Geeky Catholic Dad

Gospel Reading: John 14:23-29 Highlight:  "And we will come to him and make our dwelling with him." Reflection:  Think of the people in your life that you always want to be near. What is it about these people that you love? I'm sure it varies from person to person, but it is always their good qualities that you find so attractive. The way they make you laugh, or the fact that you can be totally honest with them. With true friends, it is the way they inspire you to be a better person, or the forgiveness they will offer you if you do something wrong. Imagine someone who has all of these good qualities - and more - and who possesses them to a perfect degree. Surely that is someone you'd want to spend time with, someone whose side you would never leave. That "someone" is God, and being with him forever is our ultimate goal as Christians. We have hope and faith that one day we will be able to spend eternity in perfect union with God. Geeky Quote: "As t...

Gospel Reading: John 13:31-35 Highlight:  "This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Reflection:  Being a follower of Christ means a lot of things. There are things we believe that the rest of the world mocks. Our faith can influence who we vote for, or where we spend our money. That's a good thing; our faith should influence every aspect of our lives. But the defining characteristic of a Christian should be the way we love. Our marriages, our relationships with family members, and even the way we treat complete strangers - all of these things should be a shining example of God's love for his people. That is quite a responsibility. How well do I live up to that in my daily interactions with people? When I am at home, or at the grocery store, or on the road, do I demonstrate God's love? Geeky Quote: "Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is e...

Gospel Reading: John 10:27-30 Highlight:  "No one can take them out of my hand." Reflection:  When I read today's Gospel, I get a sense of security. It is so reassuring to hear our Lord talk about us this way. We are so important to him, that he won't let anyone take us from his hand. Of course, he also respects our freedom, so if we freely choose to reject him, he will let us. But as long as we truly want to stay with Jesus, he will protect us. Geeky Quote: "Yet suddenly for Faramir [Pippin's] heart was moved with a feeling that he had not known before... He knew now why Beregond spoke his name with love. He was a captain that men would follow, that he would follow, even under the shadow of the black wings." - The Return of the King Prayer:  Protect me from evil, Lord, and hold me ever in your hand.. Amen. To get these short reflections every week, click the Subscribe button at the top of this page, or you can "Like" or "Follow...

WARNING: This review will be full of spoilers, so do not continue until you have seen Avengers: Endgame . So first, go see the movie. I'll wait. Did you see it? Okay, great!

Gospel Reading: John 21:1-19 Highlight:  "At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias." Reflection:  I didn't even make it past the first sentence of this Gospel reading when I was struck by a realization. Growing up, I always took the different accounts of the apostles seeing the resurrected Jesus as independent stories. I never considered them as part of a unified whole. So I was always assuming that each story was the first time the apostles had seen the risen Jesus. Doesn't it seem that way, based on their reactions? But then I think about how Jesus reveals himself to me in my own faith life. I will have moments of spiritual consolation ("the warm fuzzies"), and it will feel like I'm experiencing Christ's presence for the first time. But after some time, I fall into a dull sense of complacency. So just like the apostles, Jesus reveals himself to me again and again. Salvation is not a one-time occurrence....