The Gospel in a Nutshell

Jesus came to earth as the second Adam. By placing Himself under limitations, He modeled God’s original intent for Adam. Jesus, the Son of Man, would have complete faith in the Father and the Holy Spirit. The power of Jesus’ life and ministry rested upon His faith in the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not come to earth with His own agenda; He came to fulfill the will of the Father.

  God would display everything He desired for humanity through the life and ministry of Jesus. The Bible leaves us a clear record. Jesus, as the second Adam, lived and fultilled all God had planned for the first Adam. Jesus lived a completely sinless life. Completely governed by the voice of God, he overcame every temptation of the devil. He was a living and breathing expression of the Father’s heart to humanity. He came preaching and demonstrating the Good News.

  Jesus healed all manner of sickness and disease because it was never God’s intention for those evils to be part of man’s existence in the first place. God’s passion to redeem humanity and the earth consumed Jesus; this was His divine mission. As the second Adam, He succeeded in reestablishing God’s original plan so we could be free in Him. Preaching and demonstrating the Kingdom of God were essential to Jesus’ mission, but God’s plan could not find fulfillment without His death and resurrection. Only through this divine purpose could God’s full desire for humanity be realized.

  For humanity to become born again, God Himself would give them the key that would unlock the door into a new identity and a new way of living. He used this new way of living as a reintroduction of what He desired at the beginning of time:  a people who lived as citizens of His Kingdom, representing His interests in the earth. Jesus taught, modeled and fully demonstrated this kingdom (God’s rule and reign) in His life on earth.

  God’s revelation of Himself underlies our faith in Him. A believer and citizen of the Kingdom of God is one who responds by faith to God through trusting God’s revelation of Himself found in Scripture as the basis of his or her existence. Jesus revealed Himself to all humanity as the way, the truth and the life. God’s love, His standards and all His attributes are found in His Word and in the person of Jesus Christ.

  When the Good News of the gospel is presented, individuals receive a choice between life and death. Adam and Eve also received a choice, and God continues to honor people’s choices today. He entrusts us all with a measure of faith in the gospel message, and He gives each of us the ability to respond to Him. But we must decide to say yes.

  God gave humanity the gift of faith to release His ability to work on our behalf. We can only receive faith through surrender and trust.

  St. Paul writes:   “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  Ephesians 2:8 

Who's Raising the Children?

 

The culture of the family in the United States has been changing dramatically since the Second World War. Before that time, in families, the father was considered the one who worked to support the family. The mother’s job was to care for the home and the children. It was a system established since families began and was based on the fact that women carried and gave birth to the children. Because of their physical and psychological design they were better suited for the tasks of nurturing the young and all the tasks that go into maintaining a home and family. Men, because of their physical and psychological design, were better suited to working to provide for their home and family. There were, of course, exceptions to this design all throughout history, often by necessity; but the pattern remained for the general populace. 

  During the Second World War many American women went to work to take the places of the men who were fighting overseas. Those who were not pregnant or nursing made arrangements for grandparents or other family members to care for their homes and children. When the war was over, the men who returned went back to their jobs and most of the women returned to their work in the home and raising their children. 

  But there were some who decided they liked working outside the home. Because of many socio-economic factors some women stayed in the workforce. There are advantages and disadvantages of working outside the home, just as there are advantages and disadvantages of working in the home. Just as some men think it’s easier to manage a household and raise children, some women began to think it was easier to work outside the home (the grass is always greener on the other side). 

  Then came the modern feminist movement. Although the feminist movement began in the mid-19 century, the most radical feminist movement began in 1963. This was when the work of managing a household and raising children began to be belittled. Having a career and working outside the home were considered the better, less demeaning, choice. Women were told that they could do it all—marry, have a home and family and a career as well. It was as if all the work that women have done throughout the centuries was worthless. Only that work done outside the home had worth. That was the beginning of the breakdown of the family. And as the title of this says, “Who’s raising the children?”  For children don’t raise themselves; someone has to do it. 

  The answer was of course--the government. That was the beginning of the diabolical plan to keep children away from the influence of their parents as much as possible. What began with grandparents or aunts caring for the children graduated to other women caring for them in their homes then to daycare centers which parents paid to care for their children.  Currently the plan is to provide free state-sponsored daycare to make it even easier for both parents to go out to work. 

  Children are molded and shaped by those with whom they spend the most time. Strong, lasting families are not formed between the hours of six and eight PM and on weekends and holidays. They are formed by the daily day to day presence of loving parents—teaching them, loving them, being there for them; forming and molding them into good people with good values and morals. 

  If children are raised primarily by schools, day-care centers or non-family members, they will be formed by the values, morals and worldview of those who are caring for them. Also, no one loves a child as fully and unconditionally as his or her parents. 

  This is not meant to cause guilt to divorced or single parents who have no choice but to have others care for their children. Every situation in life is not ideal. It’s written to help the reader be aware of the plan underlying the path our culture has been led on in the past 70 or so years. It’s also written to cause the reader to understand clearly the ramifications to children and the welfare of the family of the choices made in life, and in society as a whole.

Using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

 The gifts of the Spirit

  are like tools in a toolshed.

If you don't know they are there,

  you can't use them.

If you know they are there

  but don't know how to use them

They are of no value to you

  or anyone else.

See Isaiah 11:2-3, Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 for a listing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus - The Good Shepherd

 

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand … catches sight of the wolf coming and runs away, leaving the sheep to be snatched and scattered by the wolf…. I know my sheep and my sheep know me in the same way that the Father knows me and I know my Father; for these sheep I will give my life.  John 10:11-12, 14-15

In biblical times, shepherding was often delegated to the youngest child, who had to lead the sheep to food and water, name and count them, separate them, find them when they strayed, help them with difficult deliveries, and protect them from predators. Jesus says He is the Good Shepherd. He not only gave His life for us, but He continues to shepherd us today.

A shepherd was responsible for keeping his sheep safe; not just from predators, but from wandering off or getting lost. During the day, the sheep grazed in the pastures. But when nightfall came, the sheep were gathered into a pen, if available; or if not, into a tight gathering with the other sheep. Jesus allows us the freewill to go out into the world, but is always looking after us to be sure we don’t go too far or get lost. He instructs us to be a part of a Christian community which keeps us from going astray. It’s the sheep who wanders off by him or herself that is more vulnerable to attack or to getting lost.

The good shepherd leads his sheep to food and water; he cares for their physical needs. Our Good Shepherd provides food for our bodies as well as food for our souls. He provides for all of our needs, as he knows we are mortal as well as spiritual beings.

The good shepherd names and counts his sheep. Our Good Shepherd knows each of us by name; we are never just one face in the crowd. Our name makes us special and individual. He counts each of his sheep, as each one is a valuable part of His flock.

The good shepherd separates his sheep. He pairs the weak with the strong so the strong will look after the weak and help them along. Our Good Shepherd leads us to people and groups who will help us to grow and develop into the person we were meant to be.

The good shepherd goes after every stray sheep and leads them back to the flock. Our Good Shepherd pursues us relentlessly if we wander away from His Church or His teachings. He is never very far from any of those who are part of His flock. He does not give up until they return.

The good shepherd helps his sheep with difficult deliveries. Our Good Shepherd helps us in the many and varied tasks we are called to do. He gives us all the gifts we need and the grace to carry out all our work and responsibilities. There is no assignment given to us that He does not equip us to accomplish.

So let us thank Jesus for being our Good Shepherd and remember that He is always watching over us.

On Immigration

 

My grandmother was an unaccompanied minor who came to this country in 1906 on a ship from Poland. She was part of the great influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe who came here at the turn of the century to escape poverty and oppression and seek freedom and a better life.

  Her passage was paid for by relatives. Each immigrant had to have a sponsor in this country who agreed to house and support them until they learned the English language, got a job and were able to support themselves. There was no welfare, no food stamps, and no free health care.

  When they arrived at Ellis Island or another port of entry, they were interrogated and given a health exam. If they were found to be sick or carrying a communicable disease, they were sent back to their home country on the next ship. Those who were admitted had the name and address of their sponsor and were put on trains to the destination of their sponsor.

  So when you hear how valuable the contributions of immigrants to our country have been, remember they are not talking about illegal immigrants who storm our borders and then expect to be taken care of. If you don’t believe me, then you need to visit Ellis Island to see the records and hear their stories.

On Suffering

 I think the Lenten Season is a good time to reflect on the mystery of suffering—ours and Jesus.

  God does not will suffering. He permits it in some cases to achieve a greater good, as we can see in the Passion and death of Jesus Christ. He also promises to bring good out the sufferings of those of us who love Him.

 We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who have been called according to his decree. Romans 8:28

 Throughout Christian history there have always been those who thought suffering was sent by God to discipline or punish us; or who thought that all suffering was a “cross” we just had to bear. There even have been some (including some saints) who inflicted suffering upon themselves as a sacrifice to God.

Jesus said we all have a cross to carry. “If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and begin to follow in my footsteps.”  Matthew 16:24

But let us not carry crosses that God has not ordained. We all have many types of “crosses” that come into our lives, but I don’t think we should always assume that God wants us to carry them all.

  I just heard someone on the radio this week praying for those who suffer from chronic pain. Instead of praying for healing for them, she prayed that they should thank God that they have been called to suffer! I tried to imagine how I would feel if I had chronic pain and someone said that to me. I just don’t think that’s would Jesus would say.

  For instance—regarding mental or physical healing, I have not found one place in the New Testament where someone came to Jesus in faith asking for healing and Jesus said “No; you must carry this cross.”

   There may be times we are called by God to suffer for a particular reason, as was Jesus. This can only be discerned through prayer as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemani. Even Jesus asked to be spared from suffering if it was not God’s Will. (Luke 22:41-42)

  We must always remember that accidents, illnesses and injuries can be an attack of the devil to block or keep us from doing God’s Will. That’s why we must always first pray against any evil influence and then pray for healing. Only then, sometimes, after we have suffered our “Agony in the Garden” can we discern that we have been asked to accept a “cup of suffering” as Jesus did for a greater good.

   For me and my family, my daily prayer is, “Lord, please protect me and my family from all suffering, except that which is necessary for our lives or for the lives of others.”  In other words, I pray that God would remove all suffering from our lives that does not help us to grow in holiness or does not help others in some way.

A Call to Prayer

 

  I recently felt that the Holy Spirit was saying,

   “In this time of darkness, you who love Me, you who follow Me; pray for my children who live in darkness.  As the evil in this world increases, your prayers for the world must increase.”

 And then several areas that especially need prayer came to me.

   Pray that many will come to repentance for their sins.

  Pray more fervently for my children who are lost, who are deceived by the spirits of this age.

Pray that the hearts of mothers would be turned to the children growing within them and let them live.

  Pray for deliverance for those who are oppressed by perverse spirits; those with same-sex attraction; those with gender identity problems.

  Pray for an end to the sexual exploitation of children and young adults.

  Pray for young people, that they would see through the lies taught to them and come to know the truth.

  Pray for love and unity in marriages and family life.

  Pray that young people will choose to marry and establish families and not cohabit.

  Pray for conversion throughout the land.

  Pray that people will return to their churches, to worship and praise the God who made them.

 After I wrote them down, I noticed that there were ten intentions, just enough for one decade of the rosary.

And so I invite you to also to pray for these intentions. If you like, you can pray one decade of your daily rosary for them.

Why Our Prayers May Not Be Answered

 

We all pray. When Jesus lived on earth He taught us The Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father, as a model of how to pray. When teaching it He did not say “If you pray”; He said when you pray. This, as well as many other passages in the New Testament tells us it is God’s Will that we pray.

  You may have learned that when we pray God’s answer is either “Yes”, “No”, or “Not right now”. That is true, but there are also some things that can block our prayers from being answered. I would like to mention a few.

 

You husbands, too, must show consideration for those who share your lives. Treat women with respect.... If you do so, nothing will keep your prayers from being answered.”  1 Peter 3:7

 

This passage tells us that if you do not live considerately with your spouse and honor him, your prayers may not be answered. (Even though the Scripture passage is addressed to husbands, I’m sure it applies to wives as well.)

 

If any of you is without wisdom, let him ask it from the God who gives generously and ungrudgingly to all, and it will be given him. Yet he must ask in faith, never doubting, for the doubter is like the surf tossed and driven by the wind. A man of this sort, devious and erratic in all that he does, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  James 1:5-7

 

If you have doubt that God can or will answer your prayers it can interfere with God answering them. This is especially true when praying for healing. There are many other passages in the New Testament where Jesus speaks of the need for faith before He is able to act.

 

You ask and you do not receive because you ask wrongly, with a view to squandering what you receive on your pleasures.  James 4:3

 

God may not answer your prayer if you have selfish motives.

 

Were I to cherish wickedness in my heart, the Lord would not hear…

Psalm 66:18

 

If you harbor evil in your heart, it will block your prayers.

 

These are by no means an exhaustive list, just some areas to examine before you pray or if your prayers don’t seem to be answered.

The Defeat of the Trump Administration

 The illegal, fraudulent election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, resulting in the defeat of the Trump administration reminds me of a movie I saw many years ago, "The Mission", which starred Robert DeNiro. As I recall, it was about Christian missionaries who ministered to a tribe of isolated people. They invested themselves so thoroughly in the lives of the people and taught them about Jesus and the Gospel. In the end, all the missionaries were killed and the only thing left of their work was a cross and two people who retained the faith. It was one of the few movies I have viewed that left me sobbing in the end.

  I feel the same way, not so much about President Trump the man, but about all the good he and his administration accomplished in the past four years. It will all eventually be undone, much of it with the stroke of a pen (executive order). As in the movie "The Mission", there is still the cross; the knowledge that the cross of Jesus triumphed over evil and will triumph over it again. It's just so hard to understand why it has been allowed to happen.

  My heart breaks especially for all the unborn and born children who will die because the restrictions and constraints put into place by President Trump's administration will be rescinded.

  Pray for our country; pray for our people. God will not be mocked and we will all suffer as a result of this great evil that has overtaken our government.

Thankfulness

 Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6b-7

 

  I believe thankfulness to God is the key to happiness and contentment in this life. I have always been a “glass half empty” type of person. Many years ago I had a serious problem with ongoing depression from which I was healed through the grace of God. But I still find that I have to guard against a spirit of melancholy and sadness; of looking at the dark side rather than the bright side of life.

  Many years ago, my spiritual director suggested that I keep a Thanksgiving journal; writing down something each day that I am thankful for. It has since evolved into a journal where I record not only the things I am thankful for in my life, but the many blessings, healings and miracles that have occurred in the lives of my family. When bad things happen (as they do to all of us), I go back and read about all the good things God has done in and for me and my family. It lifts my spirit and helps me keep the present trial in perspective.

  I would like to suggest that you consider starting a Thanksgiving journal for yourself. Another suggestion is to include prayers of thanksgiving in either your morning or evening prayers. In my evening prayers, I try to think of three things about that day that I am thankful for. I also set aside one day a week as a “Thanksgiving” day where I thank God for those intentions or people that I pray for on the other days.

  The Psalms in Scripture are also a good way to focus on thanking God. The following are some I use that you can copy and use as a bookmark in your Bible.

 

Thanksgiving Psalms

 16 – for blessings

 18:1-7 – for strength

 30 – for healing from serious illness

 40 – Gratitude & prayer for help

 41 – after sickness

 65 – for abundant blessings

100 - Thanksgiving

103 – Praise of Divine Goodness

112 – for blessings

116 – for help in time of great need

118 – Hymn of Thanksgiving

138 – Hymn of a Grateful Heart

The Truth about Homosexuality

 

To have a sexual attraction to a member of the same sex is not a sin in itself—it is the effect of demonic influences, with passed down through a person’s ancestors or acquired sometime during a person’s lifetime.

  A person is not BORN homosexual. Science has not found a homosexual gene, although there has been much effort to try to find one. People are either male or female according to their DNA. This is true from the time of conception and never changes throughout a person’s life.

  Because many people, scientists and psychologists don’t believe in demons, their only way of explaining homosexual tendencies is through scientific means. Until very recently, the scientific community agreed that homosexuality was abnormal. Then the political powers that seek to push their agenda managed to exert enough influence on part of the scientific community to say that homosexuality was normal. There are still many in the scientific community who do not agree with that, but their voices are drowned out by those who control many aspects of society.

  Among those who profess a belief in God and God’s Word in the Bible, opinions are changing. They agree that although a sexual relationship between members of the same sex is forbidden by God, the feeling of sexual attraction to a member of the same sex is not a sin, but a disorder. It’s a disorder that in many cases can be healed. But, just as with many other psychological disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, or anxiety, healing is often difficult and complicated and the aim is to at least control negative behavior.

  For those religious denominations that have deliverance ministries, the success rate is higher, but it is still a long process because the demonic influence infiltrates so many aspects of a person’s life.

Spiritual Works of Mercy - Bear Wrongs Patiently

 Oh—this is a tough one. None of us likes to be mistreated or misunderstood. It’s difficult for all of us when people treat us unjustly; or lie or mislead others as to our character or what we have done or not done. How painful when people shun or reject us.

  When this happens to us (and it happens to all of us one time or another) it helps to remember that Jesus, who was perfectly holy, also had to endure unjust treatment by others. Although he only did good to others he was subjected to hatred, jealously, false witnesses, slander, rejection and was eventually crucified.

  God says we are to forgive others when they offend us. 

"'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord” (Rom 12:19). 

 If there is any justice that needs to be done, in this life or the next, the only One qualified to do it is the Lord, for He alone knows the secrets of all hearts. Therefore, we must never try to get back at, or punish anyone who has wronged us. That means "petty vengeance" as well, which includes the use of slander or gossip to get back at people for the evil they may have done to us.

  Instead, Jesus commands us to pray for our enemies. 

My command to you is: love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you.  Matthew 6:44 

St. Paul says: But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; by doing this you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.  Romans 12:20-21 

  However, forgiveness is probably the most misunderstood of all the works of mercy. It does NOT mean blindly letting oneself be victimized. You have a duty to protect yourself and your loved ones from harm. Forgiving our enemies does not mean passively subjecting ourselves to abuse or not defending ourselves. The duty to forgive our enemies is compatible with protecting ourselves from harm and demanding fair treatment from others, especially close family members. When people have harmed or offended us, we have a duty to let them know their behavior is offensive. This is also a work of mercy since a person should be made aware of the harm they are doing. Even if it doesn’t result in a change in their behavior, you will at least have made them aware of it. To “bear wrongs patiently” does not mean to let someone walk all over you.

  So—What do you do if someone continues their negative behavior. If possible, you can separate yourself from them. I don’t mean to shun them; just to avoid contact with them when possible. If it’s an extended family member that you have to socialize with from time to time, then avoid getting into conversations with them that might give them the opportunity to criticize you. One woman I know had to avoid almost all contact with her father because whenever they were together he would bring up the wrong things she did in the past that she had repented of.

  If it’s someone you live with, then it becomes even more difficult. You have to avoid getting into discussions or arguments that might give them the opportunity to abuse you. Pray for them and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as to how to live with them as peacefully as possible. Forgive, forgive, forgive. Jesus said we have to forgive “seventy times seven times” (Matthew 18:22) Remember the guidelines for love in 1 Corinthians 13—be patient and kind; don’t take offense; don’t harbor grudges or brood over injuries.

  To bear wrongs patiently is one of the most difficult things to do. So we must forgive ourselves when we fail, repent and ask Jesus for the same grace that enabled Him to bear the wrongs done to Him.

On Separated or Divorced Couples

When dealing with your divorced and separated friends and relatives, remember that although it takes two to make a marriage, it only takes one to break a marriage.  Don’t take sides.  Your don’t really know who’s at fault. Even in cases of infidelity, you don't know whether the behavior of the other spouse may have contributed to or even caused the infidelity.

Jesus said: If you want to avoid judgment, stop passing judgment. Your verdict on others will be the verdict passed on you. Matthew 7:1-2

Stop judging by appearances... John 7:24

The Epistle of James says: There is but one Lawgiver and Judge, one who can save and destroy. Who then are you to judge your neighbor?  James 4:12

Couples who are separated or divorced need the advice of wise counsel, prayers and friendship. Although separation and divorce affect family relationships and friendships, this should never result in shunning or never speaking to a person again. Listen to the affected party, but don't agree with them or add fuel to their fire. Advice should only be given by a trained counselor or an older person who is spiritually mature.

The World Wants You Back

The world (the devil) wants you back.

It has been my experience that if you are a lukewarm Christian, or no Christian at all, the devil leaves you alone. But if you start coming closer to Christ, watch out! He will work overtime to get you back.

  But once you have become a committed Christian, the devil works more subtley and slowly, hoping to catch you off guard. Also, the temptations or distractions will not necessarily be the ones he used against you previously.

  St. Catherine of Sienna wrote what she said Jesus taught her about temptation:

The devil will take advantage of your blindness and put before you a banquet of his delights, colored to look like something that is good for you.

For each person he chooses what is most appealing to their principal weakness, and to each according to their station in life.

The devil will issue you an invitation to death disguised as life.

But "Greater is He who is in you, than He who is in the world." 1 John 4:4b

Note: For further insight on this subject, I recommend The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

On Doing Good (when no one is watching)

We all know that if we do something wrong, even if no one sees us, God sees us.  But it is also true that if we do something good and no one sees us, or if we do something for another and they do not appreciate it, God sees us and rewards us in His own way.

  This thought has helped me many times when I felt unappreciated or when a sacrifice I made for someone else went unnoticed. Or when doing mundane tasks like cleaning the toilet or cleaning up after others (when there would be nothing to clean up if the others hadn't messed it!)

  Jesus said: Whenever you pray, go to your room, close your door, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees what no man sees, will repay you.  Matthew 6:6

  St. Paul said: Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being. Do it for the Lord rather than for men, since you know full well you will receive an inheritance from Him as your reward.  Colossians 3:23-24

On the Raising of the Dead

"All of us have eyes with which we can see the dead rise in the way the son of the widow rose. Not all, however, have the wherewithal to see those who are dead in the heart rise again.  To see that, you need to have already risen in the heart yourself. There is more to raising up someone to live forever than to raising up someone who will only die again."  St. Augustine, Sermon 98,1.

  Over the years, this, most of all, has caused my faith to grow and solidify. My own healing from smoking and subsequent transformation, all those whose witnesses and testimonies I have heard personally, and all those I have read about or seen on videos have convinced me of the reality of the Risen Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
  Yes, we need the gift of faith to believe. And God wants us to use reason and logic as well. It's not enough to just have blind faith; we need to be able to explain why what we believe is the truth. But when Jesus lived on earth physically, He didn't just teach and preach the Gospel. He performed miraculous deeds to prove the validity of His words. His own resurrection from the dead only three days after having suffered such a horrible death was the ultimate proof.
  It was the changed lives of the Apostles and early disciples and the signs and wonders that were done through the power of the Holy Spirit within them that caused so many to come to faith in Jesus Christ (see the "Acts of the Apostles" in the Bible).
  And so it is today, in our time. It's the changed lives of those who have faith in Jesus and are filled with the Holy Spirit; the present day miracles; the Saints, that bring people to faith in Jesus Christ or strengthen the faith of those who already believe.

An Easter Mini-Miracle

During the Corona virus epidemic, I was sheltering at home. I prepared to watch the Facebook live presentation of Easter Sunday Mass on my computer, which I found a poor substitute for the real thing. I tried to make it more realistic by putting out a small glass of wine and some unleavened bread, and lighting a small tea light candle.

  As I sat down at my computer I noticed that the light on the candle I had lit was very tiny, almost ready to go out. I looked at the time and saw Mass was just about to begin; I wouldn’t have time to get another candle. About halfway through Mass I happened to glance at the candle, only to see it was burning normally. It continued to burn throughout Mass and went out by itself, just as the Mass ended.

  It was a message from God that even though the churches were closed, God’s power is not bound by our circumstances.

On the Priest Sex Scandal in the Catholic Church

Much has been written of late about the priest sex scandal in the Catholic Church. There is no need for me to try to explain why this happened. Anyone who is interested can access the many videos on YouTube. I would recommend beginning with Bishop Robert Barron. I would just like to make a few brief comments about what I have learned.
  The first is that it has been determined that this was not due to the vow of celibacy taken by priests when they are ordained. It also was not mainly a problem of pedophilia, although there were cases of sexual abuse of minors. The majority of the cases were due to homosexuality and older men preying on younger men.
  One fact that is proving that it was not a problem of celibacy is the large numbers of sexual abuse cases that are being reported in other denominations as well as in many secular organizations. In most of these cases the predator was married.
  Another contributing factor is our highly sexualized culture - the exploding pornography industry; the easy access for anyone to online pornography; graphic sexual material, both hetero and homosexual; the exposure to sexual information of children at very young ages before they are mature enough to process the information, or even determine whether it's true or not. All these things give people a distorted image of sexuality which results in distorted practices.
  One last thing I would like to mention is the absence of fathers in the lives of many children either through divorce, single motherhood or neglect. This affects the sexual development of both males and females. God knew what He was doing when He fashioned procreation to include both a male and a female. In order to grow and develop into healthy, well-adjusted adults a child needs both a mother and a father.

On Suffering

Because God brings good out of suffering does not mean that suffering is good. God does not cause suffering; it's part of our fallen world. The problem of suffering has plagued men since they learned that God was all-loving. God often protects His people from suffering or heals those who are sick or disabled. We know that is true because of God's revelation to us in the New Testament of the Bible. The apostles and disciples were often miraculously protected from harm or death until the appointed time for them to pass on. Jesus himself was protected from harm or death until the appointed time for His crucifixion and death. There is no passage in the New Testament where someone came in faith asking to be healed and Jesus said, "No; go home and carry your cross."  He healed all who asked and even raised the dead.
  My particular prayer for myself and my loved ones is that God will protect us from all suffering except that which is necessary to accomplish His Will in ourselves or others. We must always pray that God will protect us from unnecessary suffering and then trust that God will protect us or bring good out of any suffering we are called to endure. (Romans 8:28)

On Psychics vs. God's Word

Today I passed the office of one of the local psychics.  The sign outside said “Readings, half price”.

  Reading God’s Word in the Bible is free and most of all shows the way to eternal life. Sounds like a much better deal to me.

  Psychics are either fakes or controlled by a demon. If they are fakes, it is truly a waste of money. If they are real, then you are listening to a demon who has your eternal damnation as a goal. Even if you visit a psychic for "fun", you are opening yourself to the evil one; and no good ever comes from that.