Definition of Theology

I figure the best way to start a blog which will be mainly theological in nature is to define the word “theology”.

<Short version>

My definition of theology is the study of God, through academic means, prayer,  personal reflection, reading of non-academic books on theology (such as those written by C.S. Lewis or Jacques Philippe) , reading Papal encyclicals, reading forums on apologetics, reading books or columns by religious writers, or any other similar method.  For me, anyway that I get to know God better is theology.

May God’s blessings be upon all,

<Long version>

The etymology of the word theology is theos (God) and logos (word).  However, there are many ways to define and use the word theology.  St. Anselm defined theology as, “faith seeking understanding”.  Dr. Fisher Humpries, author and professor of Theology at Samford University, uses theology to mean “Thinking about God”.  It can also be defined as, “A response we make to God” or “The study of what theologians are writing”.    [1]

Theology can be either academic or folk.  Academic theology concentrates on the intellectual side of theology. It involves the study of history, involves critical thinking (questioning assumptions), it is articulate, and is generally not internalized.  Folk theology is a more personal theology.  It is internalized and diverse. It is the theology of language, prayer, and witness.  [1]

Theology can also be defined as a way of loving God with our minds (Deut 6:5, Matt 22:37, Psalm 111:22)

My definition of theology is the study of God, through academic means, prayer,  personal reflection, reading of non-academic books on theology (such as those written by C.S. Lewis or Jacques Philippe) , reading Papal encyclicals, reading forums on apologetics, reading books or columns by religious writers, or any other similar method.  For me, anyway that I get to know God better is theology.

May God’s blessings be upon all,

[1] Dr. Fisher Humphries, Survey of Christian Theology, Spring Hill College, 08/30/2009.

About my blog

<Short version> Long version is below.

Occasionally I will read or think about something that inspires me to write it down. Usually, it revolves around theology but not always.  It is for this reason I have decided to start a blog.  This blog’s main purpose will be to serve as an outlet for my thoughts.

I am a devout Catholic Christian.  Many of my posts will reflect this. If you tend to adamantly disagree with me on this, I strongly suggest that you do not read my blog.  However, I do ask that my non-Catholic Christian readers do give my blog a chance.   Chances are my beliefs are not that different from your own.

This is my blog for my thoughts.  Everyone is welcome to comment and even disagree, but I will *NOT* tolerate trolls.  If you find yourself often upset or angered by my postings, I suggest for both of our sakes, that you stop reading my blog.

Let me stress that I am not here to be a know-it-all.  In fact I know very little and I learn something every day.  This blog is not a teaching tool but only a sharing of my thoughts, however, wrong, misguided, or simple they may be.

Concerning leaving comments.  The first time you submit a comment, I will have to approve it before it shows up.  Once you are approved, your comments will automatically show up immediately.

May God’s blessings be upon all,

<Long Version>

Occasionally I will read or think about something that inspires me to write it down. Usually, it revolves around theology but not always.  It is for this reason I have decided to start a blog.  This blog’s main purpose will be to serve as an outlet for my thoughts.   Hey, I have to do something at least semi-constructive with my MTS (Masters of Theological Studies) degree! 🙂

Some of my theological postings will be academic and some will be folk (personal) theology.  Most will likely be both.  For the difference, please see my entry on “What is Theology”.

Yes, I could do something similar using Facebook but I have decided not to for multiple reasons.  First, since my blog will be mostly about my religious and theological thoughts, I don’t want to push them onto my friends who do not share my beliefs.  On Facebook, I will post a link to each new entry. That way, my friends who do not wish to read it can easily skip over it. I will try *very* hard to stay away from politics as I believe that this topic is more often hurtful than helpful.  I will probably post about my struggles with my health (diabetes, fibromyalgia, and other things). The blog will allow people I do not know to find entries that may be related to their own health struggles and hopefully my experiences may be helpful to them. This is an advantage over Facebook.

This is *my* blog.  While I fully welcome comments, I will not respond to and I may even delete any comments that I perceive to be “trollish”.  If it looks like you are trying to start an argument (even an intelligent one) I will at least ignore your comment and I may even delete it.  That is not to say that I don’t welcome differences in opinion because I do.  However, I do *not* welcome differences of opinion for the sole reason of starting an argument. You are welcome to disagree with me and even state it on my blog and give your reasoning for it.  Just realize that I may not respond.  If you have a sincere question about something I post, fell free to ask and I will be happy to answer it as best as I can. However, again, I will not respond if I believe you are trying to start a debate.

I am a devout Catholic Christian.  Many of my posts will reflect this. If you tend to adamantly disagree with me on this, I strongly suggest that you do not read my blog.  However, I do ask that my non-Catholic Christian readers do give my blog a chance.   Chances are my beliefs are not that different from your own.

As I stated earlier, this blog is a vehicle for me to write my thoughts when I feel inspired to write.  However, if one of you is inspired, gains wisdom, or benefits from my blog in any way, I am grateful to God for giving me that opportunity.

I may write late at night and sometimes write as the thoughts come to my head.  So please excuse grammatical, spelling, disconnect thoughts, and various other errors I am sure I will make.

As I said before, this is my blog for my thoughts.  Everyone is welcome to comment and even disagree, but I will *NOT* tolerate trolls.  If you find yourself often upset or angered by my postings, I suggest for both of our sakes, that you stop reading my blog.

While many of my entries will be religious/theological in nature, not every one of them will be.  Some will be about my health struggles and some about totally other random things.

Let me stress that I am not here to be a know-it-all.  In fact I know very little and I learn something every day.  This blog is not a teaching tool but only a sharing of my thoughts, however, wrong, misguided, or simple they may be.

Concerning leaving comments.  The first time you submit a comment, I will have to approve it before it shows up.  Once you are approved, your comments will automatically show up immediately.

May God’s blessings be upon all,

On the Christmas Season…

Today is Saturday, December 26, 2015. Valentine Day decorations have already gone up in some stores. Christmas trees are already on the curb or in the box. Christmas decorations are coming down. It seems that the Christmas season is over, but it is not!

According to the Roman Catholic Church and some protestant denominations, the Christmas season begins on Christmas day, December 25th. When it ends though, isn’t as clear cut. Traditionally the Christmas season ends on the day before the Feast of the Epiphany, which is on January 6th.¹ This is where the 12 days of Christmas comes from. However, liturgically, it ends on the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord², which is celebrated the first Sunday after January, 6th. This year it is on January 10th. To make things even more complicated, the Feast of the Epiphany is a moveable feast in the United States and it is moved to the nearest Sunday¹. This year it is on January 2nd.

Regardless of when the Christmas season ends, we should never stop thanking and praising our Lord, Jesus the Christ, for humbling himself by entering into this world and becoming human to show us the way to the Father and for offering himself up as a sacrifice for our sins.

1. http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=30342
2. http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=126740

A prayer for God’s mercy

While reading Confessions by Saint Augustine, the paragraph below struck me to a point where I felt compelled to write.

‘Lord hear my prayer’ (Ps. 60: 2) that my soul may not collapse (Ps. 83: 3) under your discipline (Ps. 54: 2), and may not suffer exhaustion in confessing to you your mercies, by which you have delivered me from all my evil ways. Bring to me a sweetness surpassing all the seductive delights which I pursued. Enable me to love you with all my strength that I may clasp your hand with all my heart. ‘Deliver me from all temptation to the end’ (Ps. 17: 30). You, Lord, are ‘my king and my God’ (Ps. 5: 3; 43: 5).¹

God does discipline us in ways that we cannot understand or even recognize.  However, as with good parents, God disciplines us for our own good. He disciplines us in a way that guides us to Him. In creating us, God gave us an inherit sense of right and wrong.  He gave us a sense to tell the things that lead us to him from the things that lead us away from him.  Just as food that is good for us taste good and things that are poisonous taste bad, we are happiest when we are closer to God and unhappy (though we may not fully realize it or even deny it at the time) when we are walking away from God.

I have always believed and hoped in an abundantly merciful God.  I have sinned and I continue to sin. I trust and rely on God’s mercy.  I am thankful to God for giving me the grace to turn away from many of the sins I have committed and the sinful life I lead.  I pray that God will continue to help me, guide me and give me the courage to resist the temptation to return to a sinful life.

The paragraph above from St. Augustine’s Confessions can be read as a prayer and in my mind, an excellent one.  It asks of God to hear us and give us strength.  It praises God and thanks Him for his mercy.  It honors God by recognizing that God though His grace has delivered us from our evil ways, which is something we could not do on our own.  It asks God to lead us towards him and away from our wicked ways. As with the Lord’s Prayer, it asks God to keep us away from temptation. It ends in a very traditional way by praising and honoring God.

1. Augustine, Saint; Henry Chadwick (1998-05-03). The Confessions (Oxford World’s Classics) (pp. 17-18). Oxford Paperbacks. Kindle Edition.

A meditaion on the Hail Mary

I know that the Hail Mary is by tradition a Catholic Prayer but I ask my Protestant readers to give this posting a chance.

This mediation occurred to me after a recent confession.  Thank you Davis for being there.

Hail Mary, full of grace¹ – Lord, I ask that you fill me with your grace as Mary was filled with your grace. I have closed my heart to your grace. I ask that you open my heart to your grace as Mary’s heart was open your grace.

The Lord is with you¹ – Lord, I know you have always been and will always be by my side. Thank you for being with me.  I pray that I may open myself to you, as Mary was open to you, so that I may be closer to you.

Blessed are you among women¹ and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus². – Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son as my redeemer. Thank you Jesus for humbling yourself and becoming one of us.    Thank you for showing and teaching me the way to the Father. Thank you Jesus for enduring the suffering of the cross caused by my sins.

Holy Mary, mother of God – Thank you Mary for saying “Yes” to God’s call even though you did not know how it would happen.  Lord, I pray to you, that I may have the trust in you that Mary did, so that I may do your will even though I do not understand it.

Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. – Mary, I ask that you pray for me to our Heavenly Father because I am a sinner and I am in need of prayers.  I ask that you pray for his mercy towards me as I am in need of it.

 

1. Luke 1:28
2. Luke 1:42

Thirsting for Prayer

I just got finished reading Thirsting For Prayer, by Jacques Philippe.  This is the first of what I am sure will be many postings inspired by this book.

<Short version>

I have always struggled with my prayer life.  It is not something that comes easily to me. I never seem to get anything out of prayer. Either during or after prayer, it is rare for me to have an emotional response.  It is rare that I feel closeness with God during prayer.  It is this that I have struggled with for so long.

I have discussed this in length with my spiritual director, Fr. Rich Chenault, who suggested I read the book, Thirsting For Prayer, by Jacques Philippe. I just finished reading it and I am now re-reading parts of it over again.  It is a book filled with wisdom.

“Praying is to spend time freely with God just for the joy of being together.” [1] Isn’t this something we should all strive for? Myself especially.

Prayer brings an inner peace to our hearts.  Though prayer we can turn our hearts completely over to God and his peace and face our daily struggles with a more Christian heart filled with God’s peace.

I have always been envious of people with great prayer lives, people who seem to experience God in prayer and people who can truly feel a communing, a bonding, and an experience with God through prayer.  I am starting to realize that it does not matter what I feel or don’t feel in prayer, but my faith that will bring me closer to God. Just the fact that I habitually pray (and maybe one day pray unceasingly) and have faith in that prayer is what will bring me closer to God.

May God’s blessings be upon all.

<Long version>

I have always struggled with my prayer life.  It is not something that comes easily to me. I never seem to get anything out of prayer. Either during or after prayer, it is rare for me to have an emotional response.  With traditional spoken prayer, such as The Lord’s Prayer or the rosary, my mind tends to wonder because I know them so well. When reading scripture, either I read it as an action-adventure story or if it is a passage I know very well, my mind wonders to other things even as I am reading it.  I have had some luck with contemplative prayer but my mind wanders easily with that also.  I never seem to get anything out of prayer. Either before or during prayer it is rare for me to have an emotional response.  It is rare that I feel closeness with God during prayer.  It is this that I have struggled with for so long.

I have discussed this in length with my spiritual director, Fr. Rich Chenault.  He suggested I read the book, Thirsting For Prayer, by Jacques Philippe.  It is an excellent book which I am sure I will benefit from greatly.  I have just finished reading it for the first time.  I am now going back over it, and rereading the parts I highlighted.  I am sure that I will not only be commenting more on this book but I am sure that I will gain much from it as re-read the parts I highlighted.  This book is filled with wisdom.

“Praying is to spend time freely with God just for the joy of being together.” [1] We find joy in the time we spend time with our friends, don’t we?  Shouldn’t we spend time with God just for the job of being with him? How would you feel if someone who said was your friend, never wanted to spend any time with you?  How you feel if your spouse didn’t want to spend any time with you?  If we make time for our friends, shouldn’t we do the same for God? I am lecturing to myself here. I am very guilty of not spending time in prayer.

Prayer brings an inner peace to our hearts.  Though prayer we can turn our hearts completely over to God and his peace. Through habitual prayer we can experience peace in our hearts and our lives and we gain the strength to face the situations in our lives with a heart of love and peace. As someone who is currently struggling to find the good in his current job situation, and trying to face his job with a Christian heart, this is something that I needed to remember. Though habitual prayer, God can fill my heart with his peace and love and I can better face my difficulties at work.

I have always been envious of people with great prayer lives, people who seem to experience God in prayer and people who can truly feel a communing, a bonding, and an experience with God through prayer.  While I hate to take quotes from modern movies this is a time where it is appropriate. In one of the Santa Clause movies, there is a line, “Seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing”.  I am starting to realize that it does not matter what I feel or don’t feel in prayer, but my faith that will bring me closer to God. Just the fact that I habitually pray (and maybe one day pray unceasingly) and have faith in that prayer is what will bring me closer to God. I do pray that one day, that I can follow the wisdom of Jacques Philippe and not be so concerned about what I feel during or after prayer but just know that God is happy that I am spending time with him.  I pray that I can start and maintain a habitual prayer life so that I may one day have a close experience with God in prayer.

May God’s blessings be upon all.

[1] Jacques Philippe, Thirsting for Prayer, (New York: Scepter Publishers, 2014), 12.

The real reason I was an altar server – even though I had to be told

I don’t recall the entire conversation but only one comment made by my very dear great aunt, Tante Da, who died about 15 years ago.  We grew up next door to her.   I believe I was in high school at the time. I was making a comment about not wanting to be an alter server at mass on Sunday.  I made a comment that if it were Fr. X, that I wouldn’t really want to serve but if it were Fr. Y, I would gladly do it for him. Tante Da in an uncharacteristically firm and strong voice said, “NO! You are not serving at mass for the priest.  You are doing it for Jesus to serve him.”   Needless to say she is right.

We must all try to live our entire lives in serving God and keeping him the center of our lives.

May God’s Peace be upon you all.

On the Devil tempting us

This is a concept I learned about many years ago.  Where I first heard it, I do not remember. However, it has been brought back to mind and reinforced by my recent reading of “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis, a book which I will re-read one day.

First, I must acknowledge that the Devil does exist.  Whether you call it the Devil, human frailty, or some other name, evil is real and it does exits.

The Devil does not tempt us directly.  He does not tempt us to do things that we know are wrong. He is too smart for that and he knows we would never fall it.  He temps us, by encouraging us to justify our actions. He tells us that our actions are not wrong.  He tells us that we deserve it. He tells us our actions are okay in these circumstances.  He tells us “This is different”, “This is not like the other cases”, “This is an exception”, and other such lies.  He gets to lie to ourselves and to convince ourselves that what we are doing is not evil.

Satan is too smart to temp us directly. He gets us to lie to ourselves to justify our actions.  Remember, Satan is the father of lies and that is how he gets to us.

May God’s blessings be upon all,

Why are we here? Why did God create us?

<Short version>

My answer to the questions, “Why are we here?” “Why did God create us?”, has developed over time from various things I have learned and from other insights.  God in his infinite love, which by its very nature must be shared, created us to share in this love.  Since God created us with free will and due to sin entering the world through the sin of Adam and Eve, we must learn how to love, as it does not come naturally to the sinful. It is in this world that we grow to know Him, love Him, and serve Him, by loving and serving one another.

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

<Long Version>

When I was in my late teens or very early twenties, someone asked me those questions.  While I do recall my answer, in all honesty, I am too embarrassed to state it here.  However, I will provide some of my thoughts and background and other comments on what I believe today.

According to the Baltimore Catechism, God made us to “know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven.” While, this is a good start, it falls really short of a mature understanding of the topic.  At times, I have thought that God created us because God being loving and perfect in nature, He wanted to share his love (sharing love is a fundamental aspect of love)  and Himself.  While  this thought is much deeper than the previous one it is only part of what I believe today.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “God created everything for man, but man in turn was created to serve and love God and to offer all creation back to him” (CCC 358). It sounds very similar to the Baltimore Catechism to me.  At some point in time, I don’t recall when or how, I started to believe that we were on Earth “To learn to Love”.  As we all know, evil and hatred do not exist in heaven.  Heaven is being in the presence of God, Who is love; therefore, we must know how to love in order to enter heaven.

My answer to the questions, “Why are we here?” “Why did God create us?”, is all of the above.  God in his infinite love, which by its very nature must be shared, created us to share in this love.  Since God created us with free will and due to sin entering the world through the sin of Adam and Eve, we must learn how to love, as it does not come naturally to the sinful. It is in this world that we grow to know Him, love Him, and serve Him, by loving and serving one another.

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.