A Timely Reminder . . .

Given all that is going on in the world, today, I thought this was very much worth sharing. Remember to check out The Catholic Education Resource Center site for more informative articles.

From: The Catholic Education Resource Center.

By: Father George Rutler

God so loved the world that he spared us the indignity of making us feel good about ourselves. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). If utopians indulge the dangerous sentimentality that thinks Satan is a mythic cipher to explain the problem of evil, Jesus does not. He knows the origin and character of Satan: “He was a murderer from the beginning. When he lies he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

Satan hides behind the plural: he pretends to be more than he is, intimidating others by celebrity and popular support. “What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” But in the presence of the Truth, even Satan cannot lie. He drops the plural and confesses what no mortal yet knew: “I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24). Our Creator knows more about the problem of evil than we do. Logically, if God did not exist, evil would not be a problem. It would be just an energy equivalent to good. In every age, those who have cooperated with Satan have solved the problem of evil to their satisfaction by saying that it is good. Many of these figures have had a seductive power over people that cannot be explained by simple human charm and persuasiveness.

Satan hates not being God. He is only a creature. His hatred refracts into a hatred of the Church, which is the only power against him in this world. He does not waste his time on false religions, heretics and braggarts. He hates the Sacrament of Reconciliation and tears down Confessionals because he wants to separate man from God. “Although Satan may act in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may cause grave injuries — of a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a physical nature — to each man and to society, the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength and gentleness guides human and cosmic history” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #395).

Satan never looks like Satan. He drapes himself in celebrity and humor and humanitarianism, using celebrity to mislead, humor to mock, and humanitarianism to de-humanize. One hatred in him always exposes him for what he is. Because our Lord said that we must become like little children to inherit the Kingdom of heaven, Satan hates babies. With great wisdom, the older Rite for the Baptism of a Child begins: “I exorcise you, unclean spirit, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Come forth, depart from this servant of God, for He commands you, accursed and damned spirit, He who walked upon the sea and extended His right hand to Peter as he was sinking.”

Fast way to Chicken Pot Pies . . .

My daughter told me about her college method of making pot pies. She and her roommate had a weekly dinner party so everyone could get a break from the awful cafeteria food so they always tried to come up with something different and tasty. Pot pies turned out to be very popular. The way she and her friend cooked for a crowd? They used the crescent rolls you can find in the refrigerated section of the market. You know the kind that come in a tube? Well, they would press a unbaked roll in each place of a muffin tin with enough to wrap up over the filling. I was amazed at what an easy solution and already started thinking about how I was going to do it in the future.

The chicken filling can be easy, too. Use an undiluted can of chicken soup with some additional chicken and vegetables. I use frozen one as they will cook through.

You can do the same thing with the refrigerator cookie dough and make  pies. Again, just press the cookie dough into the muffin tin, add some canned apple pie filling, and bake.

Naturally, if you are not in a hurry, you can use your favorite cookie or pie crust fillings to accomplish the individual pies.

For this evening, however (the reason the topic came up!), I made a chicken pot pie in a large, oblong baking pan. I don't think I will get any complaints!

Amazing World . . .

Awhile back, I mentioned an elderly friend who needed prayers for an upcoming cancer surgery. The surgery took place last Wednesday and one guess who showed up at Mass this morning! Hospitals certainly don't keep people there long these days even 85 year olds! I was so surprised to see Carlos and his wife sitting in their usual pew this morning. Carlos is walking slowly but without a cane or walker. He looks much improved and the surgery was a huge success in that all the cancer was found and removed.

After Mass, Carlos wept with emotion as he asked me to send out a thank you to each and every person that prayed for him during this time. So, here I am relaying the message for him!

What a change in the world, however, with how soon people are sent home after surgery. When I had my c-section surgeries, they had me up and about within hours and on my way home in less than three days.  My second c-section took place on a Wednesday morning and I was at the mall that Saturday. My second two babies came the 'normal' way. One was worse than a c-section and the last was fast, easy, and unmedicated. I guess I can speak from all spectrums of the delivery process now!

The good news about Carlos certainly put a shine on this Sunday morning. The sun is up, the weather is moderate, and the wind condition is down to a mild breeze.

I vote to agree with the first one!

"I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises."
-- Buzz Aldrin

"The penalty for success is to be bored by the people who used to snub you."
-- Nancy Astor

"'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt."
-- Abraham Lincoln

"There's a difference between a philosophy and a bumper sticker."
-- Charles M. Schulz