CatholicCommons.com publishes several new articles and editorials each and every week. Unlike some Catholic "supersites", we don't crank out multiple 3,000 - 5,000 word articles every day. We understand that even though you want to stay connected with your faith, the time you have available is limited. With that in mind, we won't overload you with info. Instead, we'll offer you 3 or 4 short articles each week (average length is 700 words). Each article includes 3 questions for you to reflect upon if you have a few extra minutes.

And that's it! We are simply offering a reasonable way for you to focus on your Catholic faith during the week and apart from Liturgy.

Here's what's new...

Scripture Reflection for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

by Brandon Jubar

Fear Is Useless

It is an unfortunate fact that our lives are quite often run by fear. We try hard in school for fear of getting bad grades. We drive the speed limit for fear of getting a ticket. We do what the boss tells us to do at work for fear of losing our jobs. Our society uses fear in an attempt to keep people in line; even resorting to the death penalty as punishment for certain crimes.

All this fear, yet the gospel shows us that fear is useless. What's truly important is trust. Students who get the best grades trust that the knowledge they gain will allow them to do what the want in life. People drive safely because they trust that the rules of the road will help protect the lives of everyone. Employees follow a good leader because they trust that what they're being asked to do is best for the company. And people abide by laws because they trust that others will do the same in order to foster a safe, healthy society.

The Nicene Creed: Part 4

What Do We Believe?

by Brandon Jubar

"Through him all things were made."

"Wait a minute," he interrupted. "I asked you what you believe. All you're doing is reciting the Apostle's Creed. Is that all Catholic's can do? Memorize a few prayers?"

His comment broke my train of thought. We were standing backstage, and only a handful of stage hands shared the theater with us. As I stopped and looked at this Christian Rock guitar player, he gave me a condescending look and shook his head in disgust.

"It's the Nicene Creed," I stated. "And it's what I believe. I just stood here for five minutes, listening to you quote scripture to me from memory. Is that all you can do? Memorize a few passages from the Bible?"

He started to speak, but I cut him off. "Now you wait a minute. I let you say your piece. And I really listened to what you had to say. So do the same for me and let me finish. And try to really listen."

Through Him

by Rich Maffeo

For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen (Romans 11:36).

It's all about Jesus. Always has been. Always will be.

It always should be.

I ought to think of that before I start complaining about His business. Like the Mass, for example.

My wife and I had hardly left the sanctuary Sunday morning before I groused about the service. "I wish we'd sing modern choruses instead of centuries-old hymns... I thought the priest could have made a stronger point about that Gospel passage... I'd like it better if we knelt for prayer... I wonder why..."

Then I noticed my emphasis: I wish. I thought. I'd like. I wonder. My problem became disturbingly clear: I think the Mass -- even life, if I'm honest -- is all about me.

Teaching Morals: Part IV

"Teach Self-Imposed Censorship"

by Brandon Jubar

Teaching teenagers about morality takes almost constant effort.  Part I of this series discussed teaching our teens to think critically and make good, moral choices that conform to the teachings of the Church -- which are the teachings of Christ. Part II explored the idea that it's not enough to simply talk about the Gospel -- we must teach our teens to live it by addressing issues that they are facing today. Part III looked at the need to make sure that we're not undermining the lessons we're sharing by being hypocrites.

In order for us to act in a way that is consistent with the morals we are trying to convey, we must censor our own media consumption to a certain degree. Such self-imposed censorship is also something that we should be teaching to our teens.

Father Time -- Giving the Clock Back to God

by Christine G. Law

"To everything - turn, turn, turn 
There is a season - turn, turn, turn 
And a time for every purpose under heaven"
     ~ The Byrds, 1965

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

It seems that the seasons come much faster as I get older. It used to be that spring took a hundred years to melt the frost of Old Man Winter's coat. Now, as I rush about my day-to-day routine, I am constantly wondering where all the time has gone? It is inevitable that at the end of each day there remains at least a dozen unaccomplished tasks on my list of things to do. There is never enough time for all of the must do's in my life.

Catholic Features: Priest Makes Ordinary Time Extraordinary

by Barbara Hamilton
God Gazette Features Editor

It is the longest season on the Church's calendar and Father Paul Meadows hates it. "Ordinary time is just so blasé," he said in his living room at the rectory of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Davison, MI.

The room was anything but blasé though. Fr. Meadows loves to decorate and has already remodeled the rectory seven times in his five-year tenure. Looking around the room, it's easy to see why. The place is filled to capacity with movie posters and other such memorabilia representing movies ranging from The Music Man to Indiana Jones.

How To Handle Harassment

by Brandon Jubar

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:10)

Being Catholic in today's society is not easy. The Catholic Church has endured recent crises that have tested the faith of many people, and these tragic events have cast a shadow on the Church in the eyes of many non-Catholics. But even without these events, being a moral, Christian teenager often means being teased and harassed.

Standing up for something that is not part of pop-culture in high school has always been hard, and these days it may be even more difficult. Yet, as with most things, we can look to Jesus and the Word for some excellent ideas on how to handle harassment.

Resurrection Connection

by Brandon Jubar

For the living know that they are to die, but the dead no longer know anything. There is no further recompense for them, because all memory of them is lost. (Ecclesiastes 9:5)

Obviously, Christians have a great deal in common with people of the Jewish faith. But one significant difference is that, up until the last couple hundred years before Christ, they did not believe in an afterlife. You lived out your time on earth, hopefully in a way that pleased God, and then you died.

Jesus showed us something different. He taught us about the Kingdom of God, about heaven, and about the wonderful afterlife that awaits those who follow him. Of course, sometimes it feels like we're never going to get there. For some people, it may even feel as though it would be better if death were really the end. Have you ever felt like that? Do you know what despair feels like?

There are more resources planned for the future...

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Peace,
~Brandon