death of Jesus Christ. St. Augustine summarized much of Christian thought about charity when he wrote: "Charity is a virtue which, when our affections are perfectly ordered, unites us to God, for by it we love him." Using this definition and others from the Christian tradition, the medieval theologians, especially St. Thomas Aquinas, placed charity in the context of the other Christian virtues and specified its role as "the foundation or root" of them all
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May you be blessed with a charitable heart.

By David E. Gonzales