In Advent, We Wait In Hope! Seeking Balance To Our Life, We Are Called By God To Be Alert To His Comings.

Waiting is a common phenomenon these days which calls for patience.  We wait in lines at grocery stores, banks, post offices and gas stations to name a few.  Our hope is that whatever is happening ahead will be short lived decreasing our time so we can get on with whatever else we have planned. 

Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven, If We Hand Over Our Life To Jesus!

 We often define historical kingdoms as vast amounts of geography ruled by a person who makes decisions based on a perception of truth supportive of what he or she wants and/or needs.  This can be either a positive or a negative experience, depending on the benevolent or dictatorial state of mind of the ruler.  Today, most royalty are figureheads who represent political leaders who rule kingdoms for better or worse.

If God Predestines Us for Salvation, Then Why do We Need Free Will or to Worry about Mortal Sin?

God predestines no one to go to hell, for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want “any to perish, but all to come in repentance.”  (Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 1037) “2 Peter 3:9”

If God Knows All and We Have Free Will, Why Cannot We Confess Our Sins to God Directly for Our Forgiveness Rather Than Go to Priests?

Dear Subscribers –

During my 19-1/2 years as an ordained deacon at three separate parishes, I have been asked countless questions about our Roman Catholic faith. Though I have responded when asked, these questions are often repeated.

In these next few weeks prior to The First Sunday of Advent (Liturgical Year C - 2025), my blogs will respond to these questions from Roman Catholics who either asked out of curiosity or due to life changes. I want to make sure they understand God’s meaning and purpose to follow His ways. It is by receiving such answers that they are better able to balance their life and practice of faith.

Thank you for your understanding,

Deacon Jim Merle

Communion of Saints

Dear Subscribers –

Below is a homily I gave on November 1^st for All Saints Day. Considering the last several blogs I have written about how we need to improve ourselves, I believe this falls into that same category, and so I offer it to you as this weekend’s blog. I hope you feel the same way.

Deacon Jim Merle

 

“The only real sadness in life,

is not to become a saint” and

the loss of eternal life.

The choice is ours.

I hope we make the correct one!