Amidst the protracted debate these days about gun access, licensure and gun violence we nevertheless hold a fascination with Gothic Western films. Think of the genre of Spaghetti Westerns like the iconic,  “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” by famous director Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef. It is one of my favorites. I would add one word quoting that movie title as a launch for a meditation.  I invite you to think with me for a few moments about  “The Good and the Beautiful, the Bad and the Ugly.”  We have seen much of it this year locally and around the world.

We hope for and dream of a good and beautiful world but the bad and the ugly always seem so dominant. But, in midst of all of this we are inspired to remind ourselves that the good and the beautiful are just as real as the bad and the ugly. Notice, whenever we speak of the real world too often we have in mind the sordid side of life. Crime, dishonesty, selfishness, greed, corruption – these are the things we cynically dub the real world. And they are real, tragically so. But, our vision is faulty if we see such ugliness as the only reality. In writing the script of the salvation story God keeps after us and decided to intervene in our mess.

Our take on life is flawed if we call the bad and the ugly real and think of the good and the beautiful as if they were Aesop’s Fairy Tales. These days we encounter challenges that call for a vital faith in God. But such faith is sometimes difficult to achieve and is no less difficult to maintain. Our faith is troubled the most by incarnations of evil. We look at the wickedness that walks through the world in human form. And all of it seems to deny the very idea of God.

But, the only thing that will answer an incarnation is another incarnation. God answered the incarnation of evil with the incarnation of good. It is always incarnations that enable us to believe in anything good. We believers are responsible for those incarnations.  Our Christian lives are meant to give witness to the goodness seen in creation at the start and to testify that the goodness of the Son of God has penetrated the sordid side of life.

We believe in Jesus Christ and the people that have caught his spirit. God can be seen in and through these kinds of people. Where beauty and truth, goodness and neighborly regard are found God is – the most persuasive of proofs of God.

Bishop Emeritus Joseph N Perry 2018

CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR

 

From us at CMCS a very blessed, safe, and prosperous New Year!

 

Below is by Chicago priest, Fr. Mike Nacius. May the Lord bless you, and bless others because of your love for them.

 

May these following rules for holiday drinking and entertaining help us properly celebrate with family and friends.

 

JUST ONE DRINK CAN HURT YOU – Drink only if you can. If you cannot drink or have been told not to drink, or if you take medication which does not mix with alcohol, don’t drink.

 

HIGH TOLERANCE FOR ALCOHOL IS A BAD SIGN – Don’t drink more then one drink per hour. If you can drink more than this without any effect, you have a symptom of the disease of alcoholism.

 

NOT DRINKING IS OKAY TOO – Don’t drink if you ‘don’t drink.’ Saying, ‘No thanks’ will not offend your host or hostess.

 

DRUNK DRIVERS KILL PEOPLE – If you plan on having a really good time, then plan on not driving.

 

THE CALENDAR HAS NO EFFECT ON THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL – Never say, ‘Aw, c’mon, it’s Christmas!’

 

HAVE NON ALCOHOLIC CHOICES – LET YOUR GUESTS CHOOSE – Don’t give a guest who doesn’t drink a hard time. Don’t argue with someone who says ‘no thanks’.

 

DO NOT POSISON YOUR GUESTS – Don’t serve more than one drink an hour to any guest. Don’t serve drinks over a long period of time before serving food.

 

DRUNK DRIVERS KILL PEOPLE – Hot coffee or cold towels only make a drunk person awake, not sober. If a guest gets drunk, don’t let him or her drive. Get a ride, call a cab or let them sleep.