100 years ago this past July a most strange event occurred on the Jersey shore at Beach Haven, a town on Long Beach Island. Between July 1 and July 12, 1916, five people were attacked along the coast by sharks; only one of the victims survived.

Back in my day, in preparation for Confirmation, we were given a booklet containing 150 questions and answers, which we had to memorize.  Well, when Bishop George W. Ahr arrived in his stretch limousine, accompanied by a battalion of Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, we all tried to get a peek at the prelate. 

Most of us have seen movies or television shows depicting various interpretations of what heaven is like. The 1941 movie called “Here Comes Mr. Jordan,” starring Robert Montgomery and Claude Raines, gave World War II audiences an opportunity to step away from wartime worries to enjoy some light-hearted entertainment.

Theology of the body:  Part four of a nine part series. Learning to accept our body, to care for it and to respect its fullest meaning, is an essential element of any genuine human ecology. (Pope Francis, “Laudato Si’,” pa. 155)

The History Channel takes us on many interesting adventures. One recent show documented the horrors of World War II. Like the present-day devastation perpetrated by ISIS in Syria and elsewhere, the targets of the Nazis included the cruel bombing of cities, as well as the killing and disfigurement of innocent men, women and children. The constant bombing of London from 1940-1941, also known as the Battle of Britain, leveled entire blocks of buildings to the ground.

Theology of the Body: Part three of a nine part series. The acceptance of our bodies as God’s gift is vital for welcoming and accepting the entire world as a gift from the Father and our common home, whereas thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation.  (Pope Francis, “Laudato Si’,” pa. 155)

The harsh days of winter eventually give way to the pleasant days of spring and summer. Those of us who live in the northeast are hardly ever surprised by the cold weather but we still have a habit of wishing the winter away so we can embark upon the warmer seasons of spring and summer. I recall as a child saying repeatedly, “I wish it was summer”. When I would make such comments my mom would tell me to stop wishing my life away.

Theology of the Body: Part two of a nine part series.  “It is enough to recognize that our body itself establishes us in a direct relationship with the environment and with other living beings.” (Pope Francis, “Laudato Si’,” pa. 155) Although man possesses a freedom from necessity, he aspires to a liberation from all constraints, those posed by the body, with its diseases and death, and spiritual maladies such as political strife in war or economic oppression in a world which often places more value on technology than on the dignity of the person who labors therein.

The harsh days of winter eventually give way to the pleasant days of spring and summer. Those of us who live in the northeast are hardly ever surprised by the cold weather but we still have a habit of wishing the winter away so we can embark upon the warmer seasons of spring and summer. I recall as a child saying repeatedly, “I wish it was summer”. When I would make such comments my mom would tell me to stop wishing my life away.

“Theology of the body” was made a popular topic in Catholic circles by the writing of St. John Paul II. It is still a relevant subject as evidenced by Pope Francis, who alludes to the negative effect an inaccurate understanding of the body has had on ecology and hermeneutics. “He [Jesus] was far removed from philosophies which despised the body, matter and the things of the world.

The fear of death is common to almost all people. What is death? Why do we have to die? What happens when we die? How should we face death? Death means that the soul is separated from the body. The two were meant to be together. That is how God planned it. But our faith teaches that the disobedience of Adam and Eve brought death as one of its punishments. Death is the result of their original sin.

Nicodemus appears only in the Gospel of John (Jn 3:1-16).  He represents a group of people of good will, who look favorably toward Jesus.  Nicodemus acknowledges Jesus as a teacher come from God.  In fact, he calls Jesus “Rabbi,” thereby indicating that Jesus is saying things worth considering.  Nicodemus is both a ruler and a Pharisee, which, John suggests, means that he is a person from the higher echelon of Judaism. 

Each year as we prepare to bring another New Year to life, many people struggle to greet another year without the physical company of their loved ones who died during the previous year. As we prepare to welcome 2017 the same is true for many.

Part Three:  Healing through supportive relationships. Last year, I received a phone call from the hospital. A nurse asked me to come and console the parents whose baby just died in the emergency room. Given the information received on the phone, I expected to find an infant or even a toddler. Imagine then my surprise when I arrived and learned that the “baby” was a six-year-old little boy.

“I bring you good news of great joy . . . there has been born to you today … Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Good news, indeed, for Christ is the only perfect Christmas gift! I always love this time of the year because I am reminded of my  childhood when my parents feverishly prepared for Christmas.

Part Two:  Healing through the Eucharist. A few years back, a woman came in to my office and shared that she was feeling empty inside.  Her husband was rarely intimate with her. Her children were now in college and busy making their own lives. But what bothered her most was feeling disconnected with God. She asked: “What can I do to fill this emptiness within me? I want to feel close to God like I used to when I was young. Is it too late to reconnect with God?”

Why did so many people hate Jesus? Answering this question may help explain why so many people hate Catholics today. We know that many hated Christ in His lifetime, and we know there are many who hate him and His Church today. Jesus sowed the good seed of truth and kindness. His enemies sowed weeds of lying and hatred. As a result, to borrow the words of the Creed we pray each Sunday, “he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.”

As the Jubilee Year of Mercy came to a close on the feast of Christ the King, the enthusiasm of this homage to divine mercy seems to have diminished among us, Catholics. What did we receive from observing the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy? This writer contends that Catholics should never underestimate the graces bestowed on us through God’s goodness.

The Temple in Jerusalem was first built by King Solomon around 957 BC. It was a place of ancient Israelite and later Jewish worship. The temple was totally destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC when they sacked the city. According to the Old Testament Book of Ezra, construction of a second Temple began in 538 BC and was completed 23 years later in 515 BC. Around 20 BC the building was renovated and expanded by Herod the Great and became known as Herod’s Temple. It dominated the Jerusalem skyline and could be seen from all locations in the city.

Imagine what life was like for Paul Miki, a native Japanese vocation to the Jesuits who, in the 16th century, made inroads in preaching the Gospel to his Japanese brothers and sisters.  Catholicism was a threat to the Shinto and Buddhist religions so the government began to persecute Catholics who openly practiced their faith and imprisoned those who proselytized, such as Paul Miki and his companions.