Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Registration


It is often said that you cannot win the lottery without playing it.  Another saying is you cannot complain about elected officials if you do not vote.  And, you cannot vote without registering to vote with your county supervisor of elections.  Over the years, this has become very easy and it is not unusual to find registration tables at public events and even outside of some churches.  These days you can even do it online! In the large scheme of things, we do not think that our vote counts.  But, let’s look at that idea.

Just a few days ago, Neil Armstrong died which reminded us that he was the first man to set foot on the moon in the summer of 1969, thus fulfilling President Kennedy’s vision and promise to safely  put a man on the moon and return him to earth before the end of the 1960s decade.  This country came very close to not having a man on the moon so soon if at all if Senator John Kennedy had not been elected in 1960.  After that election, it was determined that if only an average of one vote per precinct had voted differently, Kennedy would have lost that election and the course of the moon program might never have occurred. 
And, what about a President Gore?  Vice President Al Gore did not reach the Presidency in 2000 although he had a national majority of votes.  However, he did not win a majority of votes in the states with enough electoral votes to elect him.  One major state - the decisive one, in fact - turned out to be Florida where a very small majority resulted in Governor George W. Bush getting elected as President.  These are just a few examples of presidential elections.  In addition, there are many stories throughout the history of this country at all levels of governmental elections about very close elections and even a few ties. 

So, each and every one of our votes counts despite the feeling we get that it does not matter.  But, you can’t complain if you do not vote and you cannot vote unless you register to vote.  So, if you have not yet done so, you have the opportunity to do so through October 9.  The Bishops of Florida urge you to do so and I add my small voice to theirs.

You can even register online by going to the website for the Florida Division of Elections  - http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voter-registration/voter-reg.shtml.

cf. Moral Duties Concerning Voting: www.ewtn.com/vote/voting_faq.htm

What say you?

Let the light of our Lord shine upon you!

REM (Ray Makowski) Co-Founder, Director and Secretary-Treasurer

Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Mindset List


In an Associated Press article in the local paper on Wednesday, there was an article on this year’s  Mindset List issued annually by two professors at Beloit College in Wisconsin.  This list is directed to teachers regarding the knowledge or mindset of the incoming freshmen for the Class of 2016.  This year’s list makes us of earlier generations take notice.

For example, this group of young adults never saw a paper airline ticket or carried luggage.  They never knew of an NFL team in Los Angeles but, always, knew of the Jacksonville Jaguars. They always have known of women in leadership positions and women who have flown in space shuttles and pilot war planes.  The are the electronic generation of MP3s and Ipods but have little use for radios. 

Changes like this occur often but here are some of the sadder implications, In their adolescence this class knows of their parents’ suffering or worrying about unemployment and the recession and, instead of graduating with jobs waiting for them, they do not know jobs and a good economy will be there when they graduate. 

As is true of another sad trend in society over the last 50 years, many of this class are less likely to identify with any religion.  As a consequence of this and their lack of religious study and training, they do not know much of the contents of the Bible.  So, as one of the authors of this list points out, they do not know basic biblical terms which must be explained to them in their studies of Milton and Shakespeare. 
The dangers of this is potentially very extreme to our society since this class will not have a real appreciation of Judaism and Christianity and the basics of Mosaic law represented by the Ten Commandments.  Without this basic and fundamental knowledge of the bedrock of our society and its laws, it is no wonder that they will be open to and accepting of dangerous trends such as calling homosexual unions marriage for example.  The consequences of these deficits in knowledge is bound to affect our society’s future ethics, mores, morals and, thus, behavior.  Will it be for good or, as I fear, for the worst?

What say you?

Let the light of our Lord shine upon you!

REM (Ray Makowski) Co-Founder, Director and Secretary-Treasurer

Monday, August 20, 2012

Real Presence


The gospel for this past Sunday was the gospel of John about the teaching of Jesus regarding  his real presence in the bread and wine of the Eucharist.  He said in John 6:53-57: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”  The Jews hearing this quarreled over this and the disciples said “This teaching is hard, who can accept this.” John 6:60. 


Later, at the Last Supper, Jesus reaffirmed that the this transubstantiation should be done in memory of him.  He did not say to do it to be symbolic but to eat his body and to drink his blood.  After his death and resurrection as the paschal lamb where he shed his blood and his body was killed, no other real lambs ever needed to be sacrificed at the Passover or for any other occasion.  We just need to receive his body and his blood at Communion.  It has been this way from Holy Thursday to the present.   

Now, here is the conundrum - a few years ago, it was reported that some 30% of the people believed in visits to Earth by intelligent extra-terrestrial aliens.  It was, also, reported in another study that some such large percentage of Catholics did not believe in the real presence. It is not surprising to learn that Protestants and non-Catholics do not believe in the real presence but it is shocking that a large number of Catholics do not believe in it.  The gospels and the teachings of the Apostles and the early Church to the present are absolutely clear about this.  How can there be an intelligent argument against the real presence?  Reminds me of the saying that goes: there is no one so blind who will not see. (It, also, reminds me of the times that I could not find my car keys while looking right at them.)

What will it take to educate our brothers and sisters in Christ to accept the real presence of Jesus?

What are your thoughts?

Let the light of our Lord shine upon you!

REM (Ray Makowski) Co-Founder, Director and Secretary-TreasurerAugust 20, 2012

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Faith and Works?

In my last blog quo vadis, I alluded to this one.  In the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible on the the Letter of St. James, there is a sidebar discussing this subject which has raised much discussion and difference since Martin Luther’s assertion of “solo fide” or faith alone as justification for salvation.

The sidebar discusses the two verses of Paul’s letter to the Romans and the letter of James:

    Romans 3:28 “For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.”
    James 2:24    “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

These seemingly contradictory notions suggest a serious division in teaching and has causes a great deal of historic controversy.  But, the sidebar puts them in context.  Paul is talking about the faith of the convert that leads to Baptism and he is discussing the works of Mosaic Law.  James, on the other hand, is discussing the life of a Christian after Baptism who put his or her faith into action by endeavoring to live the gospel and the Christian life on a daily basis. 


Unfortunately, I have the sense that far too many contemporary people are falling away from the idea of living as a Christian and misusing Paul’s assertion in this passage as a cheap way to salvation by just having “faith” without participating in any church services on a regular basis in their misguided belief that works of law does not include church services or obedience.  I hear from too many people that they have a personal and spiritual relationship with God which does not include church membership, attendance and participation.  As the author Timothy J. Keller wrote in his forward to the book “Bonhoeffer” (Detrich Bonhoeffer), They have “a non-costly love from a non-holy God who just loves and accepts us as we are.  That will never change anyone’s life.”  He, also, wrote about these people that, “They don’t like talking about Jesus’ death on the cross to satisfy divine wrath and justice.”

What are your thoughts?

Let the light of our Lord shine upon you!

REM (Ray Makowski) Co-Founder, Director and Secretary-Treasurer

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Quo vadis?


In the apocryphal Acts of Peter, there is a story about the apostle Peter.  As the persecutions of Christians grow in Rome, he is strongly urged by his Christian flock to leave Rome in order to save himself because of his importance as the leader of the Christian faith.  As Peter leaves a gate, he sees Jesus walking towards him and into Rome.  Peter asks Jesus: “Quo vadis, Domine? (Where are you going, Lord?)  Jesus said to Peter, “I am going to Rome to be crucified.”  And, Peter came to his senses and realized that he had to return to Rome where his fate was soon to be crucifixion.  So, he returned to Rome rejoicing and praising the Lord.

Now, let us pose this question at ourselves - quo vadis?  Where are you going?  Where is each of us going in our faith and our faith in action?  Where is it in our daily lives in our actions and in our treatment of ourselves and of others?  Do we go to face our lives rejoicing and praising the Lord?  Fortunately, we do not have to face crucifixion as Peter and the early Christians did.  But, do we live as Christians anyway?

This leads me to next topic in a few days.

But, first, what are your thoughts about this blog?

Let the light of our Lord shine upon you!

REM (Ray Makowski) Co-Founder, Director and Secretary-Treasurer

Friday, August 10, 2012

The Bishop Listens


 Last week, Bishop Estevez began his series of 10 listening sessions around the diocese where he invited everyone to participate in giving him feedback about the diocese.  What an opportunity this is - to tell the Bishop what we think!  It will give him information that could be very valuable in the decision-making process for the future of the diocese.  I hope as many people as possible would take this opportunity to express their thoughts to him.


Some disappointing comments had to do with things that the Bishop has no control over such as the issue of women priests.  More had to do with very personal and parochial matters of noble worth but without practical solutions usually involving the appropriation of funds which are presently in very short supply.  And, then, there were some very insightful and valuable comments.  All of these comments will be compiled after the 10 listening sessions for the Bishop and his staff to consider.

From this radio ministry’s point of view, we were overwhelmed by the numerous favorable comments about QOP Radio and how valuable it has been.  Several people suggested to the Bishop that he use it more often for teachings about the faith, about the controversy involving the first amendment, and advice regarding issues of importance in the news. 

We continue to offer the time to the Bishop to use this ministry for his pastoral messages.  Now, what do you think?

Each mention of QOP Radio brought unanimous applause from the audience which we enjoyed hearing.  We hope that you concur.

Let the light of our Lord shine upon you!

REM (Ray Makowski) Co-Founder, Director and Secretary-Treasurer

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Values or People?



Welcome to my first blog.

Yesterday at lunchtime, I went to the library to return and checkout books.  As I was entering, I could not miss all the political signs and the fact that this library branch was a site for early voting.  So, I took the opportunity to vote.


This caused me to reflect on how, four years ago, so many Catholics, fundamental Christians, and people of other or no religions, failed to even show up to vote or voted for candidates who were elected although those candidates fundamentally and openly stood for positions diametrically opposed to those voters' beliefs.  So, do we vote for the people because they are likeable and attractive and have better advertising instead of voting for our values and beliefs?  And, if we don't vote for our beliefs in favor of those candidates, do we or don't we have the courage and fortitude of our beliefs?  Or, as is popular to say, do we not walk the talk?  This is a personal decision for each of us as we vote this year.  I encourage you to register to vote and to vote.  As you do so, please consider whether or not you will vote for your beliefs?

What are your thoughts about this?

Let the light of our Lord shine upon you!
REM (Ray Makowski) Co-Founder, Director and Secretary-Treasurer