Perils of Being a Catholic

As I walked down the busy footpath knowing I was late for Mass, my eye fell upon one of those

unfortunate, homeless street people that are found in every city these days.

Some people turned to stare. Others quickly looked away as if the sight would somehow contaminate them.

Recalling my old parish priest, Father Dominic, who always admonished me to ‘care for the sick, feed the hungry and clothe the naked’; I was moved by some powerful inner urge to reach out to this unfortunate person.

Wearing what can only be described as rags, carrying every worldly possession in two plastic bags; my heart was touched by this person’s condition.

Yes, where some people saw only rags, I saw a true hidden beauty.

A small voice inside my head called out, ‘Reach out, reach out and touch this person!’

So I did…….

I won’t be at Mass this Week

Pope's New Soda

The Story of Adam & Eve's Pets

Adam and Eve said, 'Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you anymore. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us.'

And God said, I will create a companion for you that will be with you and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves.'

And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.

And it was a good animal and God was pleased.

And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail.

And Adam said, 'Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal.'

And God said, 'I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG.'

And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.

And they were comforted.

And God was pleased.

And Dog was content and wagged his tail.

After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, 'Lord,Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well.'

And God said, I will create for them a companion who will be with them and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration.'

And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.

And Cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.

And Adam and Eve learned humility.

And they were greatly improved.

And God was pleased..

And Dog was happy.

And the Cat . . .

didn't give a shit one way or the other.

Noah's Ark - What If?

Hebrew scrolls were badly translated into Latin and compiled to form the Christian Bible. There were many more Hebrew scrolls that were never translated or were discarded. Many of these scrolls gave a more detail insight into God’s plan for us, testimonies from the other disciples of Jesus, the reason the Hebrew people were chosen and events leading  up to Noah’s Ark.

I have read over some of these scrolls that were later translated into English and for reasons of simple curiosity I have formed a ‘What if?’ type situation.

Over 5 million years ago the area now called the Mediterranean Sea was just an enclosed land mass with a huge lake surrounded by a connected Africa and Europe landmasses. Given the location of the European and African plates at this time, it would be the perfect place for mankind to take their place on the planet. Christians might be upset by this but then the correct translation from Hebrew to English would have God creating the world in stages not days.

Even scientist might argue that mankind (Homo sapiens) were not around in this time period. But I believe that I can make a good argument to support my ‘What if?’ quest to expand on the story of the human race using the Biblical story of Noah. Who was not exactly the evolved species of mankind that we are today but never-the-less our ancestral lineage was there. 

An area now called the Mediterranean Sea, five million years ago was just a huge land mass with only a large lake surrounded by a growing mountain terrain on all sides of it. It is this place where a thriving community of Homo sapiens or whatever scientist would call them that was living at this time. A perfect nesting place to protect them from the dangers of other wildlife on the planet.

In the Book of Enoch it was clearly stated that a flood to cleanse the area was approaching. After Enoch was given a tour of Heaven he was able to spend 30 days with his family and friends before he returned to heaven forever. It is at this time where, I believe, the Ark was beginning to take place. And the location of the materials for its construction would help create the largest desert in the world.

Before it became one of the famous deserts in the world, the Sahara was a vast oasis; huge trees, rivers and an assortment of wildlife sitting high over the valley area of the Mediterranean valley. As the people of this time were following Enoch’s advice and warning of the coming flood, many chose to stay in the valley while others began to make preparations in the Sahara region for the coming event.

It wasn't just one man who built the Ark, but whole families and community that began construction. Trees were cut down; wool was collected as other resources of the area were used. Over the many years of construction, things began to happen. The landscape began to drastically change. Fewer trees and water holes drying up made the wildlife move away to better living conditions.  The area was slowly becoming a dust bowl much like the one America went through in the mid 1930’s.

Temptation became a problem as well. As generations passed, people began to lose faith. They would see others living in the valley area. Full of food, protection and celebrating a lifestyle that Enoch warned them against doing. They came to dread foraging for food in a growing barren land, having to live a lifestyle of religious devotion. As time went on, many of those building the Ark simply left to live in the valley. The only people left building the Ark was Noah and his family.

Over the years of constructing the Ark, the people living in the valley area would naturally visit those building the Ark. Always tempting them to give up what they consider to be a ridiculous task. And as the day came events began to happen to destroy the human race.

With the exception of Noah’s family living in what is now Northern Africa the entire population was living in the Mediterranean valley area. As the Ark was finished Noah was told to collect the animals and place them on the Ark. He had only a short time to do this. He didn't go to all four corners of Earth to collect the animals but mainly just the animals in the immediate area.

For those who are of faith will believe that God guided the animals to Noah who then guided them onto the Ark. The Atheists would see that Noah, living in the wilderness would have excellent hunting and tracking skills. And would then be able to track and guide the animals easily onto the Ark. Either version that was used, the animals and Noah’s family were living in the Ark for at least seven days before the floods came; their form of Judgment day.

Known today as the Strait of Gibraltar, it was a solid wall during the time of Noah.  Whether by earthquake, the Atlantic Ocean pressing upon the wall or simple natural land erosion, the wall separating the Atlantic Ocean from the entire human race was going away. And an entire ocean was making its way towards the humans.

The video images of the 2011 tsunami waves hitting Japan gives a good idea of what was happening to the area of this time. The water rushing in was so constant and forceful that the entire land mass around the Mediterranean valley became flooded as well. Everyone in the valley area drowned. Even those who made it to the Ark in hopes of getting in were drowned as well.

The water was rising as the people around the Ark were yelling and screaming to get inside. Much like the scene in the movie ‘2012’, those inside could hear the screams but could do nothing to help them.  The water filling the valley and began to cover the northern part of Africa all the way to present day Turkey and parts of Europe. The Ark, with no navigation, was picked up by the current and traveled along with the waves for days.

At this point in Earth history, the African tectonic plate was equally next to the Eurasian plate. But over millions of years the African plate has risen and is continually moving over the Eurasian plate. But on the day of Noah’s flood, all of North Africa and parts of the Middle East were under water. The Ark moved with the current as the people and animals onboard were knowingly seasick.

As the waters resided it was said to rest high on a mountain top. Further proof on just how high the water had risen. Just look at New Orleans in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina left many parts of the city 15 feet under water. The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 had people reporting waves as high as 50 feet or more in many areas. Those were caused by storm systems and earthquakes.

Noah’s flood was caused by the entire Atlantic Ocean pouring into a low-lying region. Just imagine if the dikes of the Netherlands gave way. The entire county, where many parts of the country are at least 23 feet below sea level, and the surrounding area would be deep underwater.

An entire human civilization destroyed. The Kingdom of Atlantis as legend described was swallowed up by the sea. Every manner of being of this community was washed away in the flood water. One could only guess at the size of this civilization. It could have been just as in the days of the Egyptian Kingdom. Records of all their accomplishments and in science, medicine and technology to rival our own were destroyed.

The only remaining members of the human race were a small family to rebuild everything. Much like the TV show Gilligan’s Island where seven people were trapped on an island for many years with only the resources they had on them. With all forms of culture gone, Noah’s family started anew.

As time went on that family grew and spread throughout the world. As time went on the human race evolved over those millions of years. Many species have been known to evolve to adapt to their new or changing environment. With the human race nearly extinct, the descendants of Noah’s family began their long evolve to adapt to their new environment.

Only through the passing of stories and simple skills to get by, Noah’s family started again at the bottom of the evolution scale and slowly began to rebuild their species back to where it once was. From living in Eden, a valley full of animals and food growing all around them, to living in a desert wasteland with little to no food took a long time. But over the millions of years, the human species has evolved to the form that we are used to seeing now.

Scientist will look for the how. Religion will look for the why. But combining both will give a more clearer picture of the history of the human race. After all, everything you just read is a ‘What if?’ Much like the way both science and religion look at everything.

Life After Birth

In a mother's womb there were two babies.

One asked the other: "Do you believe in life after delivery?"

The other replies, "Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will become later in that new life.”

"Nonsense," says the other. "There is no life after delivery. What would that life be?"

"I don't know, but there will be more light than in here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths."

The other says "This is absurd! Walking is impossible. And eat with our mouths; ridiculous. The umbilical cord supplies nutrition. Life after delivery is to be excluded. The umbilical cord is too short."

"I think there is something and maybe it's different than it is here." the other replies, "No one has ever come back from there.”

“Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery it is nothing but darkness and anxiety and it takes us nowhere."

"Well, I don't know," says the other, "but certainly we will see mother and she will take care of us."

"Mother?" You believe in mother? Where is she now?”

"She is all around us. It is in her that we live. Without her there would not be this world."

"I don't see her, so it's only logical that she doesn't exist."

To which the other replied, "Sometimes when you're in silence you can hear her, you can perceive her. I believe there is a reality after delivery and we are here to prepare ourselves for that reality....”

Who Was Jesus?

There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:

1. He called everyone brother.

2. He liked Gospel.

3. He didn't get a fair trial.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:

1. He went into His Father’s business.

2. He lived at home until he was 33.

3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother was sure He was God.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:

1. He talked with His hands.

2. He had wine with His meals.

3. He used olive oil.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian:

1. He never cut His hair.

2. He walked around barefoot all the time.

3. He started a new religion.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was an American Indian:

1. He was at peace with nature.

2. He ate a lot of fish.

3. He talked about the Great Spirit.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Irish:

1. He never got married.

2. He was always telling stories.

3. He loved green pastures.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Redneck:

1. He does a lot of fishing.

2. Always in trouble with local officials.

3. Hangs out with crooks, low-life’s and prostitutes.

But the most compelling evidence of all is proof that Jesus was a woman:

1.  He fed a crowd at a moment’s notice when there was virtually no food.

2.  He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it.

3.  And even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was still work to do.

The Little Spider who Saved Jesus

This is a story about a little baby spider who saved Jesus' life.

King Herod was very much afraid of the baby Messiah. He had been visited by Wise Men and Kings from foreign lands. All traveled to pay tribute to the newborn baby who is destined to bring a new kingdom to the World. He had become fearful of losing power, especially to a baby, and placed orders for all children two years and younger to be killed. Sometimes even the parents were killed trying to protect their children. Jesus' parents, as well as other who had heard the news, fled to Egypt for safety. They traveled mostly during the night so they would not see them. But the vast Roman army was quickly catching up to guard the borders.

It was much quicker to cross the open plains but very difficult to go over the rugged mountain terrain, especially when you are carrying a newborn baby. Guided by Angels, they started their journey over the mountain tops. From their viewpoint at night time, they could see the campfires of the approaching Romans soldiers and at times they were able to hear their voices. Mary was very fatigued and needed some rest. After all, she had just recently given birth and had very little time to recover before fleeing for their safety.

As they traveled over one of the mountain tops, they came across a series of caves. Joseph, lighting a torch, looked into the caves to see which one was better suited to hide in. Mary was already sleeping on the ground when Joseph returned. Jesus as well was calmly sleeping in Mary's arms. Joseph carried them as quickly as he could to the back of one of these caves. Before leaving, Joseph being a carpenter and therefore skilled with his hands, had made a sword. While Mary and Jesus hid, Joseph kept guard just in case the soldiers entered the cave.

They were so far in the cave that they could not see the opening any more. This was Joseph's strategy. For what soldier would want to search a deep, dark cave with the chance of meeting a wild animal in one of them. By nightfall, the Roman army was already at the bottom of the mountain terrain where Joseph and his family were hiding. The solders were preparing their evening meals, sharpening their weapons and sharing war stories. By morning they would surely be searching the caves.

The cave Joseph and his family were hiding in did not have a wild animal in it, but it did have another inhabitant: a little baby spider. This spider was awakened when Joseph carried his family into the cave. He was curious as to why anybody would want to enter a cave. So when Joseph came out of the cave to check on the soldiers, the little spider climbed onto Joseph and journeyed with him to the mountain's edge. There they saw and heard the soldiers.

With tears in his eyes, Joseph quietly prayed to God.

“Father of Abraham, I was guided by a dream to be with Mary; I was guided by you to protect her and the baby. I see only death within reach of me and those I love. I see nothing beyond the next day but those who have already passed away. To quietly leave now, unseen by the Romans and those you blessed me with would be a fate worse than death itself. I may never fully understand but I do know that I would rather die living than to live dead. And I chose to follow my heart and stand ready to do what my mind says otherwise. I am scared but I will protect them with my life. You do not have to worry about me.”

The little spider hearing Joseph's prayer and was deeply moved. He did not know anything about the baby Messiah, but his heart was moved by the love and sacrifice of a father. When Joseph returned to the cave to check on his family, the little spider jumped off of him. The little spider wanted to help but what could a spider do; especially a baby spider? So he thought for a moment, and immediately had an idea.

The spider crawled to the cave's opening and began to make a spider's web, but not any ordinary spider's web. This would be his first spider's web and he wanted it to be the biggest and best of any kind. After all, he wanted to help the family whom he had heard Joseph praying about. And so, during the long cold night, this little baby spider kept weaving his beautiful web. Never once did he take a rest or slow down. Running along strands of web and swinging through the air, this spider was focusing everything he had on completing his first spider's web.

As the sun was coming up over the horizon, the Roman soldiers were preparing their journey up the mountainside. Joseph was deep in the cave never to have gone to sleep. The baby spider was very slow compared to the much older and experienced spiders, but he kept working as fast as he could while the soldiers came closer and closer. As the soldiers approached the opening of the cave where Joseph's family was in, they stopped.    

There before them was a wall of web. A web pattern the like none have never seen before. The morning dew was already covering the web, and as the morning light was hitting the web, an array of incredibly beautiful colors was reflecting off of it. It looked as if a rainbow were covering the cave's entrance. And to add more beauty to it, as the solders moved around they could see the changing colors of the web. A combination of morning dew and light has blinded them. It was as if they were looking upon the door to Heaven.

The army commander, as well as the others, was so impressed with the beauty of the web that they stared at it for what appeared to be for eternity. Not just the colors shining off of it but the patterns within patterns. Soldiers were seeing all sorts of shapes and symbols; artwork like no one has ever created before. No one wished to damage it and excuses were being made to protect it.

The commanding officer reasoned that it would have taken many days to weave such a magnificent web and if anyone had entered the cave would have surely damaged the web. He gave orders to protect the spiders’ web. Joseph being at the back of the cave and hearing every word the soldiers were saying was curious about the spider's web which he surely would have seen when he entered the cave. By evening, when the army had moved onward towards the other mountains terrains, Joseph awoke Mary and they made their way to the caves entrance.

There they saw the same rainbow effect from the evening sunset which the Roman soldiers had seen from the morning sunrise. During the whole day not once did Jesus cry or make trouble in endanger his parents' as well as his own life. Mary awoke Jesus so he could see the beautiful web. He saw the different colors and began laughing with great joy. After the sun had set, Joseph used his sword to cut an opening to continue their journey to Egypt.

Leaving the cave, Jesus began smiling and waving towards an area of the cave. Mary was curiously looking around to see what he was looking at but saw nothing. Jesus was waving directly towards the little spider that had saved him and his family from certain death. Making their way through the terrain and safely entered Egypt, avoiding the armies that King Herod had sent out with orders to kill the King of the Jews, they stayed until it was safe to return home.

The little spider was honored to have saved their life. Taught by a prayer, the little spider learned to help others to best way he could. From the sacrifice of the whole night's rest, the whole world was able to come much closer to understanding this. Creating a thing of beauty that has inspired the world with a love for others to be a part of.

Moses - Pillar of Fire and Smoke

As Moses led all the Israelites out of Egypt, he was faces constantly with mutiny all around him. Many of these people still wanted to live as slaves under Egyptian rule. They were provided a home, food and protection from other nations that may have attacked Egypt from time to time. But being told that they are the chosen people who had to roam the desert, searching for food everyday while fighting off different nation’s armies all the while as they lived as Nomads was too much for a great deal many of the Israelites.

Given the life expectancy of people living in this time period it is safe to assume that all those who left Egypt had died before their 40 year Nomadic life had ended. And those who entered the promised land where those who were born in the desert with no memory of living as slaves but instead lived with knowing a better life was ahead of them; a  permanent home to call their very own. But during this nomadic life many people plotted to kill Moses and his family in order to return to a slave’s life.

It is recorded that there were over 600,000 fighting men. As with the customs of that time a boy became a man at age 14 and to be called a man also meant that one had to have a wife as well. Added to the fact that having large families were extremely common at this time. The population could have number from two to three million Israelites by the time they entered Judea. With so many people to feed everyday required a lot of planning and an army of people working constantly to provide the basic necessities everyday. 

  

The Israelites did not walk around the desert everyday. They rested from days to weeks at a time. And this is where the miracle of the pillars of fire and smoke applied itself to not only guide the Israelites but to separate the enemies of Moses from one another. When it looked like there was to be a revolt of any type Moses would make preparations to have all the people to break camp and continue their journey through the desert. And this tactic kept his most powerful enemies separated as well as focused more on the needed on the present survival of the Israelites.

Moses would send at least 250,000 people on at least a two to three days trip while the rest of the Israelites stayed at their present campsite. These people would journey ahead in search of a camp site for all the other Israelites. They would set up the area, gather food as well as other materials for the rest of the two to three million Israelites that were only a few days journey away.  So how did Moses find this advance team in the middle of the desert? By the fires the advance team kept burning. Fires at night not just for warmth but for protection from wild animal attacks as to cooking the food, making weapons, washing clothing as examples for during the day.

There was no GPS signal, cell phones or any electronics of any type; the only guide Moses had to follow was the smoke coming from the fires by day and seeing the light of the fires at night. Seeing as I live miles away from the nearest city and at nighttime I can easily find the city by its light shining up the nighttime sky. But there was a little more to Moses plan to quiet the rumors of rebellion against him.

When the Israelites moved to a new campsite, Moses left behind roughly 250,000 people to clean up the area of any remnants of their stay. Later they would rejoin the rest of the Israelites upon completing their task. This was a multi plan that Moses used to not only keep his enemies separated from planning their rebellion but to keep wild animals from following and attacking them as well as to not upset different countries and bring the wraith of the many nations that the Israelites were traveling through.

   

While the Israelites moved, Moses enemies were powerless and the nations they traveled through were happy that they were leaving. Until the day when all those born in Egypt had died and the children of the desert could appreciate entering the land flowing with milk and honey instead of living off on manna and quail.