Isn't it bad enough we call them pigs?

Headline: "WHO to stop using term 'swine flu' to protect pigs." That's very humane of the World Health Organization, you wouldn't want the poor critters to develop a complex or anything.
This strain of influenza will now be known as H1N1 influenza A. I can imagine myself calling in sick one day with a bad case of "heinie."

Medal available, please apply at South Bend, IN

President of Notre Dame University Fr. John Jenkins issued a statement Monday saying the university was disappointed that Professor Glendon has decided to refuse acceptance of the Laetare Medal."It is our intention to award the Laetare Medal to another deserving recipient, and we will make that announcement as soon as possible," he said.

First awarded in 1883, the Laetare Medal is the oldest and most prestigious award for American Catholics. The medal is an award which can be given to a person from outside the University of Notre Dame and has the Latin inscription "Magna est veritas et prevalebit," meaning "Truth is mighty, and it shall prevail."

I wonder if Fr. Jenkins has read the inscription and who desires the medal to such an extent that they would accept the award this year.

Don't you just love a good soap opera?

Be afraid... or not

It takes courage to watch the news or read the newspaper today. Or should I say, it takes faith? A quick examination of the paper today shows multiple stories on the swine flu including stories of entire communities in fear. (This despite the fact that there have been only some 50 cases and no fatalities reported in the United States out of a population of over 306 million.) We are told we should be afraid. There are terrorists who are angry at the U.S. -- be afraid. Gang violence around Chicago took another life yesterday -- be afraid! The economy is struggling amid great uncertainty -- be afraid.

At the same time, repeatedly in scripture, we are told “Be not afraid,” or “fear not.” A popular myth contends that scripture contains 365 instances of such advice -- one for each day of the year. A quick use of some of my bible software programs fails to confirm that number, but the frequency of the basic admonition is undeniable.

I have enough of a tendency to worry about things over which I have no control; I don’t need the media adding to my list. Maybe I am simply ignorant of my peril, but I think I will struggle to take the Lord’s advice. At least I will sleep more easily that way.

A reasoned and effective response

Amidst the uproar of the controversy arising over President Obama's scheduled commencement address at Notre Dame, the fact that others had been invited as award recipients has been lost. Among those to receive awards was Mary Ann Glendon, the Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See who was to receive the prestigious Laetare Medal from the university.
Ambassador Glendon was in part drawn into the controversy when the Notre Dame administration in an apparent attempt to circle the wagons and deflect criticism, implied that the presence of and remarks by Ambassador Glendon would in some way offset the presence of President Obama and lend an aura of catholicity to the event.
Refusing to be used as a pawn, Ambassador Glendon sent a very gracious letter to Presdent Jenkins of Notre Dame declining the Laetare Medal.
Good on you!!

I'm playing it safe

Interesting that two news stories in the Chicago area this week demonstrate the dangers of our "national pastime." First, an Indiana man dies during a softball game; just a couple days later a 14-year-old suffers a similar fate.
In light of these tragedies, and because I have not uncovered any Lay-Z-Boy related deaths this week, I think I have my weekend planned. Don't want to take any chances.

Where is the balance?

A couple items over the last couple of days have left me wondering.

The Supreme Court heard the case of a young girl who was strip-searched because of the implication of another student that she might have Ibuprofen on her. The school has a zero-tolerance policy for all prescription and over-the-counter medication, including the ibuprofen, without prior written permission. As this was reportedly prescription strength Ibuprofen, school authorities may be lauded for their concern if not for their zeal in what proved to be a vain search. I'll let the courts determine the appropriateness in this case.

In a different matter, CNN reports that the FDA will allow 17-year-olds to obtain the "morning after pill" over the counter, without prescription or parental consent. Such consent would be necessary for a tattoo, but not for an abortifacient.

Curious world isn't it?

Be tolerant... or else!

Isn't it interesting that tolerance of all persons, ideas, and lifestyles is required -- unless of course, they are the wrong persons, ideas or lifestyles. Witness the controversy surrounding Miss California's loss following her response to a question regarding gay marriage.
I have little regard for beauty pageants (though I must admit the contestants tend to be quite attractive) however, for a contestant to be denied a chance to win because of her views on a subject upon which the nation is divided seems outlandish. Moreover, anyone who looks to beauty pageant contestants for leadership on the social, moral or political issues of the day may well be beyond help.
If only she would have lied about what she believed.... then she would have been a suitable role model!

We definitely are not a Christian nation

I am amazed at the audacity of the White House in asking a Catholic Institution to remove or cover up all religious symbols or signage. (story here)

I am more aghast at a Catholic University that would comply. I'm not sure which side to be more offended by.

Good Friday... "I thirst"

I thirst… The shortest of the seven last words and one with which I have wrestled over the years. What is being said?

Jesus has spent most of the last 24 hours under arrest and during that time he has been beaten, whipped, shuttled back and forth between the Sanhedrin, Herod and Pilate. He has been forced to carry a cross through the streets of Jerusalem, then outside the walls, and up the hill of Golgotha. It is natural that he would be dehydrated and thirsty. So why is this considered so significant that it should be noted in scripture?

Nothing is in scripture by accident, and certainly not in the Gospel of John which includes the remark that “…many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” There is something more than simple thirst here.

Do you recall that last time that we heard Jesus had something to drink? It was the day before in the upper room. Jesus told his disciples that “…I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father". Following that they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

A first century Jew would hear that passage and say, “Wait a minute, that’s not right!” Because a Jew would recognize that the cup Jesus just shared with his disciples was only the 3^rd of the four cups of wine that are an integral part of the Passover meal. Jesus had just shared the “Cup of Blessing.” But before the hymn, the Great Hallel is to be sung and the Passover meal concluded a 4^th cup of wine is to be consumed.

It is as if a priest were saying Mass, prayed the prayer of consecration, and walked out of the sanctuary. We would be saying, “Wait a minute! It is not finished!”

The four cups of wine of the Passover Seder correspond to the four "expressions of redemption" in the Divine declaration (Exodus 6:2-8):

• "I will take you out", of Egypt;
• "I will deliver you", from bondage;
• "I will redeem you", from slavery;
• “I will acquire you" as my nation. I will be your God and you will be my people.

Jesus leaves the table of the Passover without having drunk the fourth cup. The Passover is not yet complete. Matthew tells us that Jesus refused to drink when the soldiers offered him wine mixed with myrrh.

The time was not yet ripe. The Passover sacrifice was not quite finished. It is from the cross; it is with death moments away, that Jesus notes that the sacrifice is complete. He has, in a singular act of love given the last final measure. “I thirst.”
Now is the time for the fourth cup, the cup that he now longs for, the cup that will mark us forevermore and his people and He as our God.

This is the cup of consummation; the cup that marks the fulfillment of the Passover in that God has acquired us by His sacrifice and made us His people. The four cups reflecting the four expressions of redemption have now been consumed.

...but there is a fifth expression of redemption. This requires a fifth cup. This expression of redemption is reflected in God’s promise that, "I will bring you into the land."

This is the fifth cup; the cup for which we thirst; the cup we will share with Christ at the heavenly banquet when he brings us into his kingdom.