Catholic Latte

On the occasion of the Nativity of Our Lord, Fr. Eric draws upon Pope Francis’ reflections on St. Joseph in his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde (Dec. 8, 2020) to give some insight as to how we might approach the current global pandemic in light of our faith.  Issues discussed include St. Joseph’s attentiveness to the duty of the present moment, the reality that the world is sustained by people who are often overlooked, and the need for a solid prayer life grounded on the Word of God.
Other topics include God’s tendency to speak to St. Joseph in his dreams; the importance of giving ourselves time and space to allow for a better assessment of our various problems and difficulties; the need to allow the truth to reveal itself in an atmosphere of peace, serenity and calm; and the fact that our inner peace must be grounded in an unshakeable faith in God’s providential care. 
Here is a link to the Pope’s letter, as published on the Vatican’s official website: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html.
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Reflecting on the Annunciation (Lk 1:26-38), Fr. Eric speaks about how to navigate through our various fears, emotions and concerns while working through issues of spiritual discernment.  Other topics include the God’s preference to work in the midst of simple, humble and ordinary circumstances; the need to cultivate a holy indifference; the reasonableness of our faith; and the invitation to trust the Lord based on recurring instances of God’s faithfulness throughout salvation history.
Fr. Eric also talks about the principle that God equips those that He calls, rather than simply calling the formerly equipped; and the importance of saying “yes” to God’s invitation with a spirit of joyful correspondence with His salvific designs, as opposed to a grudging acceptance.
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Fr. Eric speaks about how the mystery of the Incarnation invites us to reflect deeply on the reality of the transcendent God made immanent through the person of Christ. Fr. Eric draws upon examples from religious art, the Annunciation (Lk 1:26-38), and his own journey to the priesthood.
During his reflection, Fr. Eric refers to a book called Consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Donald Calloway (Stockbridge: Marian Press, 2020). 
Other issues discussed include the challenge to resist the temptation to run away from God when He makes Himself close, as well as the importance of asking the right questions when it comes to matters of discernment and doing God’s will.
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One of the most famous passages in the Bible which is often cited in the context of the Advent season is from Isaiah 40:3, where the prophet says: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”  Fr. Eric reflects on how this passage teaches us that God is not hiding in some mysterious place waiting to be found; but is actually closer to us than we are to ourselves, such that one of the primary tasks in the spiritual life is to dispose ourselves to receive the grace of God who is both coming and already present.
As a practical tip in this regard, Fr. Eric reflects on how we’re called to ignore the vast majority of thoughts which enter our minds; and to learn to be more intentional in terms of choosing explicitly to entertain the thoughts which come from the Lord and reject those which simply do not.  Fr. Eric also offers various tips on how to distinguish thoughts which come from the Lord, as opposed to thoughts which come from elsewhere.
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Given our recurring tendency to be impatient with ourselves, Fr. Eric reflects on theological concept of “the already but the not yet”: drawing upon various examples with regards to salvation and redemption, the call to discipleship, and the season of Advent. 
Focusing specifically on our inclination to look at the moral life purely in terms of external or symptomatic behavior, Fr. Eric invites us to look more deeply at our sinfulness and brokenness, mindful that God ultimately wants to heal us of our deep woundedness until we are fully restored.
As further illustrations, Fr. Eric draws upon the writings of Henri Nouwen, particularly his commentary on the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32); as well as the example of Christ Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-46) as He remains fully rooted in His Father’s love while being completely honest about His interior struggle. 
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Reflecting on the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Mt 25:31-46), Fr. Eric expounds upon how we are called to love Christ through the poor; and embrace Christ’s own spiritual poverty as important prerequisites to becoming an authentic child of God and a true heir to the Kingdom of Heaven. 
To illustrate how Christ is present to us in a special way through the poor, Fr. Eric uses an example inspired by the life of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.  A further example is drawn from Fr. Eric’s own life involving the Sacrament of Confession to show how the priority within the scope of Divine Providence should always be on prayer and penance, as opposed to any sort of activism.
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Given that the universal call to holiness can be sometimes intimidating when we’re somewhat unclear about God’s expectations, Fr. Eric expounds upon the Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30) to clarify that God’s expectations for our lives are actually quite reasonable.  Topics discussed include how we are called to make something of ourselves given the gratuitous gift of the crucified Christ; and the importance of trusting that the grace that God has given us to become the persons He is calling us to be is stronger than our weaknesses, frailties and sins.
Fr. Eric also speaks about how the Lord’s expectations for our lives correspond directly to what He has given to us, but also what He has not; the Lord’s invitation to live fruitful and generative lives; and the necessity to share in God’s salvific mission as an important prerequisite to sharing in His joy.
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Reflecting on the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Mt 25:1-13), Fr. Eric speaks about how our relationship with Christ is the product of what we choose personally to invest of ourselves; while clarifying that the priority is on doing the will of God, as opposed to engaging in a sort of activism.
Fr. Eric uses an example from the film “Fast and Furious 7” (2015) to make the distinction between our particular vocation in this world, and our ultimate vocation in Christ; as well as how we might appropriate our ultimate vocation through the choices we make. 
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Reflecting on the Beatitudes (Mt 5:1-12), Fr. Eric speaks about Christ’s identity as the New Moses; the one, true Mediator between humanity and divinity; and the perfect Teacher.  Additional topics include spiritual poverty, mourning with hope, living the purposeful life, and the pursuit of a rightly ordered society.
Fr. Eric also reflects on how we are called to find life by extending outwards, as opposed to turning inwards; the need to be set apart for God’s purposes as a prerequisite for divine intimacy; the role of suffering in God’s plan; and the importance of seeking our joy in the sharing of God’s own life. 
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Check out Fr. Eric’s extended reflection on the film “Fatima” (2020), which dramatizes the various Marian apparitions to three children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. Fr. Eric discusses the importance of living the spiritual life with faith, simplicity and conviction; practicing our faith with an eye towards our relationship with Christ, as opposed to simply various thoughts, ideas and principles; and the primacy of doing God’s will with a sense of holy indifference, as opposed to clinging to our preconceived plans.
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