Two Edge Talk

Where's the Peace?

In the first (and likely last) Two Edge Talk reference to the TV series Seinfeld:  character Frank Costanza was once counseled to utter the phrase "Serenity now" as a means of controlling his blood pressure in times of stress or frustration.  Watching the red-faced actor bellow the term at the top of his lungs was quite effective in comically demonstrating the utter futility of demanding peace in our lives.  Peace is not dispensed from a kiosk at the mall.

Deacon Tim and Cyndi discuss how you might quietly invite peace into your life in this episode.  Reflect upon their tips, and you just may find more peace in your soul, even when the world around you is anything but peaceful.

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Bring Your Gifts to the Altar

In the Catholic Mass (we refer to our worship services as the "Mass"), we prepare for Communion by bringing the bread and wine forward to God, and offering prayers and song in preparation for the consecration of the gifts into the bread and body of Christ.

Pop quiz! Catholics: where were your minds the last time the offertory gifts were brought forward to the altar?  Wondering if you had enough milk for lunch?  Wondering how Betty lost all that weight? Perhaps reflecting on our humble human gathering and offering to God, with a prayer that He accept these gifts, sanctify them, change them into the Body and Blood of his Son, and give us in return the grace of Communion?

This week Cyndi and Deacon Tim give you some food for thought about the real meaning of the Offertory in the Catholic Mass.

 

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The Bible- Tips, Tricks & Traps

I asked Deacon Tim to do a few podcasts on the Bible - I want that same passion he has when he reads the Bible!   In this podcast, he challenges us to go beyond a surface, conventional reading of the Bible and put aside our modern thinking and cultural bias.  When you follow Deacon Tim's tips and tricks, and avoid the traps, plan to be challenged as the Bible comes alive as God's living letter to us! 

PS - Are you still sending our podcast around to your friends and family?  This one is a great one to send around!

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Personal Conversion

There are many different types of conversion, and Tim tells a very personal story today of his son Dan, who went from a troubled youth to an on-fire Catholic.  An inspiring story, a living testament to the truth of "Train up a child in the way that he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Tim also tells about his experience in New York with Pope Benedict, and Cyndi has an observation about modern worship.  Lots to think about in this podcast!

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Eucharistic Adoration

If Catholics believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist (and we do!), then we believe that the little piece of bread that we receive for Communion is no longer just bread, but the real presence of Jesus.  I know, I know, this is where we lose many of our Protestant brethren.  I guess my response would be, "Are you going to leave me too?" which is what Jesus said to the apostles after everyone left him when he laid out the idea of his own body and blood being real food.  (please re-read the Bread of Life discourse beginning with John 6:25 through the end of the chapter).

If, then, we believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, then it makes sense that we could adore Him in the Eucharist, and that's what we do in Eucharistic adoration.  I'll let Deacon Tim explain the particulars, but let me just say that if you'll listen to this podcast with an open mind and heart, and accept the challenge I offer at the end, your life will never be the same.

At the end of the podcast, Deacon Tim and I mention one of our favorite musicians, Michael John Poirier, and I wanted to link his site.  Every CD of his is amazing, and his concerts are even better.  I was excited to find that he was going to be in my area in a couple of weeks!  Here's the link: Michael John Poirier

Peace be with you this week, and we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section!

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The Battered Body of Christ

This podcast was inspired by last week's comment section; Deacon Tim thought that we needed to explain why we Catholics cannot separate our faith in Christ from His Church.  This concept has implications for all Christianity, not just Catholics, so I hope that you will pass this one on to your friends.  I pray that our podcast will be a conversation starter!

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Serious as Sin, Part 2

One of the great things about Catholicism is that the beliefs of our faith are spelled out, and you can find them in one book: The Cathechism of the Catholic Church.  When I sat here stumped about what to write about the topic of sin, I consulted the Catechism, and it made me wonder why I even bother coming up with something original every week.

Here's what it had to say about sin in general:

"Sin creates a proclivity to sin; it engenders vice by repetition of the same acts.  This results in perverse inclinations which cloud conscience and corrupt the concrete judgment of good and evil.  Thus sin tends to reproduce itself and reinforce itself, but it cannot destroy the moral sense at its root."

In other words, sin leads to more sin, and eventually it erodes our ability to even see sin for what it is.  When the little voice in our head begins to justify the sin we're committing, this is when we know that sin has taken root and our conscience has become clouded.

In this podcast, Deacon Tim mentions the "7 Deadly Sins," or "capital" sins, the sins which lead to other sins.  If we think of sin as an ugly weed growing in the garden of our soul, these sins are the roots:  pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth.  When I look at this list, I am shocked at how common these sins are (and I'm looking in the mirror here). 

The good news?  God's mercy and grace stand waiting to fill our soul - we hope this podcast begins the journey.

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Serious as Sin, Part 1

You know that phrase, "serious as sin"?  Does that mean anything anymore?  Is "sin" even part of the modern lexicon?  In this podcast, Deacon Tim answers some questions such as "What is sin?", while explaining mortal sin, venial sin, and more.  Of course, for a Catholic, sin should lead us to the confessional, which we covered in an earlier in an earlier podcast: Confession podcast. 

Deacon Tim embarks this week on a new adventure in life; if you listen through to the very end of the podcast, you can find out where God is taking him!

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Are Catholics "Saved"?

The question of salvation often leaves Catholics and Protestants shaking their heads at each other.  To my Baptist friends, this is the easiest question in the world, and they can't understand why a Catholic may not give a quick, one-word answer to it.  Here's what we can agree on, though:  Jesus is the answer for our salvation.  Scripture tells us, though, that there may be many different paths to salvation, so for Catholics, we depend on God's mercy to save whom He sees fit. While on earth, we can say that we are "working out our salvation in fear and trembling," as Paul describes in Phil 2:12.  But, that doesn't mean that we can "earn" salvation based on our works!  What do we believe?  Well, you'll just have to listen to the podcast!

Deacon Tim referred to some Scripture references about what the Bible says one must do to be saved:

1.  Call on the name of the Lord.  Romans 10:13

2.  Believe in Jesus.  Acts 16:30-31

3.  Confess Jesus as Lord.  Romans 10:9

4.  Repent of sins.  2 Corinthians 7:10

5.  Be baptized.  Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16

6.  Love God and neighbor.  Luke 10:25-28

7.  Keep the 10 Commandments.  Matthew 19:17

8.  Receive Holy Communion.  John 6:51-58

9.  Pursue holiness.  Hebrews 12:14; James 1:21; Romans 6:22

10.Do God's will.  Matthew 6:21; Matthew 12:50; 1 John 2:17

11.Obey Christ.  Hebrews 5:9; Acts 3:23

12.Do good works.  Romans 2:6-7; James 2:14; Matthew 25:31-46)

13.Share in Christ's suffering.  Romans 8:17

14.Remain steadfast in faith.  Matthew 10:22; Revelation 2:10

15.Die in a state of grace.  Hebrews 6:4-6

16.Childbearing (for you women!).  1 Tmothy 2:15

This partial listing compiled by Larry Lewis.

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Born of a Virgin

It's that time of the year when we drag out the Nativity set and dust off the Blessed Virgin.  I'm betting it's the only time a non-Catholic gives Mary a second thought.  For a Catholic, however, we hang with Mary throughout the year.   Why?  Because that's what Jesus did, and we want to be like Him in all ways.  He was a nice Jewish boy, raised on the commandment to honor his mother and father, so we think He'd like it if we honored his mom.  So we do. 

That's the simple explanation.  There is a compelling theological argument to explain Mary's role in salvation history.  That's where Deacon Tim comes in - I'm okay with the simple "because that's what Jesus did" argument. :) 

If you are Protestant and tempted not to listen to this podcast, come on - it's a great time of year to learn more about the mother of our Lord!  How can you resist a woman who said "yes" to that unfathomable message from the angel Gabriel?

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