Freedom is tied in the very identity of God and who we as his children made in his image and likeness. Understanding the real meaning of freedom revealed to us by Christ, will help us respond to the evils of our world and build a more just and virtuous society. As Catholics, our liberty must ultimately point to the participation in the Divine life.  Snippet From the Show: “Real liberty is the ability to make a gift of oneself.”

Freedom is tied in the very identity of God and who we as his children made in his image and likeness. Understanding the real meaning of freedom revealed to us by Christ, will help us respond to the evils of our world and build a more just and virtuous society. As Catholics, our liberty must ultimately point to the participation in the Divine life. Snippet From the Show: “Real liberty is the ability to make a gift of oneself.”

Pursuing Real Freedom

Solidarity is the idea that we are one, we are together. It is rooted in empathy for the person or groups who may not have advantages we have. GoFundMe Campaigns are an example of people living out solidarity. It is a way to live out our faith and helps us know we are not alone.  Subsidiarity is the idea we are most effective when we start closest to home and heart. From there we can transform our state and our nation. Colin believes that real subsidiarity starts in the heart with virtue. Subsidiarity is to integrate virtue in our own hearts and to live it out in the spaces closest to us.  These two, solidarity and subsidiarity, are the way we will fight against injustice, hate, and have an abundant life.

Solidarity is the idea that we are one, we are together. It is rooted in empathy for the person or groups who may not have advantages we have. GoFundMe Campaigns are an example of people living out solidarity. It is a way to live out our faith and helps us know we are not alone. Subsidiarity is the idea we are most effective when we start closest to home and heart. From there we can transform our state and our nation. Colin believes that real subsidiarity starts in the heart with virtue. Subsidiarity is to integrate virtue in our own hearts and to live it out in the spaces closest to us. These two, solidarity and subsidiarity, are the way we will fight against injustice, hate, and have an abundant life.

Solidarity and Subsidiarity 

Engaging on social media with charity and clarity in 2020 is not easy. Inspired by St.Thomas Aquinas, I offer a few principles to help us respond to issues and conflict on social media in a productive and charitable manner. If we remember the humanity of those we disagree with behind the screen,  we will learn to truly love our enemies as Christ calls us to do.  Snippet of the Show “ It's not just about winning arguments, it’s about winning hearts and building relationships.”

Engaging on social media with charity and clarity in 2020 is not easy. Inspired by St.Thomas Aquinas, I offer a few principles to help us respond to issues and conflict on social media in a productive and charitable manner. If we remember the humanity of those we disagree with behind the screen, we will learn to truly love our enemies as Christ calls us to do. Snippet of the Show “ It's not just about winning arguments, it’s about winning hearts and building relationships.”

Commenting with Charity and Clarity 

In our pursuit of holiness, we tend to overlook the little things in life. It’s the small moments in life that can either push us upwards towards heaven or pull us down towards evil. Snippet From the Show: “Little things have a great power to move us.”

In our pursuit of holiness, we tend to overlook the little things in life. It’s the small moments in life that can either push us upwards towards heaven or pull us down towards evil. Snippet From the Show: “Little things have a great power to move us.”

It's the Little Things That Matter

Test 2022

Colin talks about a time he had an encounter with Christ while listening to beautiful music that brought him to tears.  As he was irresistibly drawn in, he realized that art, music, culture, and beauty can be opportunities for evangelization. Colin calls this invitation to have an encounter with Christ through beauty an “assault of beauty”. It’s not an assault that takes away from our free will, but one that draws us in. This week, find a way to extend this invitation to someone else. Listen to some beautiful music with your family or ask a friend to go visit a beautiful church.

Colin talks about a time he had an encounter with Christ while listening to beautiful music that brought him to tears. As he was irresistibly drawn in, he realized that art, music, culture, and beauty can be opportunities for evangelization. Colin calls this invitation to have an encounter with Christ through beauty an “assault of beauty”. It’s not an assault that takes away from our free will, but one that draws us in. This week, find a way to extend this invitation to someone else. Listen to some beautiful music with your family or ask a friend to go visit a beautiful church.

An Assault of Beauty Can Be an Encounter with Christ

When we unite our suffering to Christ and offer it all up to the Father the way Christ does, everything changes. Our joys, work, hearts, and sufferings can all be offered alongside Christ and given back to the Father. When we learn to offer it all up, we grow in holiness and experience healing.  Snippet of the Show Give every part of your life back to the Father the way Christ does, it changes everything. 

When we unite our suffering to Christ and offer it all up to the Father the way Christ does, everything changes. Our joys, work, hearts, and sufferings can all be offered alongside Christ and given back to the Father. When we learn to offer it all up, we grow in holiness and experience healing. Snippet of the Show Give every part of your life back to the Father the way Christ does, it changes everything.

Offer It All Up

Although the pandemic has shifted many of our plans and disrupted our normal routines, we can still choose to rejoice because we know the Lord is close to us in our suffering. Today, I encourage you to choose joy in the midst of the obstacles we face this year.  Snippet of the Show In the midst of our trials and sufferings, we rejoice because we trust  that the Lord draws near to us in our darkest moments. 

Although the pandemic has shifted many of our plans and disrupted our normal routines, we can still choose to rejoice because we know the Lord is close to us in our suffering. Today, I encourage you to choose joy in the midst of the obstacles we face this year. Snippet of the Show In the midst of our trials and sufferings, we rejoice because we trust that the Lord draws near to us in our darkest moments.

Finding Joy in a Pandemic 

Sainthood is possible no matter the circumstances. Today, I am joined by a very special guest to discuss schools reopening and the gift of the diverse group of saints we have in the Catholic tradition to help us in our walk with Christ.  Snippet of the Show We are all capable of becoming saints, no matter where we have been, what we look like, or what we are facing. 

Sainthood is possible no matter the circumstances. Today, I am joined by a very special guest to discuss schools reopening and the gift of the diverse group of saints we have in the Catholic tradition to help us in our walk with Christ. Snippet of the Show We are all capable of becoming saints, no matter where we have been, what we look like, or what we are facing.

School, Saints, and Little Sacrifices with Leo MacIver

Research indicates that talking about faith in the family plays a critical role in our commitment to the faith as we grow up. Today, I encourage you to go deeper with your family by having intentional conversations about God and what he's doing in everyone's life.   Snippet of the Show Don’t be afraid to talk to your family about faith, the Holy Spirit can move in powerful ways if you simply give him a chance. 

Research indicates that talking about faith in the family plays a critical role in our commitment to the faith as we grow up. Today, I encourage you to go deeper with your family by having intentional conversations about God and what he's doing in everyone's life. Snippet of the Show Don’t be afraid to talk to your family about faith, the Holy Spirit can move in powerful ways if you simply give him a chance.

Talking to Your Family About Faith 

The Catholic podcast where we take three to five minutes to see and embrace the opportunities embedded in our busy, messy lives that are meant to help us move towards heaven. Together, we walk the tension between living this life fully while being on our way to the next.

Awesome show! I always enjoy listening to it

5 stars

Thanks Colin for your real and relevant reflections!

Real and relevant!

The Tightrope: Reflections for Busy Catholics

That feeling when you have a tight deadline, or an unexpected task, or you forgot to do something and are frantically scrambling to get it done ... I call that feeling “franxious”. It’s what Martha experienced when Jesus came to visit (I could see that being stressful) and it happens when you have so much anxiety over something that you’re running around like crazy trying to pick up the slack and it feels TERRIBLE.*  Organizational skills aside, getting in the habit of prayer can help alleviate that feeling when you find yourself getting anxious.   Make your rest rooted in prayer. When you take a break, do it intentionally with the aim of giving true rest to the body and soul, which can only be found in God. Practice the presence of God. Keep in mind that God is always with you throughout your day. It helps keep things in perspective.  Begin and end with God. Start a routine of morning prayer and prayer before bed so your day begins and ends with a conversation with God.   *Disclaimer: This episode refers to anxiety that is experienced periodically by everyone. If you experience frequent intense, excessive, and persistent worry or panic attacks, talk to your doctor.

That feeling when you have a tight deadline, or an unexpected task, or you forgot to do something and are frantically scrambling to get it done ... I call that feeling “franxious”. It’s what Martha experienced when Jesus came to visit (I could see that being stressful) and it happens when you have so much anxiety over something that you’re running around like crazy trying to pick up the slack and it feels TERRIBLE.* Organizational skills aside, getting in the habit of prayer can help alleviate that feeling when you find yourself getting anxious. <ol> <li>Make your rest rooted in prayer. When you take a break, do it intentionally with the aim of giving true rest to the body and soul, which can only be found in God.</li> <li>Practice the presence of God. Keep in mind that God is always with you throughout your day. It helps keep things in perspective. </li> <li>Begin and end with God. Start a routine of morning prayer and prayer before bed so your day begins and ends with a conversation with God. </li> </ol> *Disclaimer: This episode refers to anxiety that is experienced periodically by everyone. If you experience frequent intense, excessive, and persistent worry or panic attacks, talk to your doctor.

3 Steps to Be Less Franxious (Frantic and Anxious)

Having no control is a fact of life, and it leaves us feeling anxious and stressed. But it’s important to remember that no matter what happens, God is ultimately in power.  We’re reminded of that in this prayer from St. Teresa of Avila: “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.” Snippet from the Show “Ultimately, we will be OK, because the one who loves us and made us is in control.”

Having no control is a fact of life, and it leaves us feeling anxious and stressed. But it’s important to remember that no matter what happens, God is ultimately in power. We’re reminded of that in this prayer from St. Teresa of Avila: “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.” Snippet from the Show “Ultimately, we will be OK, because the one who loves us and made us is in control.”

You Aren’t in Control of Your Life

Scripture is God’s love letter specifically for you. Have you ever encountered a verse from the Bible that seems to follow you around? This happened to Colin with the verse from 1 Corinthians 13:13, “So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” After his mother died, Colin found himself holding her Bible, and he opened it up to this passage from 1 Corinthians. He found the page so easily because there was a rose pressed into it. Upon further inspection, Colin discovered that the rose was the boutineer he wore at his First Communion.  So if there is a part of Scripture you encounter again and again—know that God is speaking to you, and he’s trying to show you his love.

Scripture is God’s love letter specifically for you. Have you ever encountered a verse from the Bible that seems to follow you around? This happened to Colin with the verse from 1 Corinthians 13:13, “So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” After his mother died, Colin found himself holding her Bible, and he opened it up to this passage from 1 Corinthians. He found the page so easily because there was a rose pressed into it. Upon further inspection, Colin discovered that the rose was the boutineer he wore at his First Communion. So if there is a part of Scripture you encounter again and again—know that God is speaking to you, and he’s trying to show you his love.

God’s Love Letter Specifically for You

Colin has two non-negotiables when it comes to morning prayers:  Some kind of interior prayer. Some kind of family prayer.  The interior prayer helps him immediately start the day with God in mind. The family prayer helps him orient the family mission towards God.  Though the MacIvers attempt to say a decade of the Rosary every morning, they sometimes need something a little shorter for those days when nothing goes right.  Check out Colin’s prayers below, and tell us about your morning prayers in the comments! Snippet from the Show “If you can start off the day with interior prayer, it’s more likely that your inner monologue will turn into an inner dialogue.”  Interior Prayer Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.  My intellect is dark and my will may be weak,  but it’s you oh God I’m after,  your face oh Lord I seek. Family Prayers Jesus I love you, Mary I love you. Help us to be more like you. Little Flower, Little Flower, show your power in this hour. We adore you oh Christ and we praise you, because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world. (for Lent)

Colin has two non-negotiables when it comes to morning prayers: <ol> <li>Some kind of interior prayer.</li> <li>Some kind of family prayer.</li> </ol> The interior prayer helps him immediately start the day with God in mind. The family prayer helps him orient the family mission towards God. Though the MacIvers attempt to say a decade of the Rosary every morning, they sometimes need something a little shorter for those days when nothing goes right. Check out Colin’s prayers below, and tell us about your morning prayers in the comments! Snippet from the Show “If you can start off the day with interior prayer, it’s more likely that your inner monologue will turn into an inner dialogue.” Interior Prayer Here I am Lord, I come to do your will. My intellect is dark and my will may be weak, but it’s you oh God I’m after, your face oh Lord I seek. Family Prayers Jesus I love you, Mary I love you. Help us to be more like you. Little Flower, Little Flower, show your power in this hour. We adore you oh Christ and we praise you, because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world. (for Lent)

Chaotic Morning? Try These Prayers

The body of Christ stretches throughout time and space, and the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls Day remind us of that supernatural reality.  One of the ways we know the saints are in heaven is because of their good work on earth. On All Saints Day, we praise God for the example of the saints and we ask them to intercede for the souls on earth and in purgatory.  On All Souls Day, we pray for the “saints-in-waiting”—the souls who are in purgatory. These souls wait to behold the face of God, but the pain they experience in purgatory is productive, perfecting them and preparing them to meet their creator.  Those of us on earth who hope to be saints deal with difficulty each day, but there is nothing we go through that is wasted suffering. Our striving on earth can be offered for our salvation and for the salvation of those suffering in purgatory.  Let’s all strive to be saints. Let’s offer everything we experience in union with the Mass so we can become the saints we were created to be.  And if you think you can’t be a saint, remember: your mess is not more powerful than the power of the death and resurrection of Christ. Snippet from the Show: “There is only one tragedy in the end, not to have been a saint.” -Leon Bloy

The body of Christ stretches throughout time and space, and the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls Day remind us of that supernatural reality. One of the ways we know the saints are in heaven is because of their good work on earth. On All Saints Day, we praise God for the example of the saints and we ask them to intercede for the souls on earth and in purgatory. On All Souls Day, we pray for the “saints-in-waiting”—the souls who are in purgatory. These souls wait to behold the face of God, but the pain they experience in purgatory is productive, perfecting them and preparing them to meet their creator. Those of us on earth who hope to be saints deal with difficulty each day, but there is nothing we go through that is wasted suffering. Our striving on earth can be offered for our salvation and for the salvation of those suffering in purgatory. Let’s all strive to be saints. Let’s offer everything we experience in union with the Mass so we can become the saints we were created to be. And if you think you can’t be a saint, remember: your mess is not more powerful than the power of the death and resurrection of Christ. Snippet from the Show: “There is only one tragedy in the end, not to have been a saint.” -Leon Bloy

All Saints and All Souls Day: Our Reminder to Keep Striving

Colin’s family celebrated the 607th birthday of St. Joan of Arc—New Orleans style.  To kick off the carnival season, New Orleans celebrates the birthday of this great saint with a big parade, songs, good food, and fellowship. The parade even featured quotes from St. Joan, including this one: “Hold up the cross higher so I can see it through the flames.” Catholics and non-Catholics alike participated in this festive event. It was an amazing opportunity to share the richness of the Catholic faith with others.  What are some more ways we can be creative and bring Catholicism out into the streets? 

Colin’s family celebrated the 607th birthday of St. Joan of Arc—New Orleans style. To kick off the carnival season, New Orleans celebrates the birthday of this great saint with a big parade, songs, good food, and fellowship. The parade even featured quotes from St. Joan, including this one: “Hold up the cross higher so I can see it through the flames.” Catholics and non-Catholics alike participated in this festive event. It was an amazing opportunity to share the richness of the Catholic faith with others. What are some more ways we can be creative and bring Catholicism out into the streets?

Joan of Arc’s 607th Birthday Party

C.S. Lewis, in his book Till We Have Faces, suggests the idea that each of us has one complaint holding us back from God. This complaint is the root of our resistance to God, and it is most certainly based on a lie. This Lent ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what the issue really is. Do you think you’re unworthy of God’s love? Do you think God is uncaring and distant? Are you questioning God’s plan for your life? What is taking you away from God?  Snippet from the Show “In order to attack weeds, you have to pull up roots.” RESOURCES Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis Abiding Together Podcast - ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether

C.S. Lewis, in his book Till We Have Faces, suggests the idea that each of us has one complaint holding us back from God. This complaint is the root of our resistance to God, and it is most certainly based on a lie. This Lent ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what the issue really is. Do you think you’re unworthy of God’s love? Do you think God is uncaring and distant? Are you questioning God’s plan for your life? What is taking you away from God? Snippet from the Show “In order to attack weeds, you have to pull up roots.” RESOURCES <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Till-We-Have-Faces-Retold/dp/0062565419" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Till We Have Faces</a> by C.S. Lewis <a href="https://media.ascensionpress.com/category/ascension-podcasts/abidingtogether/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Abiding Together Podcast</a> - <a href="http://ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether</a>

What’s Holding Us Back from God? C.S. Lewis Has an Idea

Mary’s Fiat, her “yes” to God to become the mother of the Word incarnate, is the ultimate example of surrender to the will of God. One way we can try to imitate her “yes” is by saying a three-minute prayer three times a day, called the Angelus. The Angelus is said at 6am, 12pm, and 6pm and is structured around three things: the invitation of God to Our Lady, her “yes”, and the incarnation of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.  By reflecting on these three things throughout the day, we hold them at the forefront of our minds all day long, and are able to continuously tie everything back to Christ.  Angelus The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:  And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.  Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to thy word.  Hail Mary . . .  And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.  Hail Mary . . .  Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.  Let us pray:  Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, thy son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

Mary’s Fiat, her “yes” to God to become the mother of the Word incarnate, is the ultimate example of surrender to the will of God. One way we can try to imitate her “yes” is by saying a three-minute prayer three times a day, called the Angelus. The Angelus is said at 6am, 12pm, and 6pm and is structured around three things: the invitation of God to Our Lady, her “yes”, and the incarnation of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. By reflecting on these three things throughout the day, we hold them at the forefront of our minds all day long, and are able to continuously tie everything back to Christ. <a href="https://ascensionpress.com/pages/angelus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Angelus</a> The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to thy word. Hail Mary . . . And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us. Hail Mary . . . Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, thy son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Imitate Mary's Fiat with This Short Prayer

Are science and religion opposed? A 2016 Georgetown study revealed that a top reason young people are leaving the Catholic Faith is because of a perceived conflict between faith and science.  But the Church has been a patron of science throughout the ages, and, many of the greatest scientists (including Galileo) were men and women of strong Catholic faith. In fact, the two go hand-in-hand.  St. John Paul said, “Science can purify religion from error and superstition; religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes. Each can draw the other into a wider world, a world in which both can flourish.” _Snippet from the Show “It has been the case for a very long time that the development of science (especially in western civilization) has come largely through the Church. It is a myth that there is some long standing grudge match between faith and science.” _

Are science and religion opposed? A <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/why-catholics-are-leaving-the-faith-by-age-10-and-what-parents-can-do-about-it-48918" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2016 Georgetown study</a> revealed that a top reason young people are leaving the Catholic Faith is because of a perceived conflict between faith and science. But the Church has been a patron of science throughout the ages, and, many of the greatest scientists (including Galileo) were men and women of strong Catholic faith. In fact, the two go hand-in-hand. St. John Paul said, “Science can purify religion from error and superstition; religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes. Each can draw the other into a wider world, a world in which both can flourish.” _Snippet from the Show “It has been the case for a very long time that the development of science (especially in western civilization) has come largely through the Church. It is a myth that there is some long standing grudge match between faith and science.” _

There is No Conflict between Faith and Science

It’s difficult to protect our kids from everything online, but there’s a simple thing you can do that can have an impact: check their phones. This will 1.) reinforce the fact that nothing posted online is anonymous and 2.) give them an excuse to opt out of questionable sites and behaviors because they know their parents will be periodically checking up on them. This goes for apps like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and even gaming platforms. Just having eyes on what your kids are up to on their phones can have a big impact on their online habits. Snippet from the Show “What happens online is not anonymous.”

It’s difficult to protect our kids from everything online, but there’s a simple thing you can do that can have an impact: check their phones. This will 1.) reinforce the fact that nothing posted online is anonymous and 2.) give them an excuse to opt out of questionable sites and behaviors because they know their parents will be periodically checking up on them. This goes for apps like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and even gaming platforms. Just having eyes on what your kids are up to on their phones can have a big impact on their online habits. Snippet from the Show “What happens online is not anonymous.”

Tech, Parenthood, and TikTok

This January, don’t just make a list of goals for the new year—try developing a vision. I don’t mean a vision for your career, your finances, or even for your family. I'm talking about a deeper, more integrated vision that encompasses the entirety of who you are and who Christ is. Developing a vision like this is only possible if you understand where you come from, who you are, where you’re going, and how you can get there. If you’re clear on all four of these questions, I guarantee you’ll be clear on what’s important for you in 2020.  Snippet from the Show _If you begin this year rooted in the sacraments, rooted in the Scriptures, and rooted in a confident awareness of your identity as a beloved son or daughter of God, God will give you a clear vision for 2020. _

This January, don’t just make a list of goals for the new year—try developing a vision. I don’t mean a vision for your career, your finances, or even for your family. I'm talking about a deeper, more integrated vision that encompasses the entirety of who you are and who Christ is. Developing a vision like this is only possible if you understand where you come from, who you are, where you’re going, and how you can get there. If you’re clear on all four of these questions, I guarantee you’ll be clear on what’s important for you in 2020. Snippet from the Show _If you begin this year rooted in the sacraments, rooted in the Scriptures, and rooted in a confident awareness of your identity as a beloved son or daughter of God, God will give you a clear vision for 2020. _

Developing a Vision for 2020

What does a teen philosopher have to say? I interviewed some of my students about the struggles they face in 2019, and this week we’re hearing from Kelly. Kelly talks about having the desire to hear advice that is directed exactly at the problems of today and is unclouded by unresolved issues or baggage. Snippet from the Show “How easy it is for us to carry our unresolved issues into our parenthood and ministry and interactions with teens.”

What does a teen philosopher have to say? I interviewed some of my students about the struggles they face in 2019, and this week we’re hearing from Kelly. Kelly talks about having the desire to hear advice that is directed exactly at the problems of today and is unclouded by unresolved issues or baggage. Snippet from the Show “How easy it is for us to carry our unresolved issues into our parenthood and ministry and interactions with teens.”

2019 Problems Are Not Solved with 1980s Solutions

We all want to speak the truth with love and walk the line between being a habitual enabler and a judging Pharisee. In the Gospels, Jesus carried out this task of admonishing the sinner with three steps: looking, loving, and challenging.  Look - see the person as they truly are, with full acknowledgement of their wrongdoing.  Love - remember that they are loved and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Challenge - challenge them to do better for themselves, which will ultimately make them happier. We see these steps in action in John 8:3-11, when Jesus interacts with the woman caught in the act of adultery. “...and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus looked up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.’ ” When Jesus meets the woman caught in adultery, he looks her in the eye, shows her compassion and mercy, and then challenges her by saying, “go, and do not sin again.” This method of truth spoken in love (look, love, and challenge) is a great way to carry out the spiritual work of mercy of admonishing the sinner.  For more tips on admonishing the sinner, check out Fr. Josh’s podcast episode, Admonishing the Sinner, Regretting Abortion, and Marriage in Heaven at ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh  “Do not accept anything as the truth if it lacks love. And do not accept anything as love which lacks truth! One without the other becomes a destructive lie.” -St. Edith Stein (source)

We all want to speak the truth with love and walk the line between being a habitual enabler and a judging Pharisee. In the Gospels, Jesus carried out this task of admonishing the sinner with three steps: looking, loving, and challenging. Look - see the person as they truly are, with full acknowledgement of their wrongdoing. Love - remember that they are loved and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Challenge - challenge them to do better for themselves, which will ultimately make them happier. We see these steps in action in John 8:3-11, when Jesus interacts with the woman caught in the act of adultery. “...and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus looked up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.’ ” When Jesus meets the woman caught in adultery, he looks her in the eye, shows her compassion and mercy, and then challenges her by saying, “go, and do not sin again.” This method of truth spoken in love (look, love, and challenge) is a great way to carry out the spiritual work of mercy of admonishing the sinner. For more tips on admonishing the sinner, check out Fr. Josh’s podcast episode, Admonishing the Sinner, Regretting Abortion, and Marriage in Heaven at <a href="http://ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ascensionpress.com/askfrjosh</a> “Do not accept anything as the truth if it lacks love. And do not accept anything as love which lacks truth! One without the other becomes a destructive lie.” -St. Edith Stein (source)

Look, Love, and Challenge

It’s easy to be charitable to people we don’t see very often, but if we really want to grow in this virtue, we have to make sure that charity begins at home.  Home is the place where you want to let your guard down and relax, so it’s easy to get annoyed when family members disturb that peace.  When Colin found himself getting irritated with his daughter about a really minor problem, he realized the necessity of being more charitable toward his family.  We can apply the three steps from last week’s episode to grow in charity: look, listen, and challenge. 

It’s easy to be charitable to people we don’t see very often, but if we really want to grow in this virtue, we have to make sure that charity begins at home. Home is the place where you want to let your guard down and relax, so it’s easy to get annoyed when family members disturb that peace. When Colin found himself getting irritated with his daughter about a really minor problem, he realized the necessity of being more charitable toward his family. We can apply the three steps from last week’s episode to grow in charity: look, listen, and challenge.

Charity Begins at Home: A Cliche Because it’s True

Advent brings forth this image of the perfect family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph) that few of us can relate to, but we forget the the family tree of the Holy Family is actually pretty messy.  If you go back in Scripture, there is a lot of sin and suffering in the lineage of Christ on earth. But God can use our broken family stories to bring about his salvation.  In this Advent season, let us pray and hope and invite Emmanuel into our lives.  Snippet from the Show “The God who saved us through the blood of his son is not unaware of how terrible the reign of sin and suffering and death is. God is breaking into the brokenness of our family situations, into the mess of the Church.”

Advent brings forth this image of the perfect family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph) that few of us can relate to, but we forget the the family tree of the Holy Family is actually pretty messy. If you go back in Scripture, there is a lot of sin and suffering in the lineage of Christ on earth. But God can use our broken family stories to bring about his salvation. In this Advent season, let us pray and hope and invite Emmanuel into our lives. Snippet from the Show “The God who saved us through the blood of his son is not unaware of how terrible the reign of sin and suffering and death is. God is breaking into the brokenness of our family situations, into the mess of the Church.”

An Unlikely Advent Meditation

Holy Week is upon us and we find ourselves faced with the mystery of redemption, symbolized by the crucifix we put on our walls.  At this time of year, I always think about a man I knew who would take his crucifix off the wall, and place it right in front of him as we worked. The physical reminder of putting Christ at the center of our lives is powerful.  This week, try to meditate on the crucifix. Take it off the wall, and think about a particular station of the cross that speaks to you.  Snippet from the Show “Christ died for our sins. The crucifix needs to come off the wall and be placed squarely before our eyes.”

Holy Week is upon us and we find ourselves faced with the mystery of redemption, symbolized by the crucifix we put on our walls. At this time of year, I always think about a man I knew who would take his crucifix off the wall, and place it right in front of him as we worked. The physical reminder of putting Christ at the center of our lives is powerful. This week, try to meditate on the crucifix. Take it off the wall, and think about a particular station of the cross that speaks to you. Snippet from the Show “Christ died for our sins. The crucifix needs to come off the wall and be placed squarely before our eyes.”

Take the Crucifix off the Wall

Many of us are familiar with “The Talk”—the extremely awkward conversation you had with your parents where they vaguely referred to birds and bees and flowers and everyone avoided eye contact.  It doesn’t have to be that way! By rooting “The Talk” in JPII’s Theology of the Body, we can hopefully change the conversation to be less about sex, and more about the beauty of God’s plan for men and women.  More than a single conversation. Don’t wait until your kid is in high school to begin talking about this. There are ways to talk about the goodness of the body and marital love in age-appropriate ways. Call it like it is. Refer to body parts by their actual name. Let them know that these things are not bad things, they are private things, deserving of respect. Reinforce that the body is a good. What we do with our bodies is how we express love. Sex is an extension of what we are and who we are. We were made for love, and union, and sex gives us the opportunity to partake in the creative power of God. That is a very good thing. Pay attention to the questions. If your kids have questions, and don’t get satisfactory answers from you, they will look elsewhere.  Be aware of your own views and past experiences of sex. If you have been hurt in this area, acknowledge your brokenness and seek healing and help. Seek advice when needed. Talk to other parents about how they approach this topic. You may find support and ideas that would be helpful.

Many of us are familiar with “The Talk”—the extremely awkward conversation you had with your parents where they vaguely referred to birds and bees and flowers and everyone avoided eye contact. It doesn’t have to be that way! By rooting “The Talk” in JPII’s Theology of the Body, we can hopefully change the conversation to be less about sex, and more about the beauty of God’s plan for men and women. <ol> <li>More than a single conversation. Don’t wait until your kid is in high school to begin talking about this. There are ways to talk about the goodness of the body and marital love in age-appropriate ways.</li> <li>Call it like it is. Refer to body parts by their actual name. Let them know that these things are not bad things, they are private things, deserving of respect.</li> <li>Reinforce that the body is a good. What we do with our bodies is how we express love. Sex is an extension of what we are and who we are. We were made for love, and union, and sex gives us the opportunity to partake in the creative power of God. That is a very good thing.</li> <li>Pay attention to the questions. If your kids have questions, and don’t get satisfactory answers from you, they will look elsewhere. </li> <li>Be aware of your own views and past experiences of sex. If you have been hurt in this area, acknowledge your brokenness and seek healing and help.</li> <li>Seek advice when needed. Talk to other parents about how they approach this topic. You may find support and ideas that would be helpful.</li></ol>

Principles to Make “The Talk” Less Awkward

How exactly can you live out St. Therese’s Little Way in your daily life? Snippet from the Show:  The most important thing I can do is find ways to be present in the moment and offer small sacrifices of love every day. 

How exactly can you live out St. Therese’s Little Way in your daily life? Snippet from the Show: The most important thing I can do is find ways to be present in the moment and offer small sacrifices of love every day.

St. Therese - Malaise, Hurricanes, and the Little Way

Reflecting on Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Redemptor Hominis, Colin reminds us that Christ the redeemer is the center of the entire universe and all of human history.  But is he the center of your own personal universe and your own personal history?  As Catholics, we need to re-situate Jesus Christ as the center of our reality. Everything we do, say and believe should orbit around him.  The devil is looking to sidetrack us and lead us to focus on anything other than Christ the redeemer. For Catholics, it might be Church politics, our families, our work— even a specific spiritual practice— but if we place any of these at our center, we need to re-calibrate our lives and put Christ back in his rightful place. Only when our lives are reordered around him will we be fully redeemed.  _ Snippet from the Show:_ Christ the Redeemer is the center of the entire universe and of human history, but is he the center of your universe? 

Reflecting on Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Redemptor Hominis, Colin reminds us that Christ the redeemer is the center of the entire universe and all of human history. But is he the center of your own personal universe and your own personal history? As Catholics, we need to re-situate Jesus Christ as the center of our reality. Everything we do, say and believe should orbit around him. The devil is looking to sidetrack us and lead us to focus on anything other than Christ the redeemer. For Catholics, it might be Church politics, our families, our work— even a specific spiritual practice— but if we place any of these at our center, we need to re-calibrate our lives and put Christ back in his rightful place. Only when our lives are reordered around him will we be fully redeemed. _ Snippet from the Show:_ Christ the Redeemer is the center of the entire universe and of human history, but is he the center of your universe?

Christ the Redeemer: Center of Your Universe?

Delayed gratification is counter-intuitive. When we’re hungry, we want to eat. Why would we put that off? Because our short term desires are often opposed to our long term goals and ultimate happiness.  For example, it may feel good to eat ice cream right now, but if I keep doing that all the time, my health will suffer. When we put our immediate goods before our long-term goods, we will make ourselves unhappy in the long run.  St. Thérèse’s Little Way is all about this concept. Choose a small sacrifice to offer up and delay gratification and set your eyes on the ultimate goal of heaven.  Snippet from the Show “We sell out our inheritance for what will satiate us for a moment.” Check out this episode at ascensionpress.com/thetightrope

Delayed gratification is counter-intuitive. When we’re hungry, we want to eat. Why would we put that off? Because our short term desires are often opposed to our long term goals and ultimate happiness. For example, it may feel good to eat ice cream right now, but if I keep doing that all the time, my health will suffer. When we put our immediate goods before our long-term goods, we will make ourselves unhappy in the long run. St. Thérèse’s Little Way is all about this concept. Choose a small sacrifice to offer up and delay gratification and set your eyes on the ultimate goal of heaven. Snippet from the Show “We sell out our inheritance for what will satiate us for a moment.” Check out this episode at <a href="http://ascensionpress.com/thetightrope" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ascensionpress.com/thetightrope</a>

Delayed Gratification Is One of the Greatest Markers of Happiness

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