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Does Suffering Have a Purpose?
The approach to Calvary may be made by way of the Old Testament, by way of meditation on the Passion, by way of the Mass. But in the last analysis it is by way of experience. Until we have suffered something, however little, of Christ’s last hours, we do not know what pain, in the Christian scheme, is really for; nor do we know, until we have suffered with Christ, how bad we are at suffering. The Crucifixion not only opens our eyes to the gospel teaching on life as a whole and to the significance of the particular climax to which that teaching led, but in its application to our own lives, it throws into relief the standard of our religious conviction together with the generosity of our response. Click here to continue reading.
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Implications of the Supreme Court Ruling on "Same- Sex" Marriage
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a ruling that in effect redefines the civil definition of marriage nationwide. It has decided that every state must recognize “same-sex marriage” as a constitutional right. The law of the land affirms that “marriage” in civil law may now include two persons of the same sex. While this is not the Church’s understanding of marriage, it is a definition confirmed by the Court.One concern with the new definition of marriage is that some Catholics may think that because the civil law definition of marriage has changed, so too has the Church’s teaching on what constitutes marriage. Another issue is that some people with a same-sex attraction may feel, after all the debate on sexuality and the true nature of marriage, that they are not welcome in the Church. Still others may wonder why Church teaching calls for a respect for each person but not approval of every lifestyle or activity. Then there are those who want to know more about the faith in order to participate better in discussions. How can we be well prepared to go out, as Pope Francis tells us, to engage and accompany people as we all try to draw closer to the Lord?
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