Category Archives: Humility

Incarnation, Transubstantiation and Faith

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Today’s blogpost, Bread from Heaven, reminded me of an earlier one I had written covering the same Gospel passage:

“Does this Shock You?”

The great stumbling block to the disbelieving Jews in the passage, along with skeptics of Catholic teaching on the Eucharist today, is that how can the Eucharist be really Jesus, and not merely a symbol.

It seems to me that if you have a hard time believing that the Eucharist is really and truly the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the simple form of bread and wine, then you should have an equally hard time believing that God in His immaterial transcendence would become man. If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and is also God, then you have accepted the idea that God would manifest (or incarnate) Himself in human form. If that can be accepted, then why stop there and not accept that this same God can carry it a bit further and continue to manifest Himself in another form, such as bread and wine? What is the stumbling block? Why is this so hard and unacceptable?

One needn’t fully understand all that. As mere humans with our limited intelligence we cannot fully understand a divine mystery. One can just accept it on Faith and believe.

Truth isn’t easy. God’s Truth only more so. To accept the Truth may cause too much discomfort. Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. He’s been doing that for 2,000 years.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

When He was insulted, He returned no insult; when He suffered, He did not threaten

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The following passage from the First Letter of St. Peter speaks of a difficult, challenging but ultimately liberating attitude towards authority. Particarly if you’re having a bad time with it (authority) and have suffered justly or unjustly at the hands of it.

Alcoholics have a particular need for this passage as there is a residual sense of selfishness and pride in early recovery while the whole “humility thing” is being worked out. Non-alcoholics can use this as it will help them endure coping with authority, the legitimate and just, and the unfair and unjust.

Note: take out the word “slaves” and substitute “employees” or “children”. And for the word “masters” substitute “bosses”, “managers” or “parents”.

1 Peter 2:18-25: “Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and equitable but also to those who are perverse.

For whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust suffering because of consciousness of God, that is a grace.

But what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps.

‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’

When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly.

He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. “

(Via USCCB.)

As I have stated countless times before, as Christians we are to emulate Christ. We must take up our crosses and follow Him, as He commanded.

Matthew 16:24: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

(Via USCCB.)

It is self-righteous pride when we cry out against real or perceived unjust treatment of ourselves. “Why me?” Perhaps it is connected to our instinct for self-preservation, but our faith in God should be strong enough to consider that He has a plan in store for us and if things are not going our way, then maybe He has something different in mind for our lives. If we are suffering through this, then somehow that suffering is a part of His plan of salvation for us. And as Jesus accepted His cross for humanity’s salvation, so then must we take up our individual crosses for our discipleship.

Being a Christian isn’t easy. And it was never intended to be.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Be Sober, Calm and Vigilant

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Today’s First Reading from the Office of Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours has a nice exhortation to us alcoholics ( well, anyone, really):

1 Peter 5:8-9: “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.”

(Via USCCB.)

Compare the New American Bible’s translation above with the Jerusalem Bible’s version below and you gain some interesting insights into being sober:

1 Peter 5:8-9: “Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that your brothers all over the world are suffering the same things.”

(Via Universalis.)

One nice reason for having multiple Catholic translations of the Bible is that you can compare the differences in a particular verse and get a better understanding of what it means. In the First Letter of Peter, one version uses “sober” whereas the other uses “calm”. Sober can then mean “calm”. This reminds us of remaining calm in the face of things that in the past would have led us to alcohol. We recall our training in AA meetings on how we must change how we react to things.

The same thing for dealing with Satan, for he is ever present in the World and is always eager to take advantage of whatever chink there is in your spiritual armor.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Not My Will, but Yours be done

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Quite often in AA meetings and in literature we hear the phrase “Not my will, but yours.” I’m not sure if the quoters are aware of the source. An excerpt from the Gospel of Mark from the Mass of the Passion of Our Lord (Palm Sunday):

Mark 14:36: “Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.”

(Via USCCB.)

The “cup” is the suffering and death Jesus was about to undergo. He knew what it would entail, and didn’t seem particularly thrilled to undertake it. But with the same humility He expressed in becoming human for our sake, He agreed to submit to the Father’s will and accept the suffering that was to come.

There is a certain serenity in doing this, a serenity that can be found in partnering with God and agreeing to set aside your own wishes and desires and instead taking up the cross that is before you.

This is the mark of a Christian.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Not far from the Kingdom

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In the Gospel Reading for Friday of the Third Week of Lent Jesus tells us the best way to get to God:

Mark 12:28-34: “One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’
Jesus replied, ‘The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.’
The scribe said to him, ‘Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’
And no one dared to ask him any more questions. “

Via USCCB.)

If you love God, you will obey Him and follow His commands, regardless of their difficulty. Love is not license to do what you will, nor an emotion (though it can have emotional meanings). Love is sacrificing yourself for another, with the confidence that the other sacrifices for you.

A picture of love is Jesus on the cross.

Crucifix.jpg

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Novena to St. Joseph for Alcoholics: Day 9 (and Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

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Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Via USCCB.)

It is also the ninth and therefore final day of the novena through him for alcoholics.

St. Joseph was the head of the Holy Family of himself, the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus. He is the model and guide for family leadership, being responsible for the enormous task of providing and caring for Mary and Jesus.

Alcoholism and addiction rupture families. Repairing relationships with the family is one of the tasks that recovering alcoholics seek to do. Making amends for the hurt and pain caused by a drinking past is long and a courageous trial to overcome.

Establishing a new family is also a goal. Once sober, an alcoholic seeks to have what seemed impossible before, a stable and secure home life.

And so, to that end, we pray:

St. Joseph, model of leadership in a family look with favor upon families and those seeking to belong to one. Intercede with God on their behalf and heal people and relationships so that all who desire it may become part of a happy and healthy family. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Prodigal Alcoholics

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Today’s Gospel Reading for the Mass for Saturday of the Second Week of Lent is a particularly strong one for us sober alcoholics:

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32: “Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
So to them Jesus addressed this parable.
‘A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.” “

(Via USCCB.)

This parable of Jesus is an epic one of forgiveness. A son had all that he needed and wanted, squandered it all while looking for more, and in humiliation returned home, hoping for at least to be treated like a servant. He got better than he probably deserved, and was received with overwhelming warmth and love by his father.

This is a lesson for all of us who have sinned greatly,and continue to do so. If we are sincere in our repentance and humbly ask God for forgiveness, He will wash away our sins.

Do an examination of conscience and go to Confession sometime during Lent. Even if it has been years since the last time you went, go anyway. Your soul needs it.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

To be great, serve

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The Gospel Reading for the Mass for Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent is a curious one:

Matthew 20:17-28: “As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,
he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests
and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day.’

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her, ‘What do you wish?’
She answered him,
‘Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.’
Jesus said in reply,
‘You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?’
They said to him, ‘We can.’
He replied,
‘My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.'”

(Via USCCB.)

It has been a while since I had written about serving. (Please click on the “Service and Volunteering” label in the sidebar and review past posts at your pleasure.)

Service is humility in action. It helps you “get outside” yourself. You are doing something for another person or group of people and are not expecting to get any payment in return. If you do it well, you are honestly contributing to the betterment of humanity, no matter how small the work.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Just Do It

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The Readings for Mass for the Saturday in the First Week of Lent have a theme that essentially states that following the law of the Lord (keeping His commandments and doing His will) brings happiness. I will just post a link to all three readings instead of copying-and-pasting them here:

Readings for Saturday of the First Week of Lent

Via USCCB.)

This is arguably not an easy concept to grasp and follow. The secular world clearly does not equate “obedience” and “following the Law” with “freedom” and “happiness”. The secular world tells you to follow your own conscience, conveniently forgetting (or not realizing) that there is really no such thing as a “free-thinker”, or one who is truly independent. Everyone’s conscience is formed and influenced by something, be it by social organizations, political parties, or popular media.

In a contradiction typical of Christianity (such as a death means life), obeying God and doing His will regardless of the “world’s” sensibilities is freedom and liberation. In doing so, we are freed of the limitations imposed upon us by times and trends, by shifting and changing attitudes and human “truths”, and are connected to the eternal wisdom of God. We are not restrained by mere human, secular, relative ideals.

How does this relate to us sober (or sobering up) alcoholics?

The world tells us in general to avoid doing the hard things. “If it feels good, do it.” “Don’t rock the boat.” “Go with the flow.” And forget about interior conversion and struggling to change your life, unless you’re doing it by some pop “self-help” book which usually describes an easy way out, avoiding sacrifice.

We alcoholics with any degree of sustained sobriety know better. We have struggled to retrain ourselves how to react to things, to not drown our sorrows and troubles in some false and empty escapism. We have learned to trust in God, and to seek His way in all things.

We can take this further as sober Catholics and obey Church teaching, having learned that Jesus established the Church and promised to never abandon it, and that the Holy Spirit will guide it until the end of time, keeping it from teaching things contrary to what Jesus and the Apostles taught. Talk about being “countercultural” and being apart from the “world’s” ways.

So, “just do it.” Be a Catholic if you are one. And be the best that you can be. It will not be an easy road, for nothing good is truly easy. The rewards are many, even if seemingly far off. Your dignity as a human being is enhanced, as your life has an intrinsic, sacred value. This is far away from the world’s notion that life is cheap and can be bought and sold, or terminated for convenience.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Seized with mortal anguish

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In the First Reading from the Daily Mass for the Thursday of the First Week of Lent, Queen Esther was gripped with mortal anxiety over the impending genocide of the Hebrew nation. She prayed to God.

Esther C: 12,14-16,23-25: “Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,
had recourse to the LORD.
She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids,
from morning until evening, and said:
‘God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you.
Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,
for I am taking my life in my hand.
As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers
that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you.
Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,
O LORD, my God.

‘And now, come to help me, an orphan.
Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion
and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy,
so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.
Save us from the hand of our enemies;
turn our mourning into gladness
and our sorrows into wholeness.’ “

(Via USCCB.)

The idea of being “seized with mortal anguish” is familiar to any alcoholic and addict. When we’ve “hit bottom” and have lost important things and wonder if losing our life is next, or during sobriety when we’ve received several shocks to our lives and that sobriety is threatened, “aloneness” grips us and we feel there is no one out there, perhaps not even God, who cares.

Esther was in that position, but she remembered the religion of her youth and what it taught her. She had recourse to the Lord and sought His help.

Within the excerpt from today’s Mass reading, I emboldened a few phrases. From these we can construct a prayer for alcoholics and addicts who have hit bottom, or are going through severely trying times:

O Lord, my soul is seized with mortal fear,
I have recourse only to you.

Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,
for I am taking my life in my hand.

Take my mourning and turn it into gladness
and my sorrows into wholeness.’

Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,
O LORD, my God.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)