090425

 

Busy morning! Trusting God to get me through it

CC mass, the only local one at 730. Really thought-provoking homily about "letting Jesus into your boat" despite your unworthiness, recognizing that you CANNOT catch anything without Him

Shopping done fast! Laurie and Genesis keeping me on track. It felt so good to just be with them, living life, doing domestic things.
At one point Laurie poked fun at Chaos 0– there was an electrolyte packet called "water boy" and she just said "that's you"– and he gave HER a playful shove in response! He's never done that, it was fantastic. Even better is the fact that Laurie immediately responded in kind by grabbing him in a headlock and giving him a noogie

Our favorite Bloodwork lady is in the library book club we're joining this month! So we're looking forward to it even more now.
Still considering joining the second one too. We didn't like their book choices so far but we always want to give people and things a second chance. That's just our heart.

I thank God that, after we get our xrays done this morning, we will actually have time to go to Adoration before we go home to exercise and wait for the case manager food box drop-off. We haven't refused it, even though it stresses us out big time, because we are Still determined to use it as penance & reparation – we literally donate the entire box to our neighbors.

Horrific nightmares again last night. Couldn't sleep either. I'm wondering if its he probiotics too because they've been making us so physically ill in general.
But it was this terrible nightmare of both selfabusive eating disorder behaviors (sesame seed bread with honey and salt), rushing to take care of grandma before church (and trying to get her "orange coffee" that she wanted?), mom ordering us around in some weird sterile feeling mansion, and this bizarre murder plot underneath it all, with this ultra creepy and disturbing AI woman in the house; her head was way too small and she floated around and kept asking really invasive & suspicious questions, while blocking the exits to whatever room is was in. I wanted to cry and scream so bad, I wanted to get away. The only reason I'm even recording all of this here is that LAURIE rescued me from it all. Whenever I'm "at the edge of sleep" the veil thins to the point where headspace CAN jump in and fix things. Thank God. So although the very memory of the nightmare still shakes me up so bad, the memory of being able to call Laurie, and her showing up, and absolutely destroying that demonic robot, gives me such profound consolation. I can count on her. She always responds. Her efforts are successful. Because of her love and dedication I am safe and I got away free. She really is an angel.


LAST-SECOND GOD COMING THROUGH WITH THE FOOD DRIVE!
And actually, I'm NOT giving it to the neighbors this time– I'm giving it to my hungry FAMILY. They're struggling and they could really use this. THEY are my top priority.

In any case I am being as friendly as possible as I can with the neighbors lately. I want to shine the light of Christ to them, which means I must be amiable and approachable and warm and kind and sweet and a good listener and a consoling speaker. That's who I WANT to be, and by God's grace I WILL be, for HIS glory.


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VOTD spoken reflection transcription from today because it hit strangely sharply and I don't want to ignore that =
"At the beginning of Ezekiel's vision, we walk among bones: lifeless, scattered, long dead. Its a picture of judgment, of despair,  of utter defeat. This scene would've crushed Ezekiel's heart. But God brings him here for a reason. In the wreckage, in the silence, God asks a question. "Son of man, can these bones live?" Its not just a question for Ezekiel– it's for us. And when we look at the world, fractured and weary, when we see loved ones far from hope, when we feel our own souls dry and distant, "Can these bones live?" Its a question that cuts through time, not to shame, but to awaken faith. Ezekiel responds, "O Lord God, only You know!" Only You know, Lord! Only God can breathe life into what's dead. Only God can raise whats been buried in hopelessness. Only God can make all things new."
"...As the church prays for God to be known and loved across the nations, we remind ourselves that it's by the Breath, the very Spirit of God that dead things come to life. And so today we center ourselves on the command to prophesy hope over this world. We call on the Spirit to move in our nation, and we trust God to do, and continue to do, the impossible, both in the world around us, and in us. This IS the real power of God: not to avoid the valley, but to pray for resurrection within it. New life begins, here, not because the bones are worthy, but because He speaks."

And the written reflection=

"God gave the prophet Ezekiel a vision that must have been both strange and stunning: a valley full of dry bones. Lifeless. Scattered. Forgotten. It was a symbol of Israel's spiritual and national state—cut off, broken, and hopeless.
But then God speaks: “I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life”. It’s a promise not just of revival, but of complete restoration.
In Hebrew, the word for breath is ruach—a word that also means spirit or wind. God was saying, “I will fill what is dead with My Spirit and bring it back to life.”
This wasn't just a promise for Israel— it’s a glimpse into what God can do in any soul that feels dry, discouraged, or distant. Maybe you've been through a long season of spiritual weariness. Maybe you feel like the life has been drained out of your faith. But the God who breathes life into dry bones is still breathing today.
We serve a God who brings dead things back to life. Whether it’s a nation, a community, a heart, or even His Son after His death on the cross, He restores what's been lost, renews what's been broken, and revives what feels beyond hope.
If your soul feels empty, ask Him to breathe His Spirit into you again. Because where God breathes, life follows.
Who do you know that's spiritually dead? Pray for them. Share Jesus with them. And trust that God is able to breathe life into their soul!"


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https://mailchi.mp/broadstreetpublishing/i-hear-his-whisperfind-fulfillment-in-me-7787289?e=ba01d0c4f7

God’s desire is that we be like him and be filled with all that he is. As we perceive his thoughts, we can see from his perspective. As we fill up on his love, we have a well of kindness and compassion to offer others. When we become like God in our choices and actions, we reflect his likeness in our lives. When we meditate on his character, we learn to value what he values.
God is like the sun, and we are like stars reflecting his light. We don’t need to produce our own light; rather, we shine because the brightness of the Son reaches out toward us. The more we turn to him, the brighter we sparkle. The more we look to him in all that we do, the more we receive from the outpouring of his glory. He is our source.

Bright Morning Star, I want to reflect your likeness in my life. As I turn to you, reveal the glory of your character more and more. I want to be filled with your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and justice. Shine bright from my life.

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-09/pope-audience-catechesis-jesus-i-thirst-silent-cry-love.html

"As He hung upon the Cross and humanity faced our most lumunious yet darkest moment... Jesus spoke [His] final words... “I thirst” and “It is finished"... two sentences filled with an entire lifetime, which reveal the entire existence of the Son of God."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💔💔💔💔💔 "Jesus appears on the Cross as a “supplicant for love,” not as a "victorious hero"... "He humbly asks for what He, alone, cannot give to Himself in any way... Jesus’s thirst on the Cross was not only the physiological need of a tortured body, but also “an expression of a profound desire: that of love, of relationship, of communion.""
(This is STAGGERING. God Himself has literally put Himself in a position of abject NEED. On the Cross, Jesus truly unites Himself with all the poor of humanity; He puts Himself in the place of one who is totally dependent on others to meet His needs. And what are those needs? They are stunningly all-encompassing. Most of all, Jesus needs LOVE. In truth, THAT is what He thirsts for. But doesn't a man thirsting for water also thirst for love in the process? What else could supply it for him? Hatred and pride do not know mercy; they are incapable of charity. If they gave water it would only be to those they deemed "worthy," and it would have a price tag on it; it would incur a debt, an obligation, a bondage. Pride and hatred do not "give"; the ego does not "love" anything but itself. But real Love, God's Love, can only give, and freely at that. Love pours out everything it has, generously, lavishly, joyfully. The only "consequence" is that love requires communion. It inevitably causes relationship, however "brief" the encounter. Love cannot serve itself. THIS is why Christ is thirsty. )

"It is the silent cry of a God Who, having wished to share everything of our human condition, also lets Himself be overcome by this thirst."
(The sheer profundity and humility of God's love just stuns me every time. ...We talk about this concept a lot, in headspace. "What if we had to become human, fully human, in order to save each other, or to be together at all?" Basically, "what if our love for each other was tested to the extreme? Would we become human for the sake of that love?" No– "would we become human for each other's sake?" Because THAT'S what love is about; it's never self-centered; it always looks to the beloved other, it always flourishes outwards, like a flower to the sun. Love "for my own benefit" is hollow and perverse, a false ego-love; real love needs to serve someone else's benefit.
But it's... tragically, shamefully, such a hard answer. My personal history as a human being has been horrific, humiliating, hellish even. Plus, we've had body trauma and body dysphoria and body hatred for over twenty years straight. I am LITERALLY, JUST NOW, learning to ACCEPT this body, let alone love it– which I can ONLY do for GOD'S sake!!! )
...But for so long, we had no concept of the resurrected body. We had no hope in that regard. We didn't know this body was MEANT for eternity, through union with Christ. Now that we DO... suddenly, this poor broken wretched form has dignity and purpose and beauty beyond my comprehension.)

"Our God is not ashamed to beg for a sip, because in that gesture He tells us that love, in order to be TRUE, must also learn to ASK and not only to give.”
(...this turns everything upside-down, in light of my upbringing, and the society I live in. It's revolutionary. And yet it makes total sense: how can you love someone else if you refuse to receive the love they give you? How can you ever allow others TO love you if you don't give them the opportunity to? How can you love in FULL TRUTH if you don't show honest love towards yourself, too? And how can you "love yourself" the way GOD wants if you don't HUMBLE YOURSELF enough to admit that you aren't self-sufficient or self-made; you have inherent human needs that REQUIRE communion and relationship TO be met at ALL– to admit that, by design, you CANNOT "love yourself" completely? You NEED to ASK for love. It sounds insane, demanding, greedy, manipulative... to a heart closed off to love. But to a truly loving heart, hearing someone ask for love, hearing someone pleading to be loved, is a call such a tender heart cannot resist. It was MADE to answer such cries. Love is ONLY COMPLETE when it is GIVEN AND TAKEN. Love is the soul breathing; love is the ocean tide; love is a beating heart; love is the rhythm of the universe. It gives itself, and it receives others, constantly flowing... but there is still that key element we all overlook, which is revealed in Jesus's thirst– love DESIRES love. Jesus's cry of thirst proclaims this truth to all time. He begs because He loves so much, so ardently, so totally. A mere sip given is bliss, because it IS given. What is there to be ashamed of in such begging? Don't our most pressing needs merit such? Love NEEDS to love AND to BE loved... but Love also WANTS BOTH. To "want" that reciprocal process isn't selfish; it's a desire for selfless overflowing. Desire is holy when it is for the holy, and all holy desire is a desire for love... for the very essence of God Himself. And so Love is eternal; Love is infinite. Love is a lemniscate. It can't survive if it isn't both desired and desiring. 

💔💔💔💔💔💔 "In expressing His thirst... Jesus shows that we cannot be self-sufficient or save ourselves, since His next words— “It is finished”— comes after He receives a sponge soaked with vinegar. Love has made itself needy... and precisely for this reason, it has accomplished its work.”
(Oh WOW in this proper context that HURTS. Jesus is in tears from need, His Body and Heart both crying out in thirst, parched for lack of love, begging for a mere sip... and one person responds... with vinegar. Oh the aching. And yet it's all they had to give. It's all they could give, at their state and station of life, perhaps spiritually as well as physically. But they gave Him something to drink. They didn't ignore His cry. And, even more astoundingly, Jesus ACCEPTS it. Jesus DRINKS it, as bitterly sour and paltry as it is, because it WAS given. He does not reject or disdain this poor and feeble offering. He accepts it, with love, as love, for love, and so sanctifies it forever. How heart-rendingly beautiful is that?)
(...perhaps that was key to the accomplishment, too. God's "work" on the Cross, in Jesus, was the salvation of souls. By making Himself needy, and expressing that need like a child, Jesus gave us the opportunity to meet God's OWN "need", the opportunity to LOVE... Jesus needs to save us. I boldly presume to say that is true. In His Love, because of His love, He NEEDS to save us from sin and death. His Heart cannot bear to lose us, let alone to do nothing, let alone to stay silent when He sees us all dying and blind and lost. His cry for water, His declaration of Divine Thirst, was MEANT to be MET. His Words have Power– perhaps, in that very plea, He gave the grace for hearts to awaken to compassion, and come to Him... to the Living Water that alone could satisfy their soul's deepest needs. We give Him a drink, He gives us a drink. Love gives and takes. But on the Cross, He has ALREADY given EVERYTHING for us. We need to enter in to that relationship. The man with his poor sponge, with his pitiful vinegar, was the first sign of hope, the first example of transformation, the first miracle of reciprocal compassion. God made Himself needy because, in meeting His needs, we allow Him to meet our own. When the grace of His Love ignites a divine spark of love within us, the path to the Cross finally opens up, where Jesus not only meets but forever fulfills our truest need, the one essential need that encompasses all others... our redemption and salvation. When we finally respond to Jesus's love with love, then, at last, "it IS finished".)

⭐⭐⭐"The Christian paradox is that God saves “not by doing, but by letting Himself be done UNTO; not defeating evil with force, but [defeating evil] by accepting the "weakness of love" to the very end."


⭐⭐⭐ "Salvation is not found in autonomy, but in humbly recognizing one’s own need and in being able to express it freely."
(We cannot save ourselves BECAUSE we cannot forgive ourselves– since our sins harm not just us but EVERYONE ELSE, and MOST of all they offend GOD! And on that note, we ALSO cannot save ourselves BECAUSE we cannot love ourselves!!! Salvation is GIVEN– notably by someone with the rightful authority and power OVER you TO do so, with MERCY! But autonomy, being based on PRIDE, inevitably rejects interdependence and communion and cooperation and neediness; it refuses to be put below anyone or anything; it DENIES any need of mercy! Autonomy basically bars you from ANY true relationship, being unwilling to "yoke itself" to anyone for any reason, and therefore it isolates you from compassion... from all hope of forgiveness and salvation.)

⭐⭐⭐"Humanity finds fulfilment in trust... which opens us up to true hope, since even the Son of God could not be self-sufficient, thirsting as He did for love, meaning, and justice."
(Divine paradoxes are the most beautiful things. God Himself, in the Son, could NOT be self-sufficient, despite the fact that the Trinity IS. And yet, that "despite" is the REASON. God, being Triune, IS LOVE. He IS a relationship, perfect and whole and complete forever. But the Son, becoming incarnate as a human being, could NOT be self-sufficient because NO human is. By this nature He took to Himself, Jesus now needed to be loved, by other humans. Of course, first of all He also needed to be loved by God, but He already had that in totality and He was fully aware of it. Most humans are not. So, paradoxically again, in loving Jesus Christ, humanity would not only finally have the immediate revelation and joyful assurance of God's Love for them as the Father, but they would also have the perfected sweetness of particular and personal human love for them in God the Son. But none of this is possible without trust. This is true. If you don't trust someone, you won't let them love you, and you surely won't love them. Without the capacity for trust, you might even doubt that love exists to begin with!!)


⭐⭐⭐‼️‼️‼️ “Jesus saves us by showing us that asking is not unworthy, but liberating... It is the way out of the hiddenness of sin, so as to re-enter the space of communion.
Ever since the beginning, sin has begotten shame. But forgiveness– real forgiveness– is born when we can face up to our need [for it] and no longer fear rejection.”
(To truly admit, "I need forgiveness," knowing you cannot get it without asking, is actually PROFOUNDLY LIBERATING. Believe me, I have done it.
‼️(REVISE THIS NEXT BIT= THERE IS A VITAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN FORGIVENESS AND ABSOLUTION!!!!! ONLY GOD CAN ABSOLVE YOU AND THIS IS NECESSARY FOR YOUR SOUL!!! BUT FORGIVENESS IS NECESSARY FOR OTHER PEOPLE!!! FORGIVENESS IS FOR THEIR BENEFIT AND HEALING, NOT YOURS!!!)
The problem is that people ask this forgiveness from other people first, people who are so wounded and hurt and afraid themselves that they don't yet have the capacity to forgive?? And so you often ARE rejected.
But the key is this= when we realize and admit our need for forgiveness, we MUST go to GOD. He has PROMISED to forgive, when we repent with a humbled and contritr heart. THEN, when we have received His life-giving mercy, when we have been "reborn" and freed from that hell, we CAN go to others and WORK WITH THEM towards forgiveness if we must. We can be PATIENT in the process because we aren't erroneously depending on THEM for absolution!)

"As He thirsted on the Cross... Jesus expresses all of wounded humanity’s cry for living water, in such a way that leads us to God and unites us to Him."

"...Christians [are called] to find joy and true fulfilment in fraternity, the simple life, the art of asking without shame, and offering what we can without ulterior motives."

“Let us not be afraid to ask, especially when it seems to us that we do not deserve... Let us not be ashamed to reach out our hand. It is right there, in that humble gesture, that salvation hides.”


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https://onepeterfive.com/we-should-not-ask-for-the-persecution-to-end/

"You, who are next to the Blessed Sacrament, ask Him to give all [persecuted] Catholics courage so that we do not falter. We should not ask for the persecution to end, but rather that there be a hero in every Catholic, as in the time of Nero."

"How many memories... have been saddened, remembering the days we spent... so joyful and recreational...! No wonder the saints despise everything earthly. For the joys of today will be tomorrow’s piercing memories that will tell the soul: ‘Unhappy man, you thought you would always enjoy us. But no. You will soon die. It is necessary, then, to look carefully into eternity.’ It will be said: This one, what is he worrying about? He prays to God that he may be a martyr... all throughout his work, he continued to be preoccupied with his soul, eternity, martyrdom."


“You’re just a child. You’re not capable of anything. Tell us: Who is the one who advises you?”
“Don’t call me a child, because I know very well what I’m doing. No one advises me... I accept death.”
“You’re just a child. You don’t know what death is.”
“Well, in that, General, we’re the same, because you don’t know what death is either, because you’ve never died. But I will gladly die, for I die for Christ the King... I’m ready to suffer death, rather than be a traitor to the cause of those who fight for Christ.”

"...Tomas found his hanging tree. Not just any tree. It was the Zalate of Juárez, under which once sat Juarez, the former president who persecuted Catholics.
“This is a place of ignominy. Hang me here, so that this place of curse may be changed into a blessing.”"

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https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/symbols-of-disruption-the-demonic-in-an-age-of-uncertainty


"Baphomet, the horned goat-like figure that evokes centuries of occultism and demonic possession, stands as a symbolic embodiment of inner torment, moral ambiguity, and an identification with evil... a symbol of occult power and rebellion. 
While Baphomet itself is not mentioned in the Bible, it is associated with themes that the Bible condemns, including idolatry and the worship of false gods... we are warned about Satanic deception... sorcery and divination are strongly forbidden. Yet, none of this appears to have dissuaded anti-religious zealots from adopting the image as a symbol of evil resistance to the good, the true, and the beautiful. 
The resurgence of Baphomet is not just aesthetic. Rather, it is reflective of deeper cultural tensions around tradition, identity, and the sacred."

"Refusing to denigrate the satanic representation, NPR downplayed the symbolic weight of the event, framing The Satanic Temple’s intent not as an endorsement of devil worship but as a strategic push for religious pluralism, free expression, and the preservation of church-state boundaries."

"At the root of the growing fascination with Baphomet, pentagrams, and satanic imagery is a cultural shift that signals a deeper rejection of traditional religious institutions—especially Christianity. These symbols, once confined to the margins, are increasingly gaining traction as potent expressions of hostility toward traditional religious frameworks. Their rise reflects a broader cultural moment in which spiritual authority has become diminished, leaving a void for hateful expressions of symbolic resistance. To begin to overcome the rise of hateful spiritual symbolism requires a renewed commitment from people of faith to speak truth into the cultural void that remains. For Catholics, the growing embrace of satanic imagery by troubled individuals is a reminder that Satan is real; and, as the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel reminds us, he “continues to prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.” Despite our “modern” culture, we no longer can deny the reality of demonic forces operating in our lives here on earth... [this cultural embrace of such dark symbolism] is an affirmation that spiritual forces—both good and evil—remain deeply relevant in our world."

"Religious writers have often called Satan an “evil genius” because of his ability to hide in plain sight and tempt us in subtle ways... the “Father of Lies” cunningly tries to convince us to turn away from God... the most effective thing he can do to bring souls to Hell is to convince people that Satan does not even exist. The fact that “devils” [have been] predominantly comic figures in the modern imagination will help [towards this end]. If any faint suspicion of [Satan's actual and fearful] existence begins to arise in [a man's] mind, [the culture of evil will] suggest... a picture of something in red tights, [something we especially see around Halloween and in children's media], and persuade him that since he cannot believe in that, he therefore cannot believe in [Satan at all]. [Yet, ironically perhaps,] In the increasing prevalence of the Baphomet symbolism... Most of us are finally acknowledging evil in our midst."
(The TRULY terrifying part of this? MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT AND WELCOME IT. There are corrupt hearts that DELIGHT in the nightmarish; who ENJOY horror and violence and deception. They laugh at the "little red devils" because they PREFER the baphomets. THAT is what REALLY disturbs and scares me.)

"Pope Francis often... warned the faithful that they must always be on guard against deceit. He warned against the seduction of demonic evil. He cautioned that there is a battle, and a battle where eternal salvation is at play: 
"Satan always seeks to destroy man: that man whom Daniel saw there, in glory, and who Jesus told Nathaniel would come in glory. From the beginning, the Bible tells us about Satan’s seduction to destroy. Perhaps out of envy. …the battle is a daily reality in Christian life, in our family, in our people, in our Churches…unless we fight, we will be defeated"... We need to fight this evil with prayer."

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https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2014/01/26/satan-sin-and-sociology/

"Pope Francis cautioned the faithful that “he who does not pray to the Lord, prays to the devil... When we do not profess Jesus Christ... we [instead inevitably] profess the worldliness of the devil, a demonic worldliness.”

"...Satan’s fruits are “destruction, division, hatred and calumny.”

"...T. S. Eliot wrote about the sense of alienation that occurs when social regulators begin to splinter and the controlling moral authority of a society is no longer effective. He suggested that a “sense of sin” was beginning to disappear. In his play, The Cocktail Party, a troubled young protagonist visits a psychiatrist and confides that she feels “sinful” because of her relationship with a married man. She is distressed not so much by the illicit relationship, but rather, by the strange sense of sin. Eliot writes, “Having a sense of sin seems abnormal” to her—she had never noticed before that such behavior might be seen in those terms. She believed that she had become “ill.”"

‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ "Writing in 1950, Eliot knew that the language of sin was declining even then... already beginning to be replaced by an emerging therapeutic culture. Within that growing culture of “liberation”, people no longer viewed themselves as sinful when they drank too much, took drugs, or engaged in violent or abusive behaviors. Rather, such actions were increasingly viewed as indicators that such individuals were victims of an "illness" they had "little or no control over.""
(What terrible irony– the proud insistence on "autonomy" and "liberation" has actually resulted in an EFFEMINATE VICTIM mentality, rejecting all moral responsibility for one's poor choices, and fleeing from suffering the negative consequences! This sick and satanic mindset robs us of our free will and capacity for reason, as well as our common sense!)

"...the therapeutic mentality began seeping into the Church as psychologists began advising Catholic dioceses about implementing the therapeutic culture within the Church itself. Seminarians were instructed to move away from making [moral] judgments about others, and instead, use the language of "illness" and therapy. Suicide was no longer a sin that deprived the victim of Christian burial, rather, it was evidence of "sickness". Drug and alcohol abuse were no longer character flaws or the result of choices, rather they were "evidence of a defective gene pool" that “forced” the victim into the illness of substance abuse... deviant behavior becomes defined and re-defined [as a result]." 

"Unlike traditional Christianity, which made moral demands on believers, the secular world of “psychological man” rejected both the idea of sin and the need for salvation. Speaking of a “sense of sin”, an “occasion of sin”, or sinfulness itself, was no longer allowed."

"[The Church] actually speaks of “real” sins—not just metaphorical ones. Speaking of specific sins— sins like calumny— that we may have learned about long ago, but have forgotten about, [begins] the process of chipping away at the therapeutic culture in the Church and beyond. And as [this clear naming] reminds us of [the reality of] sin, [it also] reminds us that there is evil— real evil— in the world and in our lives, with a real entity called Satan as the source of this evil."
(NOT IN A GNOSTIC SENSE THOUGH. I've seen that happen too often as well.)

"...so few public figures speak of Satan. And, whenever anyone dares speaks openly of Satan, “enlightened” people are scandalized... It is true, sadly, that there are indeed a number of Catholics who have never been taught that the Devil is “real”. It is just unbelievable to them. But when Pope Francis... warned the faithful, “We must always be on guard against deceit, against the seduction of evil,” he meant a real evil presented by a real demon. For Pope Francis, “there is a battle, and a battle where salvation is at play, eternal salvation.” He has also said, “The presence of the devil is on the first page of the Bible, and the Bible ends as well with the presence of the devil, with the victory of God over the devil.”

“Evangelicals are a narrative driven people…The centrality of the Gospel demands a certain form of public engagement. The Gospel, after all is the announcement of God’s redemption of sinners through the life, death, resurrection, and ongoing reign of Jesus Christ.” Catholics need to re-learn that language... to go back to the Bible to see [that] “the universe is shaped around the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that losing our living sense of the ultimate telos leads to an unsustainable teleology.”"

"When [the devil] wants to tempt the target to commit great evil for great profit... it is not necessary to get the target to commit the “big sins.” Rather... the "safest road to hell" is the gradual one, the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” Pope Francis is warning us of these... Cautioning us about the “small” temptations—the greedy reach, the neglect of the poor, the dangers of gossip, or pride."

"Francis has already spoken many times... of the temptations of Satan and the reality of evil. But, that is not enough— Catholics need to begin to believe that the devil is real and active... the most effective thing he can do to bring souls to hell is to convince people that [he] does not even exist."

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https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/the-madness-of-moral-relativism

"...moral relativism isn’t just a philosophical curiosity. It is poison, and it’s poisoning us fast, [with] the classic lines: “What’s true for you isn’t true for me”; “Morality is cultural”; “There are no absolutes.” [The truth is] that truth exists outside of our preferences... Moral relativism is gaining ground [and] it must be answered with a definitive, uncompromising dismantling."

"Moral relativism, put simply, is the belief that right and wrong depend on personal opinion or cultural perspective. It sounds tolerant. It flatters our desire for autonomy. But it crumbles under the force of its own contradictions. If all morality is relative, then there can be no condemnation of anything, anywhere— not genocide, not slavery, not rape. If morality is just a cultural costume, then the Nazi uniform is no worse than a business suit, and the gulag is no worse than a schoolhouse. Relativism, when stripped of its disguises, defends nothing and permits everything.'

"Consider the common defense: “But what about other cultures?” Yes, cultures differ. The Greeks practiced infanticide. The Aztecs performed human sacrifice. Some societies mutilate girls to ensure their “purity.” Do "cultural differences" make these practices acceptable? If you say yes, then you have abandoned all moral ground. You can’t condemn the slave trade or the Holocaust, because someone, somewhere, considered them culturally valid. If you say no, then you have already admitted a universal standard by which you judge. Either way, relativism collapses."

"This same relativism now infects debates over immigration. We’re told that defending borders is "xenophobic", that preserving [our distinct] culture is "bigotry". They claim is that "every culture is equal," so every practice and every custom must be absorbed without resistance. 
But cultures are not equal. Some elevate human dignity. Others crush it. Some respect law and order. Others thrive on corruption and violence. If we pretend "all cultures are interchangeable," then we hand our own over to dissolution. A nation that refuses to defend its moral core in the name of relativism cannot survive."

"Relativism also drives the excuses we hear for crime. Theft is treated as an "expression of poverty." Assault is excused as a "response to oppression." Murder is softened as the by-product of “different values.” If morality is subjective, then the criminal is just an alternative moral agent, and punishment is nothing but cruelty. But when morality bends, justice disappears. Victims vanish into the background. Communities decay. And law enforcement becomes little more than a display. A society that excuses crime through relativism abandons its citizens to predators."
(PEOPLE DO THIS WITH THE DEVIL HIMSELF, TOO. Once you go THAT far, you ANNIHILATE morality altogether!!)

"Another dodge is the [false and deadly] claim that "morality evolves". This sounds "sophisticated" until you look closely. Of course, societies [do] grow in understanding. But growth implies a standard of "better and worse". If morality is relative, there is no better or worse, no progress at all, only flux. You can’t say we are "better" for abolishing slavery unless you assume a standard outside of shifting opinion. Without absolutes, moral progress is impossible. History becomes nothing but a string of empty costume changes."

"Still, others retreat into [a moral cowardice masquerading as] empathy: “Can’t people decide [what's right] for themselves?” That works until one person’s decision destroys another’s life. If morality is just "preference", then a criminal’s desire is equal to his victim’s plea for "justice". If right and wrong are subjective, then justice itself is an illusion. Try telling a mother whose child was murdered that the killer merely had “different values.” Relativism falls apart in the face of human suffering."

"Totalitarian regimes thrived not on rigid moral codes but on the rejection of absolutes. Hitler dismissed objective morality as a “Jewish invention.” Stalin scoffed at "universal rights". Mao declared "morality" to be "whatever served the revolution." Each replaced truth with power. The result was slaughter. When truth is relative, might "makes" right. And when might makes right, the weak are crushed."

"Even in softer, modern forms, relativism corrodes. In the courtroom, it undermines justice. In schools, it reduces teachers to entertainers. In marriage, it erodes vows until they lose their meaning. If laws shift with opinion polls, they cease to be laws at all. A society built on relativism is a society without anchors. It drifts, then it drowns."
(That's why Jesus warns about houses built on sand!!)

"Some try to hedge: “Maybe a few absolutes exist, but most morality is relative.” This is no more coherent than saying gravity usually applies, except when it’s inconvenient. Either morality is grounded in something beyond us or it is nothing but preference in costume. There is no middle ground.
Others insist: “I have my morality, you have yours.” But morality, by definition, governs how we treat others. It cannot be locked into private bubbles. If morality is private, then courts are tyranny, laws are illegitimate, and the weak have no claim on the strong. If you believe murder is wrong only for yourself, you protect no one else. Society disintegrates under that logic."

"Moral relativism is rising. Students, politicians, and even clergy are intoxicated by its "promise" of "freedom". But it is a false freedom because a world without absolutes is a world without dignity, justice, or meaning."

"The truth is this: moral relativism is never acceptable—not in theory, not in practice, not even a little. Because once you accept that "morality is relative", you have no ground to stand on when the tests come— when a dictator crushes dissent; when a terrorist slaughters civilians; when uncontrolled immigration erases national culture. Either you say, “This is wrong”— wrong everywhere, for everyone, always—or you say nothing at all.

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https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/the-war-on-beauty

"The rise of the fat acceptance movement, which seeks to "challenge conventional beauty standards" and promote body positivity... cannot be examined in isolation. It is merely one battle in a larger cultural war over what constitutes beauty... And this war is not limited to our bodies; it extends to the very fabric of our built environment, our media, and our cultural products."


"We are surrounded by a lack of beauty. Consider the state of architecture in the United States. Our cities are increasingly filled with ugly, utilitarian buildings that prioritize cost and efficiency over aesthetic value. The result is a landscape of soulless structures that contribute to a sense of alienation and disconnection from our surroundings. Gone are the days when architecture was an art form that sought to inspire and elevate the human spirit. Today, we are bombarded with visual assaults in the form of bland office parks, monotonous housing developments, and grotesque commercial buildings. These structures are not just eyesores; they are a reflection of a deeper malaise in our society—a loss of appreciation for beauty and a failure to recognize its importance in our daily lives. 

"...brutalist design... a stark, severe fortress.... heavy, concrete facade and lack of windows contribute to an oppressive atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the neoclassical beauty... Its drab, concrete design and lack of warmth... [these aesthetic descriptors are] a prime example of how architectural choices can impact public perception and interactions."

The decline in the quality of written journalism further underscores this war on beauty. Once a profession full of thoughtful analyses and investigative reporting, the field of journalism has been overrun by clickbait headlines and shallow content designed to generate maximum online traffic with minimal intellectual engagement. This shift toward sensationalism and superficiality has eroded the public’s trust in the media and contributed to a culture of misinformation and cynicism. 
In place of nuanced discussions and in-depth reporting, we are left with a barrage of meaningless soundbites and fleeting trends... which prioritize entertainment value over substantive reporting. "Articles" such as “27 Hilarious Dog Memes That Will Make You Laugh” exemplify this rather troubling, tiresome trend."

"The music industry, too, has not been spared. Auto-tuned voices and formulaic beats dominate the airwaves, drowning out the creativity and authenticity that once defined the industry. The homogenization of popular music has created a cultural landscape where genuine talent and artistic expression are often overlooked in favor of marketability and mass appeal. This is not merely a matter of personal taste; it is indicative of a broader societal trend toward valuing superficiality over substance, ugliness over artistic beauty."

"Philosophically, beauty has long been associated with truth, goodness, and harmony. The ancient Greeks understood this, believing that beauty was not merely about physical appearance but about a deeper connection to the world and each other. Beauty was seen as a reflection of the divine, a way to transcend the mundane and connect with something greater than ourselves. [Today], however, it seems we have betrayed these ideals in favor of something more superficial and emptier, something that prioritizes shock value over substance.
The relentless pursuit of newness and novelty has led us to a point where we are more concerned with what is trending than with what is true. This shift in values is evident in every aspect of our culture, from the way we build our cities to the way we consume media and entertainment. We have lost sight of the importance of beauty as a guiding principle; and in doing so, we have lost a part of our humanity. We are uglier, both inside and out.

"As is clear to see, this war on beauty is not just about aesthetics; it is about the soul of our society. It is about our ability to connect with each other and the world around us in a meaningful way. When we prioritize ugliness, whether in our bodies, our buildings, or our cultural products, we create a world that is less compassionate, less thoughtful, and less connected. We become more isolated, more cynical, and more disconnected from the things that truly matter."


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https://uscatholic.org/articles/202509/jesus-parables-are-radical-we-should-be-too/

"As with many parables about folks who do the "wrong thing" [in the eyes of the world]—the sower "wastes" his precious seed on unpromising soil, the shepherd leaves 99 sheep to go in search of one stray, the employer returns home to wait on his house staff, the landowner pays long-term and short-term workers the same wage—Jesus insists on admiring people we find distinctly unadmirable."

"Anxiety, confusion, and a deep sense of inadequacy have likely haunted mortals from the first failure of original sin. "We’re not good enough" is [the refrain of despair] now burned deep into our psyches. Knowledge of our limitations is a very vulnerable self-understanding with which we are perpetually burdened."

"This month, the Sunday gospels all seem to touch on this business of our unpreparedness for the life we’re living, how unqualified we seem to be for the Christian path we’re supposed to be on. Jesus spells it out in numerous parables: To be ready for whole-souled discipleship, we must be prepared to “hate” our families. Even if we embrace the Semitic hyperbole of this “hate,” who among us will choose the eternal demands of Jesus over our family’s immediate needs? Most of us opt for family every time.
Yet Jesus persists: Who would begin to build a tower they don’t have the means to finish? Who would start a war they know they can’t win? We do. All the time. Have you ever bought a gym membership you didn’t use or invested in supplies for a hobby you quickly abandoned? Have you ever entered into an argument with more emotion than information?"

Jesus doesn’t let us off the hook. He tells about a dishonest steward who gets caught with his hand in the till and who then cheats his way out of the mess he just cheated his way into... [yet] Jesus holds up the dishonest steward as exemplary because of his remarkable consistency. This scoundrel is true to what he believes in most, which is cheating. The cheaters of this world, Jesus affirms, show more "integrity" than we who profess faith in God’s ways but act out of self-interest... I know a few pastors who’ve watched members of their assembly walk out of Mass because the homily made them mad. But I know many more preachers who deliver only easy words and withhold challenging ones, because they don’t want to take the ugly phone calls and lose parish revenue."

"[With such cowardly pride ruling our hearts,] is it any wonder we have fear-of-discipleship-failure? How can we possibly live up to the things we profess in every creed and affirm with each sacrament? How can we be disciples of a Lord who asks for what we, in the land of abundance, are pretty much resolved not to hand over?"
[GRACE. WE NEED GRACE OR WE CAN'T. THAT'S THE POINT.]

"Personally, I admit to feeling like the rich guy in the parable who dresses in purple and dines with gusto while poor Lazarus, covered in sores, dies of starvation and lack of care in his doorway. I may extend myself in the rare "heroic gesture": writing a check for victims of a fire or serving a meal at a soup kitchen... [but mainly], I whimper my coveted truths in a corner. I “wish” things were different than they are, rather than fighting with all my strength and blood and bones to make them so."

"The hard sayings of Jesus propel me back into that ever-repeating nightmare, feeling sure that I’m not where I should be, not having learned the lessons I need to be an authentic disciple. In this case, of course, I know who the Teacher is, and I have the Textbook well in hand. But I’m missing something crucial, the most vital element of the curriculum of faith. Simply put, I lack the will of the saints to follow God wherever God leads. Fear of failure in this magnitude fills me with shame. As it should.

‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️💀💀💀💀💀💀 "There are theological debates about the so-called “good-enough Christian.” This is the person who goes to church, follows the rules, and keeps their nose clean of the most egregious sins. The "good-enough" Christian permits themselves a little greed or a large share of self-absorption. Surrendered to God are the required "churchy rituals" and practices, the letter-of-the-law obedience "signed off on" in the "contract" of our baptism. The rest of the secular, workaday part of life "belongs to" the good-enough soul, by this [irreverent] reckoning. "Moderation in all things," and "let’s not take this religion thing too fanatically, shall we?"
Perhaps we SHOULD take religion fanatically. This is the trepidation that spawns the nightmares: Maybe Jesus ISN'T exaggerating ANY of the gospel demands. Maybe Jesus really DOES expect his followers to take religion seriously—all the way to the cross, as he did... being a "good-enough" Christian isn’t good enough in light of this teaching."

"[And yet,] John’s gospel tells us that the Son of God doesn’t come into this world to condemn the world but to save it. Which is to say, to rescue us from the shamefully inadequate limitations of our superficial religious commitment.
Jesus has already done the heavy lifting of saving the universe by embracing “even death, death on a cross.” But the cross of Christ is not to be mistaken for an E-Z Pass through our OWN vital responsibility to build a world of justice and peace [by cooperating with His Will]. We cannot serve God and money, Christ’s way and ours."


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"What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control."
(TOWARDS OTHERS AND TOWARDS OURSELVES!! This also hits especially hard when applied to transgender ideas about the BODY. The Holy Spirit makes us at PEACE with our physical sex, makes us PATIENT with our "flaws" and struggles of bodily existence, helps us to have actual JOY in what God has given us BECAUSE He has given it to us... all of this flows from LOVE of Him, which ENABLES us to LOVE OURSELVES FOR HIS SAKE, and yes, that INCLUDES OUR BODIES. We are then kind and gentle towards ourselves, seeking the TRUE GOOD by doing so, not by mutilating and mangling it! We TRUST that we are EXACTLY as we are MEANT to be, and so we finally exercise a rather heroic SELF-CONTROL as we REFUSE to entertain any transgender ideas and urges and demands, instead DENYING them and REPLACING them with AFFIRMING GOD'S TRUTH.)

"Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit."
(In ALL aspects of life)