Apologetics

Advocates of the various forms of atheism can make some appealing arguments based upon reason to overwhelm the human instinct to believe in some higher power.

Christian apologetics has the appealing counter-arguments which can answer the arguments made by atheists -- as well as offer compelling reasons to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Not everyone comes to believe in God or God's son through reason. Few, I believe actually do. However, none believe specifically because it is "unreasonable". Reason supports faith but it is not the origin or destination of faith.

Fr. Richard John Neuhaus has passed away.

Facebook: Father Richard J. Neuhaus, RIP's Wall (my post there)

Remember this priest when you recall the great priests you have known. I met him only once in person and thanked him for his work in First Things but I have read the Naked Public Square, Death on a Friday Afternoon, and Catholic Matters, and tried to see each of his appearances on EWTN. He was holy, smart, funny, and inspiration to all of us who want to proclaim that Jesus is Lord to a world growing ever more hostile to that good news.

Please read some of the other tributes there and at the official memorial site.

St. Patrick's Cathedral and evangelization

This year I again was a volunteer guide to explain the meaning of the nativity scene of St. Patrick's Cathedral with the Franciscan friars and sisters of the Renewal.

There were many ordinary questions but the memorable one came from a young boy who asked is sort of a repetition -- "Is this God's house?", "Where is God?", "Where can I see him?". I have answered this question in another form from adults, but I have about 30 seconds to explain it to an 8-year old:

God is everywhere so the whole universe is God's house.

In a special way, God is here in the cathedral, the whole cathedral is pictures of God and God's holy people.

Inside the cathedral, there's a special place where God is. It's called a tabernacle, it's a gold box next to a big candle to tell us God is inside.

Jesus held up bread and said "This is my body" -- changing the bread into his body. When the priest here does that, some of the people eat the body of Christ and some goes back into the tabernacle, the gold box, and people pray to Jesus before it.

His mother understood and hopefully in her own way she can help him understand.