Catholic Latte

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI speaks about “fear of the Lord” not in terms of having a servile fear before God; but rather, as a recognition that one must take personal responsibility for that portion of the world and human history which God has entrusted to him or her.  Reflecting on this point, Fr. Eric speaks about some general principles to observe when looking to take social responsibility for the various societal problems which we will have to address both now and in the future. 
Topics include the inherent limitations of virtue signaling; the need to avoid violent means, take seriously one’s personal conversion, become personally invested in finding a solution, and recognize our collective responsibility for finding a collaborative solution to the problems which afflict our world; and the primacy of prayer in bringing about the conversion of the world.
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Drawing upon an analogy of comparing a wild horse to the collective sum of our fears, anxieties, woundedness and passions, as noted in the film “Bad Boys for Life” (2020) starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, Fr. Eric reflects on our tendency to allow ourselves to led by the “wild horses” in our hearts; rather than living with a sense of real intentionality.
Other topics include the beheading of St. John the Baptist at the command of King Herod (Mt 14:1-12), the deadly effect that erroneous habits have on our ability to choose freely, and the distinction between worldly freedom and Biblical freedom. 
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On the occasion of Pentecost Sunday, Fr. Eric reflects upon how the Old Testament narrative of the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9) helps to illuminate the story of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-31), particularly in revealing how the disunity and fragmentation brought by about the Tower of Babel is undone by the event of Pentecost.
Other topics include how the Church is called to embody both radical unity amidst extraordinary diversity, the need to be in right relationship with God before being sent forth on mission to spread the Good News, and the freedom acquired through the Sacrament of Confession to acknowledge and love our neighbor in the way in which we are called.
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Fr. Eric reflects on how we might find hope in the midst of challenging circumstances based on our sense of clarity as to who Christ is; but also because of the foundational mystery of the Incarnation, which teaches us that God’s presence and His grace come to us in abundance both in the midst of the beauty and tragedy of this life.
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Reflecting on Walt Disney’s animated classic, “The Lion King” (1994), Fr. Eric discusses various effects of the Sacrament of Baptism, including the reality of sanctifying grace; and the summons to share in the mission of the Church. Other topics include defining the specific mission of the Church based on the Great Commission (Mt 28:16-20), and the need to give oneself over to the missionary imperative as a prerequisite to real integrity and peace.
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One of the best passages in the Bible to regain a sense of rest and repose in the midst of our personal storms is Matthew 11:28-30 in which the Lord says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Reflecting on this passage, Fr. Eric speaks about the various keys articulated in this passage to enter into the Lord’s peace, including the significance of taking on the Lord’s yoke, as opposed to any other competing yoke; and the true meaning of meekness and humility.
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At Super Bowl XV, legendary singer Whitney Houston gave a stirring rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” which is held generally to be one of the best performances of the American national anthem in recent memory.  Reflecting on this iconic moment, particularly as it’s portrayed in the documentary “Whitney” (2018), Fr. Eric touches on the classical notion of beauty, the capacity of real beauty to change us and send us forth on mission, and the transformative power of the beauty embodied in true holiness.
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One of the most popular Netflix series these days is “The Last Dance,” which documents the 1998 NBA championship run of the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, who is held generally to be the best basketball player of all time.  Fr. Eric reflects on Jordan’s legendary, competitive spirit; primarily in comparison with “The Parable of the Dishonest Steward” (Lk 16:1-13), as an example for how much effort and drive we are called to bring to the table when it comes to the spiritual life and the things of God. 
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As a Christian people, we know that we are called to trust in the Lord; but there is often a struggle when it comes to knowing what this looks like, practically speaking. Fr. Eric reflects on this issue while discussing the Lord’s statement at the Last Supper that “without [Him], we can do nothing” (Jn 15:5); the calling of St. Peter (Lk 5:1-11); the interplay between enthusiasm and fidelity on the path to true discipleship in Christ; the call to accept our weakness as a prerequisite to real maturity in the Christian life; the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew (1:1-17); and the Lord’s preference to work in the midst of our insufficiencies to bring about the work of salvation.
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The romantic-comedy “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018) includes a surprisingly sophisticated treatment about how to resolve interpersonal conflict using non-violent means.  Focusing on the central conflict in the movie between the film’s central character and her prospective mother-in-law, Fr. Eric reflects on the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7), especially the Lord’s exhortation to “love your enemies” (Mt 5:43-48); the call to be faithful, rather than successful, in imitation of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta; and the distinctively Biblical exhortation to remember our own personal salvation in Christ as a means to garner true empathy and compassion for the suffering other.
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