Do you ever lament the consistent or occasional impurity of a dream? At some point in our life, we learn what triggers nighttime temptations. For some it is the Facebook scroll through that one person’s profile. For another it might be flirting through text or phone conversations or Snapchat. For someone else it might be… [Read More]
About Josue
Accountability to Faith: Romans 1-3
Saint Paul makes some pretty dramatic points in this letter. Some of them are so dramatic, different Christian groups and denominations have based their theology on those few statements. The first three chapters have some of those verses: “ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature … has been clearly perceived in the… [Read More]
A Commentary on Romans: Introduction
This is the introduction to a five-part commentary on the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans. I hope that the reader is inspired to pray with the passages from this letter. My intention is not to explain everything. Rather, I hope to point to and give light to different verses that have affected my… [Read More]
Mass As Gift: Receiving The Father’s Love
Here’s the point: we don’t need to ask for more grace. We need to be open to the grace God gives. Were you ever part of the “Mass Is Boring” Club? There were some requirements for membership. You were not supposed to pay attention to the readings in Mass. You were supposed to mumble the… [Read More]
Stretch of the Heart: Why You Need Hope
Think about the fact that you have a desire to love God and follow his will. Consider the difficulty of being faithful to him when it is tiring or inconvenient. How could it be that the saints before us were like spiritual and charitable super heroes? Is there a saint medicine we’re missing out on?… [Read More]
The Beauty of The Dark Night
Saint John of the Cross has a reputation for being a guy who does not care much for your feelings. His name sometimes sounds like a penance. People hear “dark night” and think of an isolated exile with little or no hope. While I cannot correct that error in a short article, I would like to… [Read More]
Learn Scripture By Threading
Why learn scripture? The disciples in a certain sense become “drawn into intimacy with God by being immersed in the word of God. God’s word is, so to speak, the purifying bath, the creative power which changes them and makes them belong to God”. And since Christ himself is God’s Word made flesh (Jn 1:14) –… [Read More]
Why Jesus Said, “I Thirst”
“I thirst” (Jn 19:28). Jesus said this on the Cross and before he gave up his spirit. This phrase reminds us of the pain and anguish he endured for our sake. It reminds us of the death of the just for the sake of the unjust. The language and wording associated with the redemption of… [Read More]
How to Fix Infidelity
This article is a reflection on part of Mark 6 (verses 7-13 and 30-44). The first passage is the mission of the twelve given by Jesus. The second passage is the multiplication of the loaves. Not much of that is reflected on. Most of it is good to have in mind, though (context). This gospel passage… [Read More]
The Power of Christian Unity
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. -Romans 12:14-16 This verse is thematic of what we call Christian unity: peace, harmony, listening to… [Read More]
Hope Is Beneath Despair
Too often we fail to recognize the fidelity of God in our lives. I could quote to you every other line of Psalm 136: “…his steadfast love endures forever,” but that’s not always the response we’re looking for, is it? The answer is true, sure. Thomas Merton calls the Book of Psalms bread in the… [Read More]
Time To Say No To Greatness
Have you ever asked Jesus what his new year resolution was? Use that cute “WWJD” question form and ask him. It might be a silly question, considering the degree of his perfection (you know, infinitely perfect and what not). But really, what would Jesus do? Would he tell you to let your yes mean yes… [Read More]
What Are We Waiting For?
What are we waiting for? We are waiting for Jesus to come, yes, for his advent. He makes the first move. It is true that we love him only because he has first loved us (1 Jn 4:19). It is true that it is he who has called us out of the darkness of sin into… [Read More]
All Saints Day
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” “Follow me, as I follow Christ.” This call of St. Paul to the Corinthians is high. Notice he does not encourage the community (in this passage) to seek the straight and narrow pathway of the Christian life alone, nor does he give a list of vague… [Read More]
Friendship in Two Words: Part 2
In my previous post, friendship was presented as necessitating, or defined by, two qualities: listening and reciprocity. There were tensions and faults brought up throughout the article as they relate to listening and reciprocity. Each person fails in certain, and with some frequency, habitual ways in friendship with another. The faults and sins may not… [Read More]
Friendship Defined in Two Words
Those in friendship must have the capacity to listen to one another. Second, there must be reciprocity in friendship. Can something so widespread and diverse be articulated and contained in two words? Friendship can be pleasurable, utilitarian, or virtuous (taken from Edward Sri). If it is pleasurable, the friendship has its foundation on some common… [Read More]
I Will Be With You
“I will be with you.” We read this in the Great Commission, in Isaiah, and other places. It is true because it is God who says it to us. However, we can neglect to hear or listen to this. Ask yourself why. Why is it someone would reject this truth? In Isaiah 43, it’s in… [Read More]
Purify Your Memory
Christians believe that the poor in spirit are 1) blessed and 2) will see the kingdom of heaven. It is also true that the pure of heart shall see God. In 2014, however, it is hard to articulate what that means, or how one can “do that” or “attain” it. In this context, the purification… [Read More]
Die to the Lord, Rise to New Life
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. -Psalm 127:1 Often the Christian will exhort the other and say, “Die to yourself! Die to your passions. Die to the world and live with Christ.” It is important… [Read More]
Holy Saturday
What’s so holy about it? It’s after Good Friday and before Easter Vigil. At first glance, it seems like an ordinary day that the Church forgot about and just stuck “Holy” in front of to make it seem legitimate. Nice try, but wrong. We pray today. Do you remember the ear of Elijah that listened… [Read More]
To Be a Parishioner
At what parish are you a parishioner? That sounds like someone is asking, what church are you a part or a member of? So why don’t we use the word member? Why parish? What’s the difference? Is there even a difference? Yes! To be a parishioner is the same as being a saint, as living… [Read More]
The Chair of St. Peter
(31) “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, (32) but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.” (33) And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” (34)… [Read More]
The Value of Wasting Time
Have you ever thought, “I could be doing something better right now,” or “that’s going to take too much time, I’ll do something else instead”? These thoughts and those related to it articulate the idea that the quantity of time or effort we expend is equal to the value of that commitment, or person’s worth…. [Read More]
The Holy Innocents
Christmas was only three days ago. The day after Christmas we honored St. Stephen, the first martyr. Think about that: we honor a martyr- the first martyr- the day after Christmas. The day after that we honor St. John the Evangelist, whose authorship is attributed to one Gospel and four books in the New Testament…. [Read More]
Lying, Confession, and St. Andrew
Lying Have you ever lied to someone? Did you mean to? Did you feel bad afterwards? What about during prayer? A friend and I recently shared a conversation about lying. In our own way, we each had entered into a state of sin; we fell short of our call to holiness and virtue. We shared… [Read More]
All Souls Day
What is it like to hope for others? What is it like to practice what we believe about the human person? Is our belief anchored in a theology that distracts us from hurt and grief? Or, does the theology help us to grieve and grow? I don’t think the Catholic Church creates her own theology… [Read More]
The Soul’s Movement at the Moment of Communion
Consider this article as a monologue or an interior thought, as if someone was thinking out loud and searching for an answer within themselves. At some points, I address the soul as “her,” instead of “it.” I do this partly because St. John of the Cross uses that kind of language in his writings. It… [Read More]
From Presumption to Discernment
Think about this statement: “We do not know what He is doing.” Is that true or false? Consider this, the more we seek, the more we find (Mt. 7:7), and the more we come to know Him. That quoted statement, then, is false! How often, though, can you say that you know what Jesus is… [Read More]
The Confession of a New Seminarian
Why would a 23-year-old guy go to Catholic seminary? Here’s one answer: Jesus Christ, who has radically transformed me, is continuing to do so as I open myself to Him and in Him. The more I live, the more I desire to experience this life as one of His priests. The more He speaks, the… [Read More]
Prayer and Self Confidence: An Interior Reflection
What does it mean to be humble? What kind of self-denial (Lk 9:23) does that entail? Is the desire for humility contrary to that of self-confidence? Is one good and the other beautiful? I’d like these thoughts to continue in the Comment section. Does prayer nurture my humility? It would seem so – that the… [Read More]
Thanksgiving and Detachment
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad! Did you read what happened in that verse? The author acknowledged God’s work of creation and God’s work in creation. What follows when God is acknowledged? His creation is glad and rejoices! We are glad and we rejoice. The heavens declare… [Read More]
Priesthood and the Crucifixion
Do you remember the Pilgrimage of Prayer? In the last week, I have “stopped, looked, and listened.” It is beautiful when you and I can share with one other the fruits of our contemplation, the fruits and thoughts of our prayer. The Order of Preachers (nicknamed the Dominicans) uses that phrase to describe their vocation,… [Read More]
The Pilgrimage of Prayer
Actually, the Catechism has a section titled The Battle of Prayer. We have God the Holy Spirit and Michael the Archangel to help us. Here’s a perspective of pilgrimage: ever since Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, humanity has been on a pilgrimage. Pereginus (from the Latin) is one who comes… [Read More]
Confession and Pentecost; Grace and Power
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. -Proverbs 3:5-6 This verse is not like Confession; this verse is Confession. Four things happen. I entrust myself to God through a spiritual father, a… [Read More]
To Be a Saint
This should be read as a meditation. There is scripture mingled in and cited, but not always directly quoted. Who am I to be a saint? Am I tired? Am I afraid? Am I inadequate? Moses was inadequate; he admitted it (Ex. 4:10, 13). And what of fear? Will my friends forget me or leave… [Read More]
The Seat of Moses? Did you mean the See of Peter?
Apostolic succession is biblical! That’s the point of the title. The rest will be detail, hopefully tying the two phrases together. Please have the bible with you. First, in the Acts of the Apostles, Peter leads a gathering to select Matthias to take the place or “office” of Judas (Acts 1:12-26). He continues to preach… [Read More]
Jesus has Risen: Giver and Sender
Alleluia! “Ridding oneself of what is repugnant to God’s will should be understood not only of one’s acts but of one’s habits as well. Not only must actual voluntary imperfections cease, but habitual imperfections must be annihilated too.” -St. John of the Cross, Ascent of Mount Carmel On Sunday we celebrated the solemnity of the… [Read More]
Fraternity: A Place of Charity and Indulgence
What does it take to be a man of God? The place of fraternity cultivates what we as men aspire to, masculinity. It sounds easy enough, but we don’t always cultivate the word of God in our heart (Col 3:16). We don’t always act in charity toward our brothers, sometimes we indulge in sin. Sometimes… [Read More]
