Fr. Adam Voisin's Stuff

Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God, and believe and trust in Jesus.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus.

It's ok to have difficulties in the faith. "A thousand difficulties do not make one doubt" — Cardinal Newman.

Jesus washed the feet of His betrayer.

The human side of Jesus and the backstory of Lazarus.

Jesus may be asking you for a drink

Take a risk, obey God, and become a blessing to others.

Seven Deadly Sins Pride: Excessive self-importance or arrogance Envy: Jealousy over others' traits or possessions Wrath: Intense or uncontrolled anger Sloth: Laziness or apathy toward responsibilities Greed: Obsessive desire for material wealth Lust: Excessive craving for sexual pleasure Gluttony: Overindulgence in food, drink, or consumption

St. John Chrysostom invites us to ponder what the world would be like if the entire Christian community lived in imitation of Christ: "Assuredly, there would be no more heathens, if we Christians took care to be what we ought to be; if we obeyed God's precepts, if we bore injuries without retaliation, if when cursed we blessed, if we rendered good for evil. For no man is so savage a wild beast that he would not run forthwith to the worship of the true religion, if he saw all Christians acting as I have said.

On Divine Calls, by Cardinal John Henry Newman     "Such are the instances of Divine calls in Scripture, and their characteristic is this; to require instant obedience, and next to call us we know not to what; to call us on in the darkness. Faith alone can obey them. But it may be urged, How does this concern us now?… For in truth we are not called once only, but many times; all through our life Christ is calling us. He called us first in Baptism; but afterwards also; whether we obey His voice or not, He graciously calls us still. If we fall from our Baptism, He calls us to repent; if we are striving to fulfil our calling, He calls us on from grace to grace, and from holiness to holiness, while life is given us. Abraham was called from his home, Peter from his nets, Matthew from his office, Elisha from his farm, Nathanael from his retreat; we are all in course of calling, on and on, from one thing to another, having no resting place, but mounting towards our eternal rest, and obeying one command only to have another put upon us" (Sermon 2 in John Henry Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons [London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899], 8:22–23).

Mary is the Mother of God and our mother too.

Jesus is not a threat.

Suspicion theory or Reverence theory?

Five strategies to deal with doubt: It's ok. Wrestle with the doubt. Correct your expectations of the Messiah. Cultivate friendships with wise and spiritual people. Study the faith. Remember what God has done for you.

Repent, trust in God, and produce the good works worthy of repentance.

Fear the Name of the Lord.

You will not be acceptable to God because you are a good person, but because you know you're a sinner in need of God's mercy.

The corporal works of mercy: To feed the hungry To give water to the thirsty To clothe the naked To shelter the homeless To visit the sick To visit the imprisoned To bury the dead

My explanation of the parable mostly comes from Kenneth Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels.

Philemon and Onesimus

Humility is the key to happiness.

Expect division.

Walk by faith...

Do not forget the one necessary thing.

If you want to read St. Justin Martyr's First Apology, click HERE. For the part on the Eucharist, go look at paragraphs 65-67.