So... It has been a while

Posted May, 17
Sorry it has been so long since I last posted.  Things have been pretty crazy as school winds down.  I am studying for finals right now and I thought I would just take a moment to reflect on some of the things I am thankful for.  When I look at my life I realize that I am extremely blessed.  I am in good health, have a loving family, and a caring friends.  Too often I take these things for granted.  I really haven't done anything to deserve these things.  They are simply gifts from God.  Well I really need to get back to studying.  Pax

Somethings In Life Are Just Eye Opening

Posted April, 28
As the old axiom goes, "Knowledge is Power."  I recently learned things about some people in my life.  Most of these things I had no idea were present in their lives.  As I learned these things my preconceived notions of them began to totally disappear.  Learning these things made me realize something... don't judge people.  I had all of these judgments about people in my life that turned out to be completely false.  Jesus never judged, he simply accepted.  I think this is a powerful lesson that I really needed in my life.  I learned to be accepting and to never judge.  

Thanks Jesus

Posted April 18
So as we all know Jesus did some pretty awesome things for us, but I was reflecting on something today that may be a little less known than the obvious.  I am currently at the great University of Notre Dame and I spent some time in the grotto earlier this evening.  The grotto is a cave that has candles that you light for your intentions.  The grotto, especially at night, is an awesomely spiritual experience.  As I was sitting there praying for that privilege to go here (Notre Dame) I realized something.  I realized I was praying for the wrong thing.  I shouldn't have been praying to get into Notre Dame I should be praying for God to put me in the place that would allow me to fulfill my vocation.  Ok, so what did Jesus do to make me think this?  Well Jesus had this same thought in the garden of Gethsemane before he was arrested.  He said, "Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from me but not as I will but as you will."  So, thanks Jesus for the example.  I really needed it tonight.  

Differences of Oppinion

Posted April 2
One the great things I have discovered while working on this site is the different opinions I have discovered.  Even between the guys who work directly on the website we all have differences of opinion about our faith.  I have found that these opinions have helped me to develop my faith even more.  Just the other day I was having a discussion with a friend about an issue on Church teaching.  We weren't able to agree it did open my mind to new ideas and different perspectives on the teaching.  So, don't be afraid to share your opinions you might end up learning something.

I believe

posted March 20
Something that I have always experienced, and I would imagine some of you have experienced as well is the question, "Well you can't prove anything about your faith so why do you believe it?"  As much as I hate to admit it, it is a valid question.  We as Catholics believe quite a few things that can't be explained.  In fact our whole religion is based on things that can't be explained.  From the conception to the resurrection very few things can be explained by science.  However, this is the beauty of our faith and our God.  We aren't limited by science.  We believe that God is not limited by our science.  This faith is always my answer to the question, "If it can't be proven how do you believe?"

Thank You JFK

JFK has a famous quote that goes, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but as what you can do for your country."  I was sitting in stations of the cross the other night and I was thinking about all the things God has done for me.  However, what have I done for God?  I find that I get so wound up in what I need God to do for me that I forget what I need to do for God.  It my sound strange, like what could God possibly need after all he is, well, God.  I think that God needs us to act in his image and spread his word throughout the world.  What is that you think that God needs from you?

Inspiration from English Class

Posted Mar 4th 2008
It isn't very often that you find inspiration from a discussion about primal instincts in English class, but today was different.   In our discussion we started talking about the seven deadly sins and what makes them deadly.  First off, the seven deadly sins are, lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride.

So what makes these sins deadly? What exactly to they kill?  I mean they obviously don't physically kill you.  I always figured that they killed your relationship with God.  However, my English teacher offered another explanation.  He said that they kill our humanity.  The seven deadly sins all demonstrate a trait that animals participate in naturally.  So by committing one of the seven deady sins we are going back on everything that makes us human.  I thought this was an interesting insight and I thought I would share that with you.  Let me know what you think.  

Community for Communion

Posted Feb 25th 2008

This last weekend I had dinner with a group of priests. As we were sitting there eating we started talking about the importance of the liturgy as an act of community prayer. Of all of the things we practice in our Catholic faith the act of the bread and wine turning into the body and blood of Christ seems to be the most important.

During mass we sit in pews and listen and watch as the priest and lectors lead us through prayer and praise to thank Christ for his sacrifice to give us the gift of the Eucharist. However, even though we are watching it isn’t a spectator event. It is one that, to quote my liturgy and worship teacher, “Requires full active and conscious participation.” The mass is one of those things that the more you put into it the more you get out of it. In order for us to be filled with Christ during communion we must be willing to profess our faith openly among the community as well as admit our faults. So lets help each other out and encourage each other to participate during mass.

The spirit of giving

Posted Feb 16th 2008

Many times in scripture Jesus calls us to share what we have with others especially those less fortunate than ourselves.  When a rich young man came to Jesus and asks him what to do to get into heaven Jesus tells him two things:  the first is love God and the second is give all your riches to the poor. 

Personally, I have always struggled with giving.  Recently my school participated in a two week long fundraiser and i succeeded in donating a grand total of zero dollars.  Looking back on it now I see that i missed a major opportunity to help out those who really need the help. 

So now I am wondering if I am doing all I can to help those in need, and right now the answer would appear to be no.  I am taking a casual approach to Jesus' call for us to share our blessings.  I find myself giving only when it is convenient.  How do you feel about giving to those in need?

We aren't that different

Posted Feb 10th 2008

First off I would like to correct I go to church on Sunday (occasionally Monday and other days of the week) 

I had the opportunity tonight to go to mass with the basketball team after we played Creighton Prep (Omaha, NE).  The team from Creighton Prep and their families came to mass as well.  As I was sitting there it struck me that even though the players and families from Creighton live 100 miles away a lead lives totally separate from the Rockhurst community we are essentially one in the same when we are at mass.  The faith brings us together.  It gives a constant similarity in our lives.

That is the great thing about Mass.  All of these people who lead separate lives (and in this case live in separate states) can come together, as a community and celebrate something that we all believe in.  We may have never met each other before but at Mass we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and that is really cool.

To begin

Posted Feb 5th 2008