A parishioner, Marco, sends me the following comment:

Hello again Fr. Clore,

A convergence of things conspire against my peace of mind this time of year;  I am always quite busy with familial, professional, and personal obligations. The turning of seasons.  All Hallows/Saint/Souls is a reflective time of year.   My father’s birthday lingers in October…

It is hard to put words to it but there is truly something in the air.

What happens when you die (easy stuff right?)

Once again I am unaware if I am crossing lines by asking certain questions but here goes;

Is there an expectation of beliefs regarding dying (as a Catholic).  What creed do we hold to?

What allowance for personal belief is there as a Catholic?  Will ascribing to reincarnation earn me a free ticket on the ”demon drop?”

What do you think happens when we are called home that last time? (This is the part that I reticent to ask about).

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I could go on but that is enough to chew on for a while.

PS- Have been meaning to ask you;  What order are you?  I have lots of questions about orders in the future…what a tapestry Catholicism is!
 

-Marco

Marco raises very intersting questions. anyone want to weigh in on these thoughts?

Fr. Clore

One of the best symbols of God’s love for us is a Wedding Banquet. Most of us have great memories of good times at a wedding. In last Sunday’s readings, Isaiah uses this image. In the Gospel, however, things go horribly wrong. The people invited do not want to come — in fact, they stage a rebellion against the king! And he retaliates! And then he even throws out a poor guy who showed up without a tuxedo! What’s that all about?

Someone recently asked me about last Sunday’s reading in which St. Paul says, “Jesus Christ, though in the form of God… emptied himself, taking on the form of a slave…” The question was about the Holy Trinity — How can the Son of God empty himself of divine nature?

Very thoughtful question. This is in the Epistle to the Philippians 2:1-11.

The main point of Paul’s teaching is the wonderful gift of God to us, literally pouring Godself out into our humble condition, thereby making it possible for Jesus to take us with him when God lifted him up again. His other main point is that we should do likewise: “Have in yourselves the same attitude that is in Christ Jesus.”

So what about the Holy Trinity? How did they do that? Anyone want to comment?

Fr. Clore

Last Sunday we heard Jesus tell one of his more puzzling parables — the guys who showed up to work at the last hour got paid as much as the ones who had worked all day in the blazing sun. Not a very “equitable” move. But Jesus says: Look at it from a higher point of view — getting the harvest in by the end of the day.

What do you think? Do you have a similar kind of experience?

Besides, can you imaging the scuffling and wrangling that would have been going on: “I got here at 9:00!”  “I don’t think so, I’m sure it was more like noon!” etc. etc.

Welcome to my new web blog. I will be putting thoughts and ideas here that I hope you will read and respond to. It is meant to enlighten and challenge you as well as to inform you and lift your spirit. It is new and unformatted so let us go on this journey together and see where it takes us.