Morality

Can Failing to Do Something Be a Sin?

By Fr. Jeff | 11/05/2020

Earlier this week, I wrote an article, “Why Do We Choose to Sin”. Following that article, a person asked me to write about “sins of omission.” Most often, when we talk about sin, we talk about what we have done…

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Why Do We Choose to Sin?

By Fr. Jeff | 11/03/2020

When we confess our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive a penance, and say an “Act of Contrition.” As part of the “Act of Contrition,” we firmly resolve to sin no more. Yet, our struggle with sin often…

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Do People Understand What Jesus Does for Us?

By Fr. Jeff | 10/22/2020

With fewer and fewer people coming to church even before the Coronavirus, one asks the question, “Why don’t more people come to Jesus?” Jesus offers us something wonderful. Do people understand what Jesus offers us, namely, salvation? I just finished…

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What Guides Your Morality?

By Fr. Jeff | 10/16/2020

Today I would like to continue the discussion of morality by offering two contrasting perspectives on what might be our principal guide in our moral choices. The first one may be held by Christians and non-Christians alike but I see…

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Choosing a Moral, Immoral, or an Amoral Life

By Fr. Jeff | 10/14/2020

God gave his people commandments as a gift. The Ten Commandments are given to us to help us live a good life (cf. “God’s Commandments”). However, that does not mean they are easy to follow. Good, God-loving people struggle at…

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Moving Forward

By Fr. Jeff | 10/12/2020

The first reading in yesterday’s (28th Sunday in Ordinary Time) Office of Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours led me to think about where we are at as a Church with regards to the number of people who practice…

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27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 10/04/2020

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 5:1-7Psalm 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20 (Isaiah 5:7a)Philippians 4:6-9Matthew 21:33-43October 4, 2020 Is the Lord with us in our struggles?  The Lord is always with us.  Everything that is good comes from the…

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Trust: Both Necessary and Difficult

By Fr. Jeff | 10/01/2020

The Eighth Commandment is “You Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbor.” How is society to function if we cannot trust others to tell the truth? Likewise, we need to be able to trust others not to steal, commit…

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Never Forget the Cross

By Fr. Jeff | 09/25/2020

As I have begun to write articles explicitly on morality, I acknowledge that discussion on the morality of specific behaviors can be difficult. I pray that nothing I will write be interpreted as judgment on anyone. My goal is always…

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Defining Morality

By Fr. Jeff | 09/22/2020

Last week I wrote an article here, “The Easy Path or the Hard Path”, discussing morality. I said that I plan to offer more on morality but that I am unsure what form it will take or when. I remain…

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The Easy Path or the Hard Path

By Fr. Jeff | 09/18/2020

If you are reading this, then you are probably trying to live a Christian life. What does that entail? It includes prayer. It means that we believe that Jesus was crucified on the Cross and rose on the third day,…

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Receiving a Penance

By Fr. Jeff | 09/01/2020

After we have confessed our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive a “penance.” We are not just “given” or “assigned” a penance as punishment for our sins. We must receive the penance. By “receive” I mean we willing…

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I am Not My Own Potter

By Fr. Jeff | 07/04/2020

Today we celebrate our United States holiday celebrating our independence on the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. As we celebrate our independence, “freedom” is very important to us. People take freedom to…

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