tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post8851020558768442178..comments2024-02-09T02:48:13.776-06:00Comments on Daily Meditations with Fr. Alfonse: Mt 10:34-11:1 All In The FamilyFr. Alfonsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02557206560119402976noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-14567332005970363882014-07-19T08:59:27.860-05:002014-07-19T08:59:27.860-05:00I like your comment. Did you grow up Christian? ...I like your comment. Did you grow up Christian? If so, then what is your understanding of God? Let's see if Benedict's comment is so far removed from reality. I doubt it. I look forward to your definition. <br /><br />My experience with atheists is that they are ignorant of the faith they claim they once professed or were educated in. In the recent past, a certain anonymous attempted to convince others of their superior knowledge of Christian doctrine (specifically Catholic doctrine) only to see it shot down and corrected. A humiliating experience, I must say, but thankfully, what protected them was their anonymity. Apparently, they were not confident enough to put their name or reputation with their words. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08588127029039676516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-46808625194471524202014-07-18T23:24:01.700-05:002014-07-18T23:24:01.700-05:00"Most of them have no clue what Christians me..."Most of them have no clue what Christians mean by God."<br /><br />Almost every atheist I know grew up as a Christian. I would guess more of them know what you mean by god than you think. <br /><br />Of course, not everyone has the same idea of what god means. Obviously there will be some differences between different denominations, but I would imagine that even within denominations there will be some disagreement. Perhaps a good working definition would be helpful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-69681968841715236052014-07-15T09:29:09.286-05:002014-07-15T09:29:09.286-05:00Haley:
I checked out your blog. It's so great...Haley:<br /><br />I checked out your blog. It's so great!!! You remind me so much of me when I was young! I am an Ursuline alumna, too (UA '85) and am very much committed to social justice and service like you. Although I didn't go overseas, I used to work as a social worker for Catholic charities in NJ with the homeless and later went on to Georgetown Law to work on national poverty issues. There have been definite points in the last 25 years when it's easy to feel overwhelmed by so much poverty and injustice in the world that you just give up! Don't! Keep the faith! It's just like Aggie said...the poverty and injustice give us a chance to choose to respond.<br /><br />I know you are treasuring the experience in Uganda right now. Keep it close to your heart in the years to come! I was telling my best friend from college about your blog this past weekend. She and I were so involved when we were your age and we were feeling old because we've spent the last 20 years raising kids, changing diapers, carpools, etc. We read your Mango Tree post and loved it. She said that it was hard to feel so enthusiastic when we were changing diapers, waiting in carpool, volunteering at the thousand of activities for our large families,cooking dinner, laundry, etc. We concluded that we have to find joy in these mundane things and take comfort in the fact that hopefully we were raising kids as awesome as you and Aggie!!! We think you are so filled with the Holy Spirit. Keep going and bringing Christ to those around you. <br /><br />My oldest is a rising senior and hopes to go to Notre Dame next year! She wants to be a pediatric surgeon someday. I hope you can meet.<br /> violinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07996177657604656859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-58403408856624509542014-07-15T06:47:14.232-05:002014-07-15T06:47:14.232-05:00Thank you so much for posting this, Father Alfonse...Thank you so much for posting this, Father Alfonse! I miss you and can't wait to see you soon. To the three people above, I read your comments, and please please know how much I appreciate them and how happy they made me :) If anyone would like to read more of my writings and the lessons I've learned from Uganda, visit my blog page here: http://thehungerandthirst.blogspot.com/. Thanks again, Father!!!!Haleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10712600899874072415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-85789490650134611162014-07-14T22:14:45.035-05:002014-07-14T22:14:45.035-05:00Excellent thoughts by these two young ladies. We ...Excellent thoughts by these two young ladies. We often make simple things complicated. I think Aggie hits the nail on the head when she says "It's all about obedience."As we move through life and those challenges come our way that may test (yes even shake) our faith, I remember the words of Blessed Mother Theresa "God does not call us to be successful, but to be faithful." Keep the faith ladies!!!violinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07996177657604656859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-44741191047513054432014-07-14T17:26:37.314-05:002014-07-14T17:26:37.314-05:00Wow. Both Haley and Aggie impress me with their el...Wow. Both Haley and Aggie impress me with their eloquence, and not just for their age but generally speaking. What a blessing that both of you could find faith in God despite your surroundings. The argument of evil is an easy one to make, but the answer to it is complex. I find it ironic that a 6th grader can understand this and even make the argument while most adults seem to doubt because the answer is complex. You're right, the Christian life, which asks us to meditate on Christ's suffering, will help us refine the answer as we grow older.<br /><br />Before a skeptic complains about the presence of Evil, I think it's important to recognize just what evil actually is. Is it suffering? Is it inflicting suffering on others? Is it not having as much as you'd like? If one thinks that evil is objective and real, they at least believe in something: evil. Does their belief in evil necessarily deny their belief in goodness? How could it if evil is the absence of goodness? And, as you and Aggie say so wonderfully, what would a world without Evil actually look like? It seems like people want some kind of passive vegetable kind of life devoid of freedom, growth, virtue, and love. Perhaps they imagine heaven this way: just some kind of blissful coma (just read the lyrics of the Talking Heads song, "Heaven"). I like to think that God wants us to live to the fullest, and so he allows for evil. <br /><br />I like Aggie's remark on atheists. Most of them have no clue what Christians mean by God. I would even argue that most of them don't even know what Christians mean by evil or suffering since the ones who complain about it often have the most comfortable lives. They think God is some "happy feeling," with no correlation to reality--one atheist arguing with me called God a sky-daddy, as though I believed in some physical entity residing in the sky. Maybe they make this mistake out of ignorance, but I think they like to belittle the reality of God because, like any insecure person, it makes them feel big, and because it's easier. I admire's Aggie's confidence that these people will return to the Church in the end. We can only hope and pray that they do. Benedict Augustinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07274188116075677081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-37553347659269441642014-07-14T15:03:34.895-05:002014-07-14T15:03:34.895-05:00Beautiful meditation, Haley. Love it!! Absolutel...Beautiful meditation, Haley. Love it!! Absolutely perfect for today's gospel reading. Thank you so much for your incredible witness. Wow, just amazing a young woman like yourself is willing to spend the summer in Africa. Very courageous. Best of luck. I think God has great things planned out for you. :)<br /><br />God Bless!<br /><br />-Jennifer<br />Jennifer B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15338737502809429613noreply@blogger.com