The Holy Trinity.

So today we had another meeting of That Man is You, which will from now on be known as TMIY. I am so lazy when it comes to typing. So the whole point of the workshop is to learn how to be a man in God's Image, and today we began discussing the Holy Trinity. It was great because it looked at works from St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope John Paul II, and St. Maximilian Kolbe. They started out describing how it all began with God the Father, he was the first on the totem pole and nothing precedes him. Okay, makes sense so far. Then from him came the human representation of God in the world; his son Jesus, or the Word. Lastly, from the Word came the Holy Spirit, or Love. The workshop then took it a step further and discussed the Holy Trinity of marriage. First came God, and nothing precedes God. Then God created man (Adam) from his image; in mind, intellect and in body as St. Thomas Aquinas and Pope John Paul teach. So man is in the "Son" role. Then God states that Man should not be alone so he pulls from Adam a rib and creates Woman (Eve), Love, the Holy Spirit. And because Eve was made from Adam they were one and since God made Adam in his image they were three people in one. Make sense? This really got me to think about how I look at my marriage, do I look at it as a form of the Trinity? The one thing I think I need to work on is putting more of God into my marriage. We are faithful, we do many of the things that are right when it comes to our faith. I think we are showing Jamie and Clare a good example of being faithful. But are we including God enough in our Marriage. I don't know, could we put more, absolutely. I need to think on this more and flesh out some ideas on this. I don't know yet if there is anyone but me reading this, but if anyone has any ideas please feel free to share them. Also, do I look at Teresa as part of me? This is a difficult question to answer. I think, especially since she may be the only one who does read this, that Yes I do think that. Her and I have been through so much together between our miscarriage and then Clare's Open heart Surgery. It was our faith and our love for each other that got us through those hard times. So I believe that God did bring Teresa to me and so I am sure he made us for each other. It is so important for God to be a part of marriage, how does a marriage survive with out it? I have a lot of friends from our past church who have been married 30, 40+ years. They all have secrets to success. Like, never go to bed angry, always tell each other you love them, be romantic and spontaneous. Interestingly, no one has ever said "Include God in your marriage!" So 30 years from now when Teresa and I are celebrating 37 years together, if someone asks how to make your marriage last so long, I am going to say because we allowed Jesus into our Marriage!

Today's Gospel 10-08-06

The Pharisees approached and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him.He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" They replied, "Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother (and be joined to his wife), and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." In the house the disciples again questioned him about this. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

Lord, thank you for your direction, may I always come to you as a child.

Male leadership...

So the purpose of me doing this blog was to express my thoughts on bieng a Catholic Father and Husband. So my thought today is that I am too busy! Anyway, I have been meaning to post a lot sooner, but things have been crazy. At our last That Man is You workshop we began to discuss the role of male leadership and how if it fails so does the family. Hmm, interesting thought. I look at a certain family I know who the father figure does not take a role of leadership in the house. What is the result, they barely make their bills, their kids want to live with the grandparents, the marriage may be less than happy. One of the questions that was posed to us during the group was: "Do we understand that our male leadership flows from God". I never really thought about this before. I always knew that mlae leadership was important for raising kids but I never looked at it through the aspect that this male leadership comes from God. Makes sense since I believe that all gifts come from God, so why not male leadership. I also know that it is something to pray for as qwell. I often pray to St. Joseph for help in being a good father and husband. When I am tired and my temper is short, I pray for him to intercede and allow me to be a silent man of action (a term I often use for St. Joseph). What I mean by a silent man of action is that so often, as men, it is easy for us to discipline and solve problems by yelling or taking charge. I don't think that is the example God or St. Joseph wanted to give us. I fail at this all the time. I have a short temper and when I am exhausted it tends to boil. These are the times that I need God's help the most. Do I always ask for it?? I guess this is what it means when they asked if our male leadership flows from God. I would say sometimes. Can I get better, absolutely, a lot better. So today I say a prayer to St. Joseph that he may intercede on my behalf:

St. Joseph

Foster Father to Jesus and devoted Husband to the Virgin Mary

Pray for me!

Pray for me that I may be more like you,

that I may raise my children with a gentle but firm hand,

that I may always treat my wife lovingly and respectfully,

may I always put my needs last and my families first.

Help me to understand my failings

and send an angel of mercy to guide me.

In Jesus name I pray!

Today's Gospel

And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." Mark 9:35-37


Lord, the greatest gift you have given me is my children and to be a father. Help me to be an obedient servant to my children and my family. Through you and in your name!

Today's Man.

Just last week we were at a barbecue at some friends house. There were about 5 couples there and 12 kids...A real Catholic Humanae Vitae (SP?) barbecue. One of those couples does not have any kids and are fairly newly married. The husband of that group said something I thought was quite interesting. We were discussing with him how life changes when you have kids. See, he brews his own beer. For those of you who don't know what this is all about, let me tell you. (I'm only an expert because he told me.) I asked him, how long does it take for you to brew beer. He said it is an all day affair, 16 total hours. I looked at my best friend, who is going on four kids, and we both said "Yeah that will go by the wayside once the kids come, unless of course you can figure a way to do it in a Baby Bjorn!" His reply back was that the kids were meant to be with the mothers and the husbands were supposed to be out hunting with the dog. So that's when I go to thinking, this guy is way off if this is the way he thinks. I think as Catholic Men it is our job to be an integral part of our kids lives. I love spending time with my kids, whether it is dancing with Clare in the living room or playing "baseball" with Jamie. It's funny, My Dad always says how he wishes he could do it all over again. I don't want to wish that when I am fifty and enjoying Grandkids!
It is also important for Teresa to get some down time, she is with the kids all day and it is a tiring job. I know because I don't think I can do it. So when I come home from work it is my pleasure to take over. Do I miss things like flyfishing, or just sitting and reading a book? Yes I do, but it is better than missing out on building a relationship with my kids.

That Man is You!

Today I started a mens group workshop at our new parish. We just recently started going to this parish about 4 months ago after we received a new priest whom I did not see eye to eye with. It was a difficult transition and what I was going to miss most was my Men of St. Joseph group. With the encouragement our our former priest I started the MOSJ about three years ago and we rose to a solid 25 men with a call roster of 36. I was pretty proud of this achievement. Today, as I walked into the cafeteria at 6:00am I was astonished to see about 40 men there. Slowly, as things started to get rolling I noticed the group get to a much larger group....90 men. I could not believe it, 90 men woke up at about 5 am and made there way to church for an hour and a half of instruction on how to be a better Man. It was astonishing and I was immediately swept up in the spirit. Pray for me that this fire continue's to burn within me and that this workshop helps me to be a better Man of Christ.

Today's Gospel 9-17-06

Jesus and his disciples set outfor the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples,“Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply,“John the Baptist, others Elijah,still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them,“But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply,“You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.He began to teach themthat the Son of Man must suffer greatlyand be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,but whoever loses his life for my sakeand that of the gospel will save it.”

Dear Jesus, may we always understand who you are, and may we also deny ourselves and take up your cross in Jesus' name.