The Vanity of The Gospel of Jesus Nice

The Gospel of Jesus... Nice?

Following my entry into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil as a young man nearly two decades ago, I was bewildered. Much of what I heard in catechesis seemed saturated in a banal sentimentality that presented Jesus as more of a sort of Deepak Chopra figure than the revolutionary Son of the Most High God who said, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49, NABRE)  

Rediscovering the Sacrament of Mercy, Part Two

One's view of God determines just about everything.

In Part One of this blog, we looked at the societal loss of the sense of sin, and how that may be a root cause of Catholics' avoidance of the confessional. 

But I am convinced that there is a second reason so many Catholics don't celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation. 

Many of us live with a distorted image of God.

Rediscovering the Sacrament of Mercy, Part One

In the coming months children will celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation for their first time, and some—perhaps many, I regret--- will not return for many years, if ever.

Jesus, the Divine Mercy, will wait in the confessional, eager to offer His healing salve to bruised and wounded hearts, but His wait will be long.

Why?

I believe the simplest answer is this: Mom and Dad have left the Lord waiting. They have neglected the care of their own souls through avoidance of the confessional. Children learn how to view and live life from their parents.

And why do parents leave the Divine Mercy waiting?

I believe there are basically two reasons.