Wednesday, April 20, 2011

"Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Jesus, remember me!
(Maybe this is what God sees when he looks at us) 

It is unfair, to promise Paradise to a criminal who expressed contrition during the last few minutes of his miserable life. How about all the good people who go to church on Sunday, even everyday, who pray novenas and rosaries and have bottles of holy water in their homes. How about our friends who go through a long process of Initiation to prepare for their baptism or acceptance into the Church?

Sometimes I don't understand God. God's actions seem too merciful to me, to the point of being unjust. What would happen if a person in death-row for killing innocent people, has a moment of contrition at the last minute and asks God to remember him when he gets to his Kingdom? Will God give him the Kingdom promised to the gentle, the peacemakers, the humble, the poor in spirit?
How about the politicians and business people who steal, cheat and lie? Will God take them too?

I often forget the phrase that Jesus said before the conversation with the criminal: "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing?" 
I believe this is the key. Do we know what we are doing? Do the Muslim fundamentalists know what they are doing when they kill themselves and others in the name of God? Did the Christian preacher know what he was doing when he burned the Sacred Book of Islam? Did the Crusaders know what they were doing when they killed Muslims in the name of God?

I wish I had a clearer answer to my questions. But during this Holy Week, I realize that the reason why we call Friday "Good" is not because Jesus died for us, but because a criminal entered Paradise undeservedly. 

Maybe I can learn that revenge and hatred will not get me anywhere, but a simple question might: "Jesus, remember me."

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Life is Hard but God is Good. An Inquiry into Suffering.


missing photo
How can a good God allow evil in the world? Is there any good in suffering? Why is God so unfair?


"A book filled with practical wisdom, Adele Gonzalez gives us a theology that makes sense to those who are not satisfied with simplistic answers to life's deepest questions." --Most Rev. Ricardo Ramirez, C.S.B., Bishop, Diocese of Las Cruces.


Buy from Orbis, Amazon or your local bookstore.

http://www.get-with-it.com/
http://www.maryknollsocietymall.org/description.cfm?ISBN=978-1-57075-926-0
http://amazon.com/

Also by Adele J. Gonzalez: The Spirituality of Community 

"At last, not a touchy-feely guide to living in community but a practical, spiritual vision of community in a real world where nothing is perfect and all are welcome."

Saturday, April 2, 2011

If you are a depressed but also hopeful Catholic don't miss this posting

Will anyone care 500 years from now about today's debates? Women priests? Married priests? ...

Long time editor from Orbis Books, Michael Leach, has written a clear and honest article about what many of us feel and question.

Can The Catholic Church Change?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-leach/can-the-catholic-church-c_b_841971.html?ref=fb&src=sp



Pelayo in Covadonga, Asturias, Spain

I invite you to join me in this dialogue and use his wise words as a starting point.

I have been a lay minister in the Catholic Church for over 30 years. I have experienced "Camelot" and the dungeons of the Inquisition. Yet, after all this time I still remain a Catholic. Why?

Michael Leach has shared a lot of wisdom in his book, "Why Stay Catholic" and also in the above article. I invite you to read both as we continue the conversation on a subject that brings so much pain to so many Catholics today.

I will be posting my own opinions and experiences and hope you do the same so that we can all grow together. You can write in English or in Spanish.

I look forward to this exchange!