Unearned Luck

Merry Christmas! Christmas.  The celebration of God becoming Man by the action of the Holy Spirit within the womb of the Virgin Mary.  While we celebrate today, it seems from Sacred Scripture that not everyone was in a celebratory mood in the months leading up to Christmas nor on the day itself.  In St. Matthew, the angel tells Joseph, "...do not fear...."  In St. Luke, the angel Gabriel says to Mary, "Do not be afraid...," and later in St. Luke, the angel says to the shepherds, "Be not afraid..."  It is an awesome thing for God to come so close that He becomes a man.  Yet this is what happened and many of us are still afraid. The Sacred Scriptures continue, "...I bring you good news of a great joy.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from

I have been involved in the pro-life movement in a very intimate way for the past fourteen years and it has been through this involvement that I've come to the perspective on the movement that I detail below.  I share the goal of the pro-life movement, namely, to end abortions, but I differ in how that is to be accomplished and what that means in a fallen and sinful world.  I have only respect for those who have been involved in the movement from its inception and for those who started only today.  I am not looking to argue with anyone, but to work with others in the movement to find a more effective way of reaching our goal, a solution that addresses the real issues underlying abortions, while bringing people true healing and deliverance.  I come to this issue as a Catholic and write from this perspective. Recently, it was reported that the number of abortions is at an all-time low.  The reasons for this record low and an explanation of what people are doing instead of pursuing

Brett Jordan on Unsplash It was when my oldest showed me his new cell phone with some pride earlier this year that I discovered he had gotten a cell phone through his mother's machinations.  I had been opposed to this and still am. When she had mentioned that he needed a cell phone as a 7th grader, I stated as my position that he had no reason to have one at this stage in his life and by "this stage in his life," I did mean until he was gainfully employed and living on his own.  She countered with, "All of his friends have one," to which I said, "So," a game changing response in any debate.  When she mentioned that he may need to call one of us, when out with his friends, I said he could use one of his friends' phones, since they all have one. Despite or in spite of my opposition, with her father's help, she got my oldest a cell phone this year. And not just a cell phone. She got him a smart phone with apps that I have no idea how to use.  H