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Christian Witness

Reflection for Trinity Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for Trinity Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for Trinity Sunday 2025

Current Events, Perspective

Peace, thy name is million

One Million Blogs for Peace has officially launched today, the fourth anniversary of the Iraq ‘war.’ Yours truly is one of the two-hundred seventeen inaugural blogs, or as the site refers to us the inblogurals.

Each Tuesday a special topic for discussion will be posted. This week’s is:

Think back four years ago, to when you first heard that the Iraq War had started.

Were you for or against the war at the time?

Against.

If you were for it, what has changed your mind over the last four years?

N/A

If you were against it, why were you against it?

In a word, contrived. There was such a stunning lack of international unity on the issue. Those who were with the United States were cobbled together. Beyond Great Britain, Australia, and Poland, the others seemed to be there only for the quid-pro-quo.

Even Poland, sadly, was not strong in that regard. The funny thing was that the quid-pro-quo was never completed. Poland was no better off for having participated. You know what they say about shaking hands with the devil, make sure you still have a hand afterward.

These days things don’t happen like that. We’ve moved beyond the stage where anyone with a brain believes the USA has all the secret data and the rest of the world is filled with bumbling secret agents (Inspector Jacques Clouseau style). If the threat were real no country and no leader in striking distance of Saddam’s weapons would have been reticent.

More than the contrived nature of the whole thing, any student of propaganda saw the run up. Us against the mean bad man… Those who are not with us are against us… Those crazy (ignorant, bumbling, disloyal, self interested, greedy, armpit hair wearning ) foreigners, especially the French… Iraq, half starved and poor (except for the elite) had the wherewithal to devastate the United States… The press jumping in with both feet – USA, USA, USA, like a hockey game…

My question would be, were people drunk when they took the government’s and the media’s word for it? Did people believe Colin Powell orating at the UN on this issue? He will forever be a sellout and requisite liar. He’s certainly smart enough not to have had the wool pulled over his eyes by President Bush etal.

The other word is smarmy. President Bush is smarmy. A poor businessman, a weak intellect, riding the crest of a family with money and power. Someone like President Reagan would have stayed on-point. Go after Al-Qaeda, hit them, do what needs doing to protect the US. The Bush administration used Al-Qaeda as a reason, once their initial reason fell apart, and the whole tie-in was, well, smarmy, self-serving, and irrelevant.

Now, here we are, thousands of our sons and daughters dead, tens of thousands physically and mentally destroyed (and those are just our citizens – magnify that by 10, 20, or 30 times for Iraqis), for a smarmy leader leading us into a contrived war.

Sad, regrettable, lowest point, waste… all words to describe what we have done. Mistake, as President Bush has said, is not one of those words. It was no mistake. It was intentional.

Christian Witness, Current Events, Perspective

Om – and that thing the Pope said

From New Delhi Television (NDTV) Borrowing in faith: Kerala church creates ripples

A new church in Kollam district in Kerala has adopted the motifs and religious practices of other faiths during its various ceremonies.

It is an attempt on part of the Latin Catholic church to promote inter-faith dialogue and understanding, but it is has been received with caution.

The Pope writing all that about being true to who Latin Rite Roman Catholics are, the Eucharist at the center, Gregorian chant, Latin should be used, etc. doesn’t seem to be playing in this part of India.

Fr Romance Antony conducts Sunday Mass at the Jagat Jyoti Mandir in Neendakara Panchayat.

Both the priest and his congregation sit cross-legged on the floor listening to bhajans. The pulpit and pews are missing. There isn’t even a crucifix behind what should have been the altar.

Christ is represented as seated in padmasana like the Buddha under the Bodhi tree.

Jesus, Buddah, Mohammad, Zoroaster… you know, the universal oneness.

“There is a paradigm shift from a closed community to a community which is able to accept other values and symbols,” said Fr Antony.

Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. It’s all a paradigm shift. Jesus is a fluid guy.

Inside the Church, there are reflections of Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism and even Zoroastrianism. Even the Last Supper as portrayed by Da Vinci reflects a strong indigenisation.

Had to look at that one a couple times. They mean becoming indigenous. I thought they said indigestion at first. My bad.

Christ and his disciples are shown seated eating from banana leaves.

And atop the Church is a huge “Om” where there’s normally a crucifix. Father Antony insists there’s a method to this confluence of religious symbolism.

A method that only exists within the poor priest’s mind, a method that is self-serving rather than God serving.

“Most of the Rig Veda symbols are neutral. They do not pertain to any religion, not even to Hinduism. Say “Om” or the kirtans in Rig Veda – they go beyond religion and Gods. They are part of a universal religious search and can be practiced by all religions,” he added.

Public opinion is divided in this small fishing hamlet. While some see it as an attempt to convert people to Christianity, others view it as a dilution of the Christian ethos.

You see, its only an ethos – kind of like ether.

“Initially, Christians were opposed to it. Now they are slowly accepting it,” said Francis, Devotee.

That is the saddest part. The shepherd is leading the sheep astray. For my part I’m wondering why they want to refer to themselves as Catholics. No problem, be what you want, but get a new moniker. Episcopalian anyone?

And in case you can’t get to that part of India to witness this fiasco, just hie yourself over to the Hubbard Interfaith SanctuaryWhen I came to Albany I noticed an amazing trend. Roman Catholic parishes here tend to have halls, centers, schools, etc. named after their current pastors. Nothing timeless like, oh, Saints, past Bishops, long dead pastors. Nope, its always the current guy. The R.C. parish we belonged to for a while had the Fr. Toole Center – replete with kelly green throughout – a homage to the wearin ‘o the green. at the College of St. Rose right here in Albany NY. The ‘sanctuary’ at this nominally Catholic college is named after the current Roman Catholic Bishop of Albany, Howard Hubbard. There you will witness:

Buddhist Monks Create Sand Mandala, Monday – Friday, March 26-30, 2007, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM.

As part of a weeklong celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of the Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary, a local community of Buddhist monks will be on campus to create a sand mandala. Contact the Office of Spiritual Life. Father ChrisRev. Christopher DeGiovine, Chair of the Diocesan Committee on Ongoing Formation and Continuing Education of Priests will be happy to help.

Does this sound familiar…

Calendar of Saints, PNCC

March 19

St. Joseph - Maronite Icon

Feast – St. Joseph, Spouse of the BVM, (1st century)
St. John of Panaca, Abbot, (6th century)
St. Landoald and Companions, Martyrs, (668)

The Polish Hymn: O Józefie uwielbiony (O admirable St. Joseph) by ks. Karol Antoniewicz (1807-1852)

O Józefie uwielbiony,
nad Anioły wyniesiony,
Stwórcyś Swego jest Piastunem,
Matki Jego Opiekunem.

Czego nas Adam pozbawił,
Tyś nam przez Syna naprawił;
Podskarbim zostałeś Nieba,
Smucić się nam nie potrzeba.

Królaś Ojcem Niebieskiego
I Stróżem Raju świętego;
Wszyscy Mu ludzie śpiewajcie,
Przy Nim zbawienia szukajcie.

O, Ojcze pełen miłości,
Patronie wszelkiej litości,
Broń nas od skonania złego
I od czarta przeklętego!

O, Ojcze Stwórcy mniemany!
Niech Syn Twój, przez Cię błagany,
Wszystkie winy nam odpuści
I do łaski Swej przypuści!

Przez Syna, Ojcze, Twego,
Ojca i Ducha Świętego,
Przybądź na nasze skonanie,
A daj dobre dokonanie.

Chwała bądź Bogu naszemu,
Przez Józefa karmionemu;
I Ojcu Jego wiecznemu
Oraz Duchowi Świętemu.

Homilies,

The Fourth Sunday of Lent

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting their trespasses against them
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Today we run back to the Father. The Holy Church, through the ministry entrusted to it, and its sacramental action reconciles us to the Father and each other.

It’s interesting to reflect on those words from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 19. Paul is telling us that God’s action was continuous. Not something done in a moment, but on-going. God was reconciling us, He was not counting trespasses, and this action is accomplished through His Son and continues through us, His Church.

In our extended sacrament of penance we come back, and like the son say:

‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

We often expect the worst. In today’s lingo the son would probably say that his father was going to put some smack-down on him. Even so, the son was willing to accept that. Hey, could it be worse than where he was?

I’ve often wondered what the father was like, I mean before the reconciliation. Was the father tough? Was the father demanding? Was he cruel? Did the reconciliation and the look on his son’s face bring out his mercy?

Frankly, I think the father was none of that. The father did not question the son’s intent when he came with his demands —“

‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’

The father certainly had his expectations, but in all things the father was consistent. He did not count trespasses and he was reconciling. Jesus gives us that father based on the Father He knew – God. And, as Paul pointed out, God the Father’s action is continuous and consistent. He is merciful and forgiving.

So the prodigal son hears, and so we hear the same words God the Father declared to Israel:

—Today I have removed the reproach … from you.—

Brethren,

In penance we grab onto the hope that is ours in Jesus Christ, forgiveness and eternal life. We need that now as we enter the dark days ahead.

Like that last kiss and hug, exchanged between loved ones leaving in the morning, the kiss and hug that give hope and joy no matter what comes that day, we need God’s forgiveness to pull us out of our troubles and frustration, to give us hope and joy. We need God’s forgiveness even more as we contemplate the coming passion of our Lord Jesus.

The forgiveness we receive from the Father, and the peace we share with one another, prepares us for the dark days ahead.

Next week we enter the Passiontide. The two weeks before Easter. Next week the visuals of the Holy Church will be covered in purple. There will be nothing to draw our eye, other than the mystery of Christ and His love for us. It will be for all intents and purposes you, me, and Christ crucified, alone together.

So as we go forth, accept the embrace of the Father. Listen to Him as He talks about you. He’s telling the rest of us:

‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’

That, my friends, is our hope.

That is the Father who does not count trespasses and continuously reconciles us in His Son.

Everything Else

The bloggers toolbox

Mark, of Weblog Tools Collection, posted his list of indispensable blogging tools in What’s in My Blogging Toolkit?.

Here’s my list of primary tools for blogging:

  • WordPress – Code is Poetry because it doesn’t get in the way of content. I started with Blogger and dabbled with Movable Type and both are ok depending on where you are. I wanted something that was robust, scalable, and worked with me. WordPress does it.
  • Automattic Tools – The sidebar widgets plugin and Akismet. Don’t use WordPress without them.
  • Firefox – I use it on the Macs and on my Windows machines. I’ve used it on Linux. It works, it is smooth and nothing in the interface is a jumble of jargonized fluff. Tabs galore, news, E-mail, WP Admin, Poland, and consistent spell checking in one.
  • IE – because I have to use it to use phpMyAdmin. The version provided my my host (Yahoo!) doesn’t seem to play well with Firefox. Tonight I upgraded phpMyAdmin myself (from 2.6.3-pl1 to 2.10.0.2) because I got really annoyed after writing this.
  • phpMyAdmin – for all the back-end database stuff.
  • Google for everything – I use GMail for all my E-mail needs (including the GMail for mobile applications Java app). I have a countless number of E-mail addresses all feeding into one place. I use Calendar, Translate, Analytics, a personalized Google homepage, and all of Google’s varied search functionality.
  • Netvibes – All my RSS, newsfeeds, bookmarks, blog searches, and assorted other knickknacks all in one place.
  • MS Office Picture Manager – for simple image compression and resizing as well as a few image adjustment tools that work well for me.
  • Weblog Tools Collection – where else would I find great info on new plugins and themes. Really, Mark provides a great rundown of the latest in an quick, easy to digest format.
  • Wikipedia – controversy aside over a few hacked articles, it provides lots of good info if you are unclear on something.
  • Firebug – checking out what I’ve messed up.
  • Powered by Faith – that’s what the blog is supposed to be about. While my faith is certainly imperfect and I don’t always live up to the ideals of my faith, I still need to proclaim its saving power and rely upon it for glimpses into the sublime.
PNCC,

The Sacrament of Matrimony in the PNCC

The Polish National Catholic Church website has posted The Sacrament of Matrimony in the Polish National Catholic Church (PDF document) which was Presented to the XXI General Synod and which was accepted unanimously by the Polish National Catholic Church Doctrine Commission during their meeting on September 4, 2002.

The paper covers the following:

  • Matrimony —“ A Sacrament
  • The Priest is the Minister of the Sacrament
  • Administration of the Sacrament of Matrimony
  • Ceremonies
  • Annulment, Dissolution and Divorce
  • The Church Fathers and Dissolution of Marriage
  • Impediments to Marriage —“ Grounds for Annulment or Dissolution
  • Permission to Remarry
  • Procedures for an Annulment or Dissolution of a Marriage
  • Matrimonial Commission

I highly recommend this paper to anyone interested in the PNC Church’s understanding of matrimony and its Doctrine on the Sacrament of Matrimony.

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