Tag: featured

Temple of Friendship

Leave a comment

Today I’d like to ramble a little bit about the subject of “friendship” as it has been on my mind recently. In fact, one of my New Year Resolutions this year was as follows:

Resolution #6. Invest more time in friendships
I have some really good friends. I should spend more time with them.

This was inspired by one of my favourite Bible pages from the Deuterocanon:

Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant.
When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him.
For one sort is a friend when it suits him, but he will not be with you in time of distress.
…
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.
A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.
A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds;
For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself.

– Sirach 6:6-17

Read more

Top Five Ways to be a Rockstar Godparent

2 comments

Over the last few years I’ve had the honour of sponsoring several people for Baptism and Confirmation. Over my time as a godparent, I’ve asked other sponsors what they do to live out this special vocation.

infant_baptism-600x398

In today’s post I’ve assembled all the advice I’ve heard from other godparents and sponsors and come up with the top five ways to godparent like a rockstar…
Read more

Sunday Lectionary: Power and Responsibility

Leave a comment

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 30, 2011

The Readings this week focus around the relationship between power and responsibility. It answers the question: what does the Lord demand of a leader?

In the First Reading, the Prophet Malachi speaks out against the Levite priests for abusing their position of power. They did not honour their privileged relationship with God. King David sings in the Psalm about the attitude which they should have had: humility rather than pride.

In the Second Reading we gain insight into St. Paul’s relationship with the Church in Thessalonica. Although Paul had founded that church and although he had legitimate authority over them as an Apostle he speaks tenderly to them and lovingly, as one might expect a good father.

Not so with the Pharisees! In the Gospel Jesus condemns them for not practising what they preach, for placing heavy burdens on the Children of Israel and for constantly seeking public adulation.

Jesus then turns the concept of leadership on its head. If you want to be great in the Kingdom, he says, you must humble yourself and serve. As a great man once said, with great power comes great responsibility…

Read more

Beginning Ignatius’ letter to the Trallians

Leave a comment

This week in the JP2 Group we will be continuing our study of the letters of St. Ignatius of Antioch, the third bishop of Antioch. Last week we read his words to the Magnesians where he exhorted them to do nothing without the bishop and to give honour to God by honouring the presbytery in authority over them.  This week we move on to the letter he wrote to the Church in Tralles in which Ignatius repeats much of what he told the Magnesians, but goes on to warn them of a heresy which was starting to creep into the Church, Docetism.

After looking at several different translations, I have, again, created my own abridged version so that we will be able to complete our study of this letter in a single evening.  Here it is:

“St. Ignatius of Antioch’s letter to the Trallians” PDF
“St. Ignatius of Antioch’s letter to the Trallians” Audio

TEA: How to read the Bible like a Catholic (St. Ignatius)

Leave a comment

Bible Rosary

During Lent, I gave two talks at St. Ignatius Catholic parish in Los Angeles. Here is the first talk I gave on reading Sacred Scripture:

“How to read the Bible like a Catholic” (Download)

Q&A (Download)

 

— Questions —

• What does Jesus mean when he says that, to be his disciple, we must “hate mother and father”?

• What is apologetics?

• What kind of Bible would you recommend?

• If I want to read a book of the Bible, where should I start?

• Why do some people leave the Catholic Faith?

TOT: Steven Lewis

Leave a comment

April 25, 2017: Steven Lewis @ St. Luke, El Cajon

Steven (aka Steve the Missionary) is currently working as the Director for Young Adults and Evangelization in the Diocese of Oakland. Before taking a diocesan position he spent three years as a FOCUS missionary on campuses in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California.

In addition, Steve is a vlogger for Patheos where he expresses his thoughts on various topics ranging from Easter to Jimi Hendrix.

“Evangelization” (Download)

As with the previous theology on tap session, the sound quality isn’t perfect. The recording of the next Theology On Tap speaker is much better as I managed to successfully hook into the microphone sound system itself.

Steven

 

1 … 68 69 70 71 72 … 137