My brothers and sisters in Christ,
Gather around the table and sit for a spell. As I said when I started this new column, much of how I see life, family and faith was gathered when I took the time to listen at our family’s kitchen table. Of course, sometimes it was the porch or maybe sitting on the floor as the adults chatted. Maybe your experience was much the same.
It is interesting to see during these days the amount of effort people are going through to maintain communication, community and connection to others. In the past, I probably said a time or two that society is growing more distant with the invention of technology at our fingertips, but I have to now reassess and probably recant that line of thought.
We, as human beings, are created for relationships. This makes sense given that we are created in the image and likeness of a God who has, through the ages, unveiled Himself as Trinity. This is one of the reasons why I find it almost incomprehensible that many have so little respect for human life.
We spend billions of dollars on one hand for the ability to connect with one another, while casting aside the most vulnerable among us with the other.
Four United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee Chairmen, along with 20 other professionals and organizations, recently wrote a letter to FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn urging him to ensure that any COVID-19 vaccines are developed ethically and free of the use of any cell lines that stem from abortion.
Now is not a time – nor is there ever a time – for Catholics to retreat from our public obligation to stand firm for Christian values in our nation. There is never a time when we should step aside to allow the most vulnerable in our society to disappear into the shadows. The above-referenced letter is a perfect example of this.
Rather, we can use this time when we are less distracted by the busy-ness of life to regain our focus on the substance of life and re-energize our efforts to spread the Good News of the Gospel Message. Christ conquered death so that all people might live. We as Catholics must continually die daily to the death of sin, even during the difficult and ever-changing circumstances of our lives, that we might participate fully in God’s plan of salvation … not for the few, but for all.
Recipe for the Month: Sweet Potato Casserole with Praline Topping
Ingredients: 2 eggs well beaten, ½ cup sugar, ½ tsp. salt, 1 ½ tsp vanilla, 1/3 cup milk, 3/8 cup melted margarine, 3-4 cups cooked and mashed sweet Potatoes. Combine and mix well. Put into a 9x13 greased pan.
Topping Ingredients: 2 cups light brown sugar, 2/3 cup flour, 2 cups broken pecans, ½ cup melted margarine. Combine sugar, flour and pecans. Add margarine and mix well. Place on top of potatoes.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Have a recipe you want to share? Email it to [email protected]!