|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Slayin' Demons |
|
One of the more faulty
yet interesting comparisons I’ve heard is
that of comparing God to diamonds. And
here’s why. |
|
|
|
| |
Diamonds - a
mineral, a natural crystalline substance made of plain old
carbon atoms, are formed under extreme pressure and heat
in the interior of the earth, diamonds are shot out to
surface by volcanoes or extraordinary earth movements.
It is the
hardest surface known to man. It can cut through any
thing. And it can only be cut by other diamonds. Some say,
it is the woman’s best friend. Historically, men went to
bowels of the earth to obtain it.
This "king of gems" glitters and dazzles. It symbolizes
purity and strength. It symbolizes a commitment to
never-ending love. It mesmerizes those who look at it. It
captivates those who hold it. It commands those who own
it. |
| |
|
| |
Continued below... |
| |
|
|
| |
My Prayer Box
Newsletter |
|
|
My Prayer Box newsletter is published weekly and contains the
readings for that Sunday. It has reflections, stories and
reader contributions, prayers and news relevant to living a
proud Catholic life.
The reader contributions include announcements, interesting
articles, pictures and greetings. We also solicit news
regarding activities and events your parishes that you might
useful for others.
The newsletter has over 1000 subscribers.
|
|
| |
|
| |
Diamonds can be appreciated from different angles –
from its many different facets. And it is easy to
get lost in the dazzle, the glitter, the strength
and the need to just have IT.
But with all its attributes and strength a diamond
always has a weakness from within. A fact exploited
by the craftsmen and women who cut diamond to reveal
its greatest brilliance.
God, too, has many facets. And it is easy to get
lost in any one of His countless facets. We look at
God based on our own experience.
To some, God is a peaceful and peace-loving Messiah.
Some see God as benevolent and forgiving caretaker
of all. Others see God as an angry ruler. Still
others see God as a demanding and envious master.
With the adjectives in their proper context God is
all that. But it would be a mistake to assume that
having these many facets, God has a weakness from
within. Indeed, the weaknesses that we perceive are
mere projections of our own.
We see God as peaceful and peace-loving when we are
weary of the war that just seems so un-Christian. In
fact, St. Thomas Aquinas himself wrote in The Summa
Theologica, Part II, Question 40 (Benziger Bros.
edition, 1947), "True religion looks upon as
peaceful those wars that are waged not for motives
of aggrandizement, or cruelty, but with the object
of securing peace, of punishing evil-doers, and of
uplifting the good."
We
see God as benevolent in times when we are weary of
the suffering of those who are needy. Yet we forget
that that cup of java that lead most of us along
early in the morning to wake us up can feed a
suffering family of four for a day somewhere.
We see God as an angry ruler to justify our own
anger and our need to control.
We see God as demanding and envious because we are.
These are the demons we project because we know they
exist in us. We see in God what we already believe.
Inner beliefs create outward reality and perception
is not everything.
Slaying demons is not easy - a task especially made
difficult since these are our own. Action speaks
volumes. Being doers of the Word is a great start.
It’s like mining for diamonds - we can dig through a
lot of muck until we uncover the One true gem. Our
hands will get dirty but that diamond will always
remain our pure salvation. |
|
|
|
|
Apologetics |
 |
Mary
and the Saints |
|
Mass
and the Eucharist |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prayers |
|
Novenas |
|
The Rosary |
 |
Traditional Prayers:
Discover the origin of your favorite prayer. We might
even have the original Latin version, too. |
|
|
 |
Novenas:
Learn how
to say a novena in honor of your favorite
Saint. |
|
|
|
|
Archived Articles |
|
Prayer Requests |
|
Tours and Pilgrimages |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|