Some proof...

...for original sin.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/mean_girls

I thought it was interesting that psychological warfare on the parents was correlated to aggressive relationships. One of the great sins is the misuse of our ability to relate to others. When children see their parents using relationships as a method of winning control and power over a situation, they'll imitate this to their own advantage. That shouldn't surprise us.

I wonder how much of this carries over to adulthood. From some experiences I have seen quite a bit. Those rejected by the structure become cynical, at least into early adulthood. Those who gained an advantage through the system cling to it, etc.

At any rate, an interesting bit of research on children.

Will it ever end?

Positively, this is more lectio divina than I ever did in the monastery. So as Easter is closing, let's partake in a reading from the Acts of the Apostles: (RNAB version 4:1-12)

After the crippled man had been cured,
while Peter and John were still speaking to the people,
the priests, the captain of the temple guard,
and the Sadducees confronted them,
disturbed that they were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

They laid hands on Peter and John
and put them in custody until the next day,
since it was already evening.

But many of those who heard the Word came to believe
and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes
were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest,
Caiaphas, John, Alexander,
and all who were of the high-priestly class.

They brought them into their presence and questioned them:
By what power or by what name have you done this?

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them:
Leaders of the people and elders:

If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;

in His Name this man stands before you healed.

He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.

There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.

In this passage, Peter sums up well the primary message of all catechesis or evangelization. Let me end the day with that.

The city we all love

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ft/25028bd6be4111d9947300000e2511c8

So Vegas is turning 100. Nevada's history is interesting. It was thrown in as a state during the Civil War to give Lincoln more power against a Congress more sypathetic to the Confederacy. (Call this group 'moderates.') So 2 more senators from the West, where slavery would have just been plain silly. Anyway, the 1930's roll around and Nevada is still an empty outpost of silver mining and ranching, with just 50,000 folks. So the state 'Fathers' (my term) decided to roll the dice. So they were first in the door with gambling, and as a result became famous for it. This brought with it all the food service / accomadation jobs that come with it. Now, more recently, better jobs have moved in to attract the young hipsters looking for a pretty libertarian place that won't take their money or tell them what to do. Most of this history is a paraphrase of what I've read in the National Journal's Almanac of American Politics, which does a great job of explaining the unique character of the US's many locales. And this one is pretty unique.

Anyway, if you've been to Vegas, you'll see, it's a most fascinating place. Particularly for me, an urban planner. Imagine a golf course in the middle of the most barren desert imaginable. Now make it about 800 square miles and growing. Now add streets and homes and a little downtown. (Really, the downtown is about as impressive as Shreveport's.) Now, add a ridiculous 2 1/2 miles of strip that contain 300 foot condo buildings...and a number of high rise hotels of various architecture...and a 1000 foot high tower like the CN Tower in Toronto...and don't forget the miniature Eiffel Tower...and miniature New York skyline...and pyramid...

You get the point, it's one of man's most interesting (both fascinating and bizarre) creations in a natural habitat where man has no business living, a bone dry valley where the summer breeze feels like someone's pointing a hair dryer at you, suurounded by equally barren mountains. I'm sure the US has other places like it, and I'm sure they are dumpsites for nuclear waste.

Way too much about Vegas than what you wanted to read...so Happy Birthday to the City the Never Sleeps!

Another reading for meditation...

This one from Paul's first letter to Timothy:

Beloved:
First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,
petitions and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
for kings and for all authority,
that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life
in all devotion and dignity.

This is good and pleasing to God our savior,
who wills everyone to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God.

There is also one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself as ransom for all.

This was the testimony at the proper time.

For this I was appointed preacher and Apostle
(I am speaking the truth, I am not lying),
teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,
lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

Again the text is the Revised New American Bible. A number of observations. First, note God's singularity and universality, and the universality of his call ("wills everyone to be saved"). Second, note this clip begins and ends with an exhortation to pray.

So I've decided to remember these two themes as I use my blog. First, the truth we seek is universal; it is not the truth for one group, but for all. In other words, I must be careful not to simply preach to the choir. Second, pray always. Never come to the blog pretending to teach, unless you have first learned through study and prayer.

Pray that I and all who seek the truth keep these in mind.

If you need proof...

...as to the sorry state of affairs today, take a look at this.

http://www.ssa.gov

Go to the most popular names for 2004 at the left. Then look at the longer list.

Please note that Carl is 369. It has been in constant decline for over 20 years. Also note some of the names ahead of it: Mekhi at 346, Axel at 325 (is this a tribute to Guns 'N Roses?), Kayden at 318 and Kaiden at 309 and Cayden at 263 and Kaden at 105 (I presume these are pronounced identically), Zander at 278, Jaxon at 266, Chance at 252, Kai at 248, and Dawson at 206.

This Sunday's Gospel

Again this presumes the universal calendar, not the particular calendars which move Ascension to Sunday. This is one of the greatest Gospel accounts, in terms of its fundamental spiritual richness, so it's a shame that much of the world never hears it in the liturgy.

The Revised New American Bible is the version used, as in the Lectionary, and the excerpt is John 17:1-11.

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:
Father, the hour has come.

Give glory to your Son, so that your Son may glorify you,
just as you gave him authority over all people,
so that your Son may give eternal life to all you gave him.

Now this is eternal life,
that they should know you, the only true God,
and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

I glorified you on earth
by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.

Now glorify me, Father, with you,
with the glory that I had with you before the world began.

I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world.

They belonged to you, and you gave them to me,
and they have kept your Word.

Now they know that everything you gave me is from you,
because the words you gave to me I have given to them,
and they accepted them
and they truly understood that I came from you,
and they have believed that you sent me.

I pray for them.

I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me,
because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours
and everything of yours is mine,
and I have been glorified in them.

And now I will no longer be in the world,
but they are in the world while I am coming to you.

Men of Galilee, why do you stand here...

...looking into the sky. The one who has ascended will come again. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

This is admittedly a day late or two days early, depending on the calendar you're following. I'm not a big fan of moving Ascension (or Epiphany or Corpus Christi) to Sunday. So for me, we'll say it's late. Anyway, a nice prayer I like for a holy day such as this is the canticle from the second letter to the Phillipians:

Though he was in the from of God
Jesus did not deem equality with God
Something to be grapsed at

Rather, he emptied himself
And took the form of a slave
Being born in the likeness of men

He was known to be of human estate
And it was thus that he humbled himself
Obidiently accepting even death
Death on a cross

Because of this God highly exalted him
And bestowed on him the name
Above every other name

So that at Jesus' name
Every knee must bend
In the heavens and on the earth
And under the earth

And every tongue proclaim
To the Glory of God the Father
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.

I can't give credit where credit is due. This is from the English Liturgy of the Hours of the USA. What translation they use for New Testament canticles I'm not sure. Frankly, this is basically from memory so I'm not sure if it's perfect.

Needs No Comment

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/sex_worker_school

Actually, I will comment. I smiled while reading this article, the sort of smile that comes from something being so ridiculous it's funny. I could say something about vigilance against such buffoonery, but it's very hard to take such a thing seriously.

I like the comment about 'sex work' being a calling. As if an important niche in society is causing harm to families by dangling candy in front of the all-too-human husbands of the world.

Interesting

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-10/111518955261170.xml&storylist=orlocal

I would be surprised if this rumor turned out to be true. I guess I'm predicting a bigger name will take this post. But who knows?....

Hopeful News

http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=3193

Feast of Sts. Philip and James

The gospel today features Philip asking our Lord to "show us the Father." The answer: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." Indeed, Christ IS the ultimate Revelation of the Father. As written by John of the Cross: "In giving us his Son...he spoke everything to us at once in this sole Word...what he spoke before to the prophets in parts, he has now spoken all at once by giving us the All Who is His Son."

A simple reflection for this feast day.

Welcome to the Site

After spending much time reading numerous blogs dealing with Catholicism, I have decided to begin my own. Let us consider this an experiment. Frankly, I don't consider myself any wiser than the multitude of bloggers whom I read. We all have the desire I suppose to sound off when we want, however. The goal of the site is inherent in its title. My desire is that this blog will be a voice in the search for truth. What that means and whether this work will bear fruit is a question that time will ultimately answer.