The Universal Call to Holiness

I must not put limits on my ability to be virtuous. All that holds me back is my slowness to ask God for help.

What is Truth?

In the ongoing debates over science and religion, a false distinction is often made between the objectivity of science and the subjectivity of religion; such is the prevailing prejudice that people frequently talk of scientific truth even when talking of theories, but any talk of truth in religion must be qualified as 'true' only for a particular group of believers. How can the objective and subjective understandings of truth in modern discourse be reconciled? This is an ongoing challenge.

But it occurred to me yesterday that the following insight may help.

Considering God's perfect Justice and perfect Mercy, which exist in perfect balance, it occurred to me that these two aspects of the Godhead represent objectivity and subjectivity. His Justice corresponds to impersonal objectivity; his Mercy to his consideration for each and every unique human person. As we seek to debate the truths of science and theology, both sides of the debate must seek to imitate God in this way, with perfect justice guiding our search for the truth, and perfect mercy guiding how we treat our opponents. Only thus will harmony be found.

The News Media and the Gospel

The psalmist [Ps 112] says that we should not fear 'evil news' - an important lesson in an age obsessed with current affairs! This phrase 'evil news' is the opposite of the 'good news' or 'gospel' of Jesus Christ; so for us as Christians there is a clear imperative not to let 'evil news' dominate us, leading us into fear and despair (as it so often can these days) but rather to ensure that we keep that 'good news' ever before our eyes, to form us in the virtue of hope.