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The FIRST thing the devil did in the Bible was say “wow I can’t believe God would say something so unreasonable” and God did absolutely not say that.

It’s LITERALLY the oldest trick in The Book™️

And so many people are still falling for it.

I’m at home among the trees

To The Substitute Art Teacher - Jordan Bolton

Enjoy these affirmations brought to you on a fine Monday afternoon 😀

What makes a truly great gift?

What makes a truly great gift?

Cost? Sentimental value? One-of-a-kind? They’ll use it every day? There’s always the cliché – “it’s the thought that counts.”

I struggle with what makes a truly great gift. But I do know how to ruin any gift.

Give it begrudgingly. With an attitude of “fine, if I have to.”

That kind of giving will turn the most amazing, unique, thoughtful gift into garbage.

I don’t know about you, but I would rather get nothing, than have something given to me begrudgingly. I’m not alone in that feeling.

If I do get something that was given begrudgingly, unless I can give it to a parish auction, it’s going straight into the trash.

The thing is, a lot of us have that idea about God’s gift of forgiveness.

That God doesn’t really want to forgive us. And if God actually does forgive us, it’s done begrudgingly.

Because we did something super Catholic. Or met some arcane requirement to receive an indulgence. Basically, we backed God into a corner with His own rules. And now He has to forgive us.

If that’s how it works, it’s unhealthy. To say the least. Why would you want anything to do with something that messed up?

Thank God that’s not how it works!

The thing to know about God is that God isn’t waiting for you to do something super Catholic or to meet some arcane requirement, before He forgives you. God’s waiting for half an excuse to forgive you.

Like a being genuinely sorry for about hurting someone. And asking for forgiveness.

A change of heart. That’s all God’s waiting for.

Because God’s approach to forgiveness is kind of the opposite of begrudging. We see it in today’s first reading,

“Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin? Who does not persist in anger but delights in clemency?”

Translation - You want to see God light up with joy? Ask for forgiveness.

Today’s Readings

the lack of compassion that a good portion of lotr fans show for frodo ("why can't he fight or do simple tasks" "why is he so weak" "why does he always need help / to be rescued") mirrors the lack of compassion of people for those who bear the burden of invisible disabilities. he's struggling against an immense weight at every step! something that actively tries to destroy him, worsening at every moment! his heroism is in just continuing to walk his path, step by step. his bravery is in just existing as himself under the debilitating weight of the ring. but because the influence of the ring is invisible, it is forgotten, and frodo is written off as a weak, cowardly, and/or useless character, much like disabled people irl. in this household we do not stand for frodo slander!!!